Hey everyone! I'm fed up with Windows lately and finally ready to make the switch to Linux at home. I'm not a total newbie with Linux since I use headless systems for work, but I'm a bit lost when it comes to the desktop environment. I'd love something that I can set up and not worry about too much, with the flexibility to update at my own pace. I don't care much about aesthetics but I'd appreciate having some customization options like a background slideshow or taskbar tweaks.
Here's what I'm planning to do with it:
- Primary use will be remote access for work on an Ubuntu PC using FortiClient VPN.
- I play games through Steam and Epic, and I also want to install some from other sources.
- I'll be doing coding with tools like Notepad++ (yes, I'll miss it), IntelliJ occasionally, and maybe VSCode.
- I'll need to do some light MKV converting, likely with MKVToolNix.
- And of course, I'll be browsing the internet, ideally with Chrome or another browser that syncs with Google.
Here are my specs:
- Intel i7-12700
- RTX 3060Ti
- 32GB RAM
- 2x1TB storage (NVME and HDD)
- Ultrawide screen
- Wired internet connection
I've already had a chat with ChadGPT about distros and got a few suggestions in order: 1. Nobara, 2. Pop!_OS, 3. Mint (Cinnamon), 4. Ubuntu/Fedora. I'm really keen to hear your expert opinions and any other recommendations you might have. Thanks a ton!
5 Answers
Have you checked out the distro selection page? It has tons of options tailored to your needs.
Just remember to back up your data and maybe try things in a VM first!
Thanks for the tip! I actually found ChatGPT's recommendations pretty solid. For gaming, don't forget to check ProtonDB for any compatibility issues with your game library when switching to Linux!
Fedora is another solid choice! It's very up-to-date and has a pretty good community for support if you ever have questions as you switch over.
Linux Mint is another great option! It's user-friendly, and perfect for a noob looking to transition. Plus, the Cinnamon desktop is really intuitive!
I’d recommend checking out openSUSE Tumbleweed with KDE. It's modern, lightweight, and super stable, plus it lets you customize a lot. It's fast and has plenty of power when you need it, making it a great choice for both work and play!
Vouch for that! I've been using openSUSE for a while, and I love how it handles everything.
That's a must! ProtonDB can save you a lot of headaches when it comes to playing games on Linux.