I'm considering installing Debian on my laptop but I'm not sure if I should go for Debian 12 or wait for Debian 13. Does it really make a difference in the long run?
4 Answers
By the way, why are you leaning towards Debian for your laptop? If you're looking for alternatives, there's a cool distro chooser tool at [whatsyourlinux.org](https://whatsyourlinux.org/). I found it helpful!
I'd recommend waiting a couple of weeks after the release to see if any issues pop up. I once tried upgrading the same day a version released, and there was an annoying installer bug that affected a lot of people. It got fixed quickly, but it was a hassle. So, it's up to you—go for the new version right away or stick with 12 for now and change in a few weeks when everything settles down!
I totally get that! I prefer waiting a few weeks to be safe. Normally, I upgrade during my break in August since I don't want to deal with updates during the school year.
Honestly, it depends on your comfort level. Debian 13 (Trixie) is in testing now, and many users find it stable enough for day-to-day use. When the stable version drops, upgrading from Trixie should be straightforward. That said, you can install Debian 12 now and later upgrade to 13, but it might not be as seamless as starting on the testing version. Just think about what you prefer!
If you're using 12 right now and it's working fine, you can stick with it until you feel the need to upgrade. There's no rush!
Sounds sketchy, but I’ll check it out!