I recently scored a cheap laptop and I'm really excited to dive into Linux! I want to experiment with different distros and get a better grip on the OS overall. Since I travel a lot, I'm looking for a setup that's reliable, mostly offline, and can handle some light gaming. I'm torn between starting with something user-friendly like Mint or going straight into something more complex like Arch. I've got a tech background with coding and a solid understanding of Windows, but I know Linux is a different beast altogether. My main hurdle is figuring out how to customize my desktop environment (DE) to suit my needs. I'm looking for advice on how to research options like Window Managers (WMs) and DEs. It seems like a lot of content just tells me what to download without explaining why. Where can I find more organized information about these options and how to decide what might work best for my laptop setup?
3 Answers
I'd recommend starting with Mint or another well-supported distro like Debian or Fedora. For newbies, the differences between distros can feel a bit confusing and usually matter more once you have some experience. You can also explore different Desktop Environments (DEs); check out the Debian wiki for a list of popular DEs or the Wikipedia comparison page for X11 DEs. Those resources could help you understand the options better!
Check out the migration page in the Linux4Noobs wiki! There are also a bunch of migration tips available. Just a heads up, though: make sure you only use root when necessary and verify the checksums of your downloaded ISOs for security. Safety first!
It's a great idea to test things out in a Virtual Machine (VM) first. That way, you can experiment without messing up your primary system! Plus, you can try out lots of different setups before settling on one you love. Also, if you have a good internet connection, sites like DistroSea let you test different distros online.
I appreciate that tip! I plan to take my time and really understand the differences so I can set up a desktop environment that I like.
That makes sense! I was hesitant to stick with a mainstream distro because I thought I’d miss out on tinkering. But it sounds like it's a good way to get my feet wet before diving deeper.