Hey everyone! I'm relatively new to Linux, with about 4-5 months of experience under my belt. I've been using Mint, but I'm feeling a bit bored with it since it's too similar to Windows for my taste. I'm really into GNOME and would prefer not to install it over Cinnamon. I'm considering migrating to another distribution and have narrowed it down to three options: Pop_OS!, Fedora Workstation, and OpenSUSE. I'm a big privacy enthusiast and have been moving towards open-source solutions to distance myself from big tech companies. I've used Pop_OS! previously as my first distro, then tried Endeavour (which I managed to break), and now I'm on Mint. I'm hoping to get your advice, especially from anyone who's actually used these distros. I'm looking for something reliable that can last for years. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
3 Answers
You might want to consider Debian or PikaOS too! Debian has GNOME and is all about open-source, while Ubuntu is another option that builds on Debian and provides a user-friendly experience. If you're looking for longevity and stability, both Debian and Ubuntu are reliable choices. Just keep in mind, if you're leaning toward new software, Fedora might be the best fit for you.
Honestly, both Fedora Workstation and OpenSUSE will serve you well. Fedora has better documentation, but OpenSUSE’s Yast app is a fantastic GUI for managing settings. If you're aware of system stability, check out the latest version of Pop_OS! as it has transitioned to the new Cosmic desktop environment, but it still feels a bit unfinished compared to what Fedora or OpenSUSE offer.
Fedora and OpenSUSE are great choices if you want the vanilla GNOME experience. If you're looking for stability, I'd recommend OpenSUSE Leap over Tumbleweed, since Leap is not a rolling release, and it tends to be more reliable. Plus, OpenSUSE has some cool features like automatic btrfs snapshots. On the other hand, Fedora is well-documented and has a slight edge in terms of community support.
I’ve heard Debian is really solid if you don’t mind a bit less polish compared to Ubuntu. But it’s definitely reliable!