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Ask Slashdot: What's The Easiest Linux Distro For A Newbie?

Posted by EditorDavid on from the OS-advice dept.

joseph Kramer -- a long-time user of both Windows and MacOS -- comes to Slashdot with the ultimate question: I've been lurking here for years and seen many recommendations for a Linux flavor that works. What I'm really looking for is Linux that works without constant under-the-hood tweaking (ala early Windows flavors, 3.1, 95/98). Does such an OS exist? For the record, I am not an IT tech. I just need something to work with the mechanical equipment it controls. Any recommendations?
When it comes to Windows and MacOs, he describes himself as "fed up with their shenanigans." So leave your best answers in the comments. What's the best way for a newbie to get started with Linux?

7 of 510 comments (clear)

  1. Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The answer in my opinion is Mint, there shouldnt be tons of constant fiddling... However it is important to understand, Linux is still very much a power-user operating system... So far i havent seen any distro worth its salt that does alot of hand holidng.

    1. Re: Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What is with this obsession of Linux users to want everyone to be "advanced users"?
      It's precisely because of that, that Linux doesn't have a bigger marketshare, because of the Terminal that obsessed linux fans refuse to get rid of and the toxic community.

  2. Gentoo by fredgiblet · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obviously.

  3. Re:ChromeOS by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    RMS was right.

    He always said we should refer to it as GNU/Linux to avoid confusion. Here the OP is likely referring to GNU/Linux, but you're directing him at something which has the Linux kernel but does not behave anything like normal GNU/Linux.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  4. The easiest distro in my humble opinion by truck87bp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As a Teacher of Windows and Ubuntu to the elderly, Ubuntu Mate 16.04 is by far the best people friendly distro. It is so much like the 6.04-10.04 that we all used to love but with all the new bells and whistles. I get more complaints that Mint its a little harder to find stuff in. I'm close to 70 and don't program. Most of my students are older than I. Thanks to all of the Linux family everywhere for making life so great at our age.

  5. Re:ChromeOS by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Your ad-hom was modded insightful. It's not.

    RMS is right about a lot of stuff. Sometimes it took 20 or 30 years for him to be proven right, but he saw it coming and didn't have to resort to logical fallacies. That's insight.

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  6. Re:ChromeOS by grep+-v+'.*'+* · · Score: 5, Funny

    RMS is also an opinionated boomer hippie asshole.

    RMS: "Flattery will get you nowhere."

    --
    If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?