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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux admin with 20 years experience, looking for "beginner" distro [Solved, the real beginner distro was the Debian I've used along the way] (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

53 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm over tinkering with my OS. So I'm looking for a distro that "just works" out of the box for my laptop. Also I want to test an "easy" distro I can install for my grandpa.
I don't care for immutability, declarative config, being fully FOSS or having the newest stuff. I don't want snaps, or a software center that relies on them. So no Ubuntu.

What I do want (ideally out of the box):
Important:

as few annoying visible bugs and crashes as possible (looking at you, Ubuntu)
Wayland support
good package selection, so no independent fringe distro
fluid YouTube videos, streaming, pre-installed codecs

Less important:

ideally with Gnome
encrypting the hard drive from within the GUI installer
nice font rendering (used to be a problem, but I guess not anymore)
installing Steam with a button press
pre-installed sane-airprint and sane-airscan (automatic setup of my networked printer-scanner-combo)

You get the idea. The usual stuff (low-end gaming, browsing, streaming, printing, scanning) should just work. I don't have any hardware that poses a problem.
From what I've read, Mint doesn't yet support Wayland and doesn't ship with video codecs anymore. (Or am I wrong?)
What are the other options? Is Zorin king of the block now? Is Manjaro good now?

Thanks for any and all input.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

So you're calling for Fedora

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

I didn't consider Fedora cause last time I used it it did have a strong FOSS focus and put barriers in your way if you wanted non-free software.
Is that not the case anymore? Does it come with a GUI software center for rpm and flatpak? I've been on Debian and Arch so long my knowledge of other desktop distros is severely outdated.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 weeks ago

Fedora asks you to enable third party non-foss repos like Steam and Chrome, but still you have to manually enable rpmfusion. Plus idk if new install of Fedora ships codecs pre-installed.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Fedora comes with Gnome, so it has Gnome Software Center installed by default. Mostly of packages from Fedora is also Flatpaks from Red Hat's server (not Flathub). They also has Flathub enabled by default

About RPM, I don't know if Gnome Software Center is able to handle it, cause I don't use Fedora myself. But at least you may try and see

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Mostly of packages from Fedora is also Flatpaks from Red Hat's server (not Flathub)

That's not true. Fedora used to have a Fedora flatpak repo but now they simply ship with flathub enabled by default.

About RPM, I don't know if Gnome Software Center is able to handle it

Yes, it can