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Looking to change to a Linux-based OS on a laptop, but I don't really understand coding so I haven't tried any of them. Is LinuxMint a good place to start? (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by Penny7@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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So like it says in the title. I'm looking to make a change. The only coding I ever did was like, some very light HTML on stuff like LiveJournal 20 years ago (because I'm ancient in internet years, haha) and even that I barely remember.

I've seen people talk about LinuxMint in other comment sections and how that one might be closest to something like Windows (in that a layman like myself can use it out of the box like buying a new laptop from Best Buy or whatever store). Is that actually a good one or is there something better for somebody like me?

I've seen enough people go 'NO UBUNTU!!!!' to steer me away from that one, but otherwise I have no clue what would actually be good for somebody in my shoes.

I have a laptop that still technically runs Windows 8 that I just use for downloads so I'd be trying it on there so that if something goes wonky I'm not fucked. After looking at the LinuxMint website, the specs on that laptop meet the requirements for it.

Thanks so much!

ETA: Because it's come up a few times and after the first time I didn't want to reply the same thing a over and over, I associate Linux with coding because everybody I've personally known that uses Linux is a programmer by trade, by hobby, or at least has a CompSci degree and understands this stuff on a level a million times higher than I do (even if they didn't end up in the field). Clearly I misunderstood something about what they were doing with Linux somewhere along the way. It looked like coding to a layperson at any rate so that's what stuck in my mind.

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[-] recursive_recursion@piefed.ca 12 points 6 days ago

Linux Mint is a solid place to start I'd say.

Ubuntu/Canonical has..issues to say the least.

A primary concern being the ever eternal cursed Snap packages.
Second being the replacement of existing tools with Rust alternatives without the proper FOSS licenses, so Ubuntu becomes less reciprocal over time and more proprietary over time.

anyways, choosing Linux Mint is a great place to start🤗👍 and I say this as someone that's tried:

Ubuntu Server
Raspberry Pi OS
Linux Mint
Arch Linux
NixOS
Kali Linux

[-] hddsx@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago

Does it even matter that it’s Mint in particular? I’ve never used mint, but isn’t the DE (or WM if you abhor DEs) more important? They all come with a package manager. And it’s pretty much all the same from there.

Except maybe Nix, from what I’ve heard

[-] recursive_recursion@piefed.ca 2 points 6 days ago

Does it even matter that it’s Mint in particular?

Yes somewhat because the devs of Linux Mint has created a reputable high quality First User's Experience to Linux setup.

I’ve never used mint, but isn’t the DE (or WM if you abhor DEs) more important?

Somewhat yes but it's mostly the combination of all the ingredients that can make or break the lasagna dish.

If we're comparing the DEs with each other than Plasma would win hands down over Cinnamon but for introductory users looking to switch from Windows or Macs to Linux than DEs are less likely to be an immediate concern.

They all come with a package manager.

Linux Mint would use the APT package manager which is good for beginners as you'd be able to use the same troubleshooting steps as Ubuntu or Debian.

Except maybe Nix, from what I’ve heard

NixOS is complicated to say the least, in which I've previously discussed here

[-] darkan15@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

but isn’t the DE (or WM if you abhor DEs) more important?

Yes, the most important thing is actually the DE/WM, most mainstream distros are exactly the same in how they are structured/configured, and the variations if you ignore the DE/WM come mostly from package manager, same packages with different names, and different default apps/configuration installed by default.

[-] omxxi@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago

Well, that's true in my case. Years of using Ubuntu, and finally I decided to move to Mint when they FORCED firefox to run via snap. I followed some guides to download firefox with apt and disable the snap version, and somehow Ubuntu ended up using snap again without my authorization. Also snap was not able to read/write /tmp folder, which I used a lot. Flatpak doesn't have that problem.

So, yes, I recommend mint, for me it has the best of Ubuntu and fixes exactly what I didn't like.

The Ubuntu user base is huge and helpful, and almost all of that applies directly to Mint.

this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2025

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