After spending the last year with Linux Mint 21.1 and 21.2, there's some very specific reasons that Mint continues to excel and grow where other distros fail...
  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
    ·
    8 months ago

    It's been my default choice for years now, and I've recently switched to the Debian-based version. Couldn't be happier.

    • poinck@lemm.ee
      ·
      8 months ago

      I never used a spin-off of a unique distribution of GNU/Linux on my own computer, except the dark Ubuntu times. It seemed right at the time.

      Now, I don't see why I should recommend a distro that tries to be easier on new users when the original has sane defaults and is closer to upstream regarding all the tools and software bundled with it.

      Here are my recommendations for new users in that order (regardless of their computer knowledge): Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Arch, Slackware, LFS. Friends can help with the installation and should consider easy maintainability when dealing with users who just want to use it.

      My personal preferences are Gentoo and Debian.

      • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
        ·
        8 months ago

        Before switching to LMDE, I did try just using Debian with Cinnamon, thinking it would be pretty much the same experience. I did not really enjoy the experience. There were too many niceties missing that I had taken for granted with Mint. I wasn't interested in spending my time hunting down all the tweaks and packages to make those changes.

      • stella@lemm.ee
        ·
        8 months ago

        I haven't used Mint in years, but back in the day downstream distros from Debian often worked better for desktop users than Debian itself.

        This is because of Debian's 'stability' philosophy. This meant that bugs could stick around for years in Debian stable after being fixed upstream.

        Of course, with each new stable release, there should be fewer bugs so this problem should become less over time.

        I've considered switching from Manjaro to Debian on my laptop, but then I think about how great the AUR is. That's pretty much the main appeal for Manjaro over Debian, for me.

        • poinck@lemm.ee
          ·
          8 months ago

          Indeed, but what has this to do with my recommendation? ^^

          It clearly depends on what the new wants to get in to. Gentoo is a smart way to learn a lot while installing it. I mean it; this is no joke!

  • stella@lemm.ee
    ·
    8 months ago

    I think most mainstream distros have reached a point of diminishing returns, and that's a good thing.

  • Lord Goose@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    ·
    8 months ago

    I've been using Mint for a few months now after initially trying Fedora and Kubuntu. Mint has been by far my favorite experience and I've even gotten a few people converted to Linux via Mint. Definitely my recommendation for any Linux newbies.

  • deczzz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 months ago

    Installs mint. Connects to wifi at work. Prompted with a window that wants me to specify certificate versions or whatever. No clue about what any of it means and never get to connect. Uninstalled and back to Windows. Mint so easy to use /s 👍

  • lascapi@jlai.lu
    ·
    8 months ago

    I love how it's focused on stabilty in UI/UX and that it's supported by a lots of peoples around the world.