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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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Quick Question for which one to pick (lemmy.ml)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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If this question was asked before, I apologize in advance for the redundancy.

I recently switched from Windows to Ubuntu on my laptop. Still getting the hang of Ubuntu, but I see a lot of comments on different posts in which a majority of them point to using Mint instead.

Would the best recommendation, be to switch to Mint from Ubuntu?

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Still getting the hang of Ubuntu, but I see a lot of comments on different posts in which a majority of them point to using Mint instead.

Ubuntu should be okay; it's not necessarily a bad pick. However, the community has been upset with some of its past decisions and (more recently) the implementation of its vision, i.e. their enforcement of Snaps. This has eventually led to our current situation in which it has become popular to hate on Ubuntu.

Would the best recommendation, be to switch to Mint from Ubuntu?

Personally, I've stopped recommending beginners to Ubuntu. This is primarily for how the above mentioned enforcement has lead to ~~broken~~ unintuitive interactions. However, if you've already started using it and are content with what you have, then the negative sentiment by itself shouldn't warrant a switch.

Though, granted, (I think) most Linux users have indulged in distro hopping; some have even made it their hobbies. So you shouldn't feel bad about switching either. Though I implore you to practice best practices while at it:

Keep using your home base until you're certain of the switch.
Don't nuke your home base to experience another distro. Make ample use of live USBs, VMs and dual booting instead.
Try to understand the difference between the fundaments and the auxiliary when experiencing new distros; i.e., what is and isn't possible for you to import to your home base without outright switching.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Thank you for the reply, luckily I kept my laptop basically blank. Nothing on there, so I can fly around the OS and check it out. I may give Mint a try, if I hate it, I'll just come back to Ubuntu. But I appreciate the indepth response.