sorry, mona can't come to the phone right now 🌺

Soo, I'm thinking about using #linux on my laptop but I can't decide on a flavor.

I'm looking for something I don't have to babysit (no arch please), that "just works", and that ideally lets me do mostly webdev and browsing (that shouldn't be an issue), as well as some gaming from time to time

Customizability would be a nice to have, and it would also be neat if the CLI tools I know from my Raspi/Debian (ie bash, apt, etc) are also available and I wouldn't have to relearn those.

What's out there these days?

Jun 28, 2024 at 9:48pmWeb
Show threadTobiasJun 28, 2024
@Sirs0ri i still use ubuntu, for years now. All those little distributions, they are usable but smaller community means less stackoverflow questions.
Show thread👍Maximum Derek👍Jun 28, 2024

@Sirs0ri I've been using POP_OS for a handful of years now. It's Debian based and made/maintained by System76.

Its reasonably current unlike base Debian. User friendly like Ubuntu but without the tracking or snap packages.

The default desktop is Gnome with some nice extensions created by POP_OS. If you like tiled desktops, it's one of the most usable.

They're currently working on a replacement for Gnome called Cosmic. It's close to entering Alpha.

Hope that helps.

Show threadsorry, mona can't come to the phone right now 🌺Jun 28, 2024

@bishma hmm, those tiled desktop features sound nice, I usually have a tiled setup when I'm working, thanks for the recommendation!

I guess driver support should be pretty good on Pop_OS as well, right? At least they mention there's an extra version of the OS with Nvidia drivers

Show thread👍Maximum Derek👍Jun 28, 2024

@Sirs0ri I've had pretty good luck with the POP_OS Nvidia drivers.

Nvidia drivers are one of linux's weak spots right now, but POP_OS handles it better than most.

Show threadPhocque  Jun 28, 2024

@Sirs0ri You already received several suitabel recommendations

I might add Zorin OS. Based on Ubuntu, very stable and user-friendly: running out of the box principle. UI is close to Windows

Show threadsorry, mona can't come to the phone right now 🌺Jun 28, 2024

@phocque a "ui close to windows" might not be the best thing these days 🙈

but I'll be sure to have a look at Zorin as well - the name actually rings a bell, I used it ages ago - when it was based on Ubuntu 13, according on the installer disc I still found :D

Show threadLinky~Jun 28, 2024
@Sirs0ri Why not try anything that has KDE DE as it's main DE such as Kubuntu?
Or you could just use Debian and install KDE DE
Show threadsorry, mona can't come to the phone right now 🌺Jun 28, 2024
@linkachus17 I'm just trying to figure out what options I have (and more importantly which are relevant). What does KDE DE do well, what do you enjoy about it?
Show threadLinky~Jun 28, 2024
@Sirs0ri Customization?? Easier to use like Windows??
I don't main KDE, I main Hyprland which is a tiling WM. KDE is just there for it's X11 server
Show threadEd FossJun 28, 2024

@Sirs0ri
RE your toot
https://corteximplant.com/@Sirs0ri/112696448280482096

If your laptop has 8 GB or more of RAM (you won't need a hard drive, think surf box) then ventoy usb to boot with a (debian based) MX Linux iso (to ram option) might work great.

Suggest setup ventoy usb then download MX Linux 23.3 (64 bit) onto the usb and then try to boot the laptop.
If you like the look and feel of that distro then the iso file can be updated each month.

Almost read-only OS but with save to removable storage.

Maxi :coffeebeans: :comfyblobcat: (@[email protected])

Soo, I'm thinking about using #linux on my laptop but I can't decide on a flavor. I'm looking for something I don't have to babysit (no arch please), that "just works", and that ideally lets me do mostly webdev and browsing (that shouldn't be an issue), as well as some gaming from time to time Customizability would be a nice to have, and it would also be neat if the CLI tools I know from my Raspi/Debian (ie bash, apt, etc) are also available and I wouldn't have to relearn those. What's out there these days?

CORTEX IMPLANT — an LGBTQIA+ friendly cyberpunk'ish fediverse instance!
Show threadsorry, mona can't come to the phone right now 🌺Jun 28, 2024

@edfoss wellll, that sounds like a fun alternative, but considering this is a recent-ish XPS with all of two USB C ports and barely any other IO, I'd rather have those ports available 😅 - also doesn't sound like the most portable setup since I'll always need the drive

I will however have a look at MX Linux in general - anything specific you enjoy about it?

Show threadEd FossJun 28, 2024

@Sirs0ri

After the ventoy usb boots you just remove it and you have all ports available.
The MX linux iso can run totally from RAM.
Most linux users never even try to boot that way.

Any drive can be mounted with cli mount.

You can save data on another hard drive (via usb) or usb flash drive if you like.

The ventoy usb with an iso should be able to boot on just about any PC.

Only concern: You might need to find some laptop drivers depending on the make of your laptop.

Show threadsorry, mona can't come to the phone right now 🌺Jun 30, 2024

@edfoss the ventoy tip actually came in handy to be able to quickly switch between distros today, thanks for that!

I still don't think that would work as a long term solution though, having my OS limited to just whatever I can fit in my ram would just be a waste of ram, and I don't need to work with that limitation - once I've decided what distro I want to use, I'm just gonna replace the current windows installation with it