Jesus. Another one of these? Every freaking day. (Promise it’s different)
I personally like mint and pop!os for new users, but for this user I want to try something windows like with more sex appeal. I don’t want to have to touch this computer again. Proprietary software is not an issue/consideration. User is techier than most. What has your experience been with kbuntu? Pros/cons? Other suggestions?
Mint is da only way
I started with Bazzite recently after getting a recommendation to go with a SilverBlue derived distro, and other than trying to figure out my own issues, it’s been pretty smooth.
I do have a weird issue that crops up after reboot where the display environment variable isn’t exported or something. But considering I also had an issue with my steam library not loading that was user error, I’m not entirely sure that isn’t of my own making as well…
Maybe Aurora by Universal Blue?
It’s based off of Fedora Silverblue, so it’s atomic, rock solid and basically guaranteed to work (more secure by design as well). But uses KDE Plasma instead of Gnome and has a bunch of improvements here and there, including proprietary codecs and Nvidia drivers preinstalled (latter depending on the image you choose)
This is an excellent answer. Kinoite (basically the same thing as Aurora) is what enabled me to finally make the switch to full time linux a few months ago.
I used to recommend Ubuntu. Now that immutable distributions exist, I prefer to recommend openSUSE Aeon or Fedora Silverblue to new users. However, check this website before installing Linux.
This site refers to “local repair cafés” more than once. Is that a regional thing? I’ve never seen those three words in that order ever before.
I know I’ll get down voted for this, but from that site:
"Microsoft wants you to buy a new computer.
But what if you could make your current one fast and secure again?"
Kind of a sensationalized statement. I’ve upgraded tons of machines from 2015 and newer to windows 11 without issues. Sure, not all of them, but I’d say a majority of them, and the “upgrade” is free.
I guess I wanted to point out this piece isn’t as doom and gloom as it seems.
Every time I’ve tried Kubuntu it’s been a mess. Though it’s been a couple years since I subjected myself to it. It’s still going to use Snaps, so there’s that.
If they want bulletproof and up to date, Fedora KDE.
That’s what I did
Get an immutable distro. You’ll never need to touch it again.
This may actually hinders new users because you can’t just change stuff on the system.
And no, not everything always work out of the box. Fedora & OpenSUSE codecs, I’m looking at you.
I think you overestimate the average persons need to configure their computers. Most people just use a web browser, email, and maybe some light gaming. No one new to Linux is going to be really upset that they can’t do complex system operations on the command line.
I commented elsewhere, but I do a lot of customizing and immutability has not proven to be even the slightest barrier for me in over six months now.
No, but they’d be upset if they cannot play their usual media files. H265 is known to be absent by default on a lot of these distros.
Atomic distros by Universal Blue build proprietary codecs into their images
I’ve never had a problem with any media playback. I don’t think this is an issue on Bazzite, the immutable distro I’ve been using for over a year.
fwiw I am a power user by Windows standards (n00b by Linux standards) which is to say I tweak a lot of settings and do a lot of customization, and in six months of using Kinoite I have not encountered a single thing I wanted to do but couldn’t because of it’s immutability.
Best I can offer is Hannah Montana linux
I think you should cruise this guy’s channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg6gPGh8HU2U01vaFCAsvmQ
He’s very fair and uses all operating systems. I’m almost certain he’s had a video on this exact question.
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I learn a ton on Nobara, but I’m not so sure it’s a forever distro
ZorinOS or the recent AnduinOS can be very Windows like with modernish windows sex appeal as you call it.
Edit: If a gamer you could add Nobara with its own theme or bazzite with KDE.
Linux. Mint.
Everytime.
OP explicitly said Mint isn’t what they’re looking for.
You have had many answers, all of them revolving around Debian / Ubuntu. Yet it doesn’t give the “like-windows” esperience. It’s More like “slightly windows-flavored Linux”.
For a more Windows-like Linux, which helped me transition easily because I retained muscle memory, is Zorin OS.
Fedora KDE is a good one.
Agreed. For a new user that wants to minimise system maintenance I’d recommend the atomic version, Fedora Kinoite. Flatpak plus rpm-ostree makes it like a phone where you can just do system updates and install/remove apps.
If you want a set it and forget it distro to never touch his computer again, then consider going a Ublue distro. Aurora (only KDE), or Bazzite (choose the KDE image) if he does gaming.
