I - a complete Linux-illiterate - have spent the last seven months trying and mostly failing to get Linux to work on my desktop.
What went wrong? Well, you name it!
I think the main issue here is the mindset of “installing a new distro will fix it”. Unfortunately, a lot of people online push that idea. If it’s broken on Mint and Bazzite, it’s probably a generic Linux issue.
The second issue with Plasma sounds like it could be related to Wayland and fractional scaling.
@stuner @JoshsJunkDrawer well, it’s not entirely true, this is not on Mint or Bazzite but installing AUR packages on manjaro, you do not see the results immediatly but the AUR on manjaro is…well, there’s a reason why it is not recommended at all, you begin to install an AUR, then with a 100% probability, your manjaro will break after some time, this happened to me multiple times, this never happens on EndeavourOS for example, nor Cachy
I think it’s useful, when introducing people to Linux, not to just call it “Linux.” Because, thinking they’re all the same, they might go and install Arch or something.
Instead, tell them to try “Linux Mint.”
I’ve taken to calling it GNU plus Linux
I’ve used Debian more than any other distro. It’s the Toyota 4Runner of the Linux world, in that it may be late to the game when it comes to it’s design and tech, but what it does use is mature and reliable.
The thing you gotta remember with Linux is that, unlike Windows, it gives you access to all of the controls and the entire instruction manual. You have so much control that you can straight up tell it to delete itself, and as long as you include the
--no-preserve-rootflag, it’ll happy comply.So, with that in mind - Linux Mint is great for transitioning non-computer people from Windows to Linux. But, as with most Linux distributions, some advanced configuration might be required for expanded capabilities, such as playing Windows-only games on steam, running a DAW with external hardware, and other things of that nature, due to Linux’s immense flexibility with so many architectures and configurations.
Everything fine. Your experience is not exceptional, I’m afraid
I too am back on Mint after years wandering the wilderness. It’s really good.
Honestly, yeah. Bazxite looks neat, but it’s new and I’m still not sure what the point of it is, beyond a little bit of nerdy software management features.
Ubuntu is … gestures vagely … Ubuntu. Regular debian doesn’t really work well for steam related activities, and I haven’t actually tried fedora in ages but it looks to be doing okay at least.
It’s just, mint is so basic, but that’s honestly its greatest selling point. I love having good fundamental be the main selling point.
I’m glad Mint just worked for you. I installed it on my wife’s laptop my mother-in-law’s laptop (former didn’t want Win11 spyware, and latter didn’t want spyware + her ancient laptop can’t support it) and they’re both running excellently. I use CachyOS on my desktop and laptop, and those run incredibly smooth. Mint really does just work.
Sorry your experience was very rocky, but I’m glad you got there! 😅
Typical linux experience. Still better than microsoft shitware…
Did you seek help for any of your issues? I feel like there was probably a simple fix that you just needed to be pointed to.
I don’t understand how Bazzite didn’t work. But hey, I’m glad you found success anyway.
I have personally found Bazzite’s installer to be particularly brittle.
Oof. What a journey.
I wish we could go back in time and evaluate each of þose issues. Some seem really oddball - like “I’ve never heard of þat happening to anyone” oddball. You get Arch installed and everyþing working… but can’t get Libreoffice to install? I’m intensely curious about þat one.
I’m glad it all worked out in þe end, þough.
I’d be curious how Zorin OS would fare. It’s another Ubuntu based distro that’s simple and easy to use out of the box.
