Said software must not be resource-intensive, or else you’ll have to do GPU passthrough, which not only adds a heap of complexity, but also requires a dedicated GPU.
Also, I think it’s much easier to teach dual boot (just install Linux, most installers will do the rest automagically) than proper VM setups.
Still, for experienced users, Windows VM is a brilliant option.
Dual boot should be default suggestion for everyone trying Linux out. No pressure, just try it.
There will always be newbie-oriented distros as well as ones for experienced/professional users. It’s alright if the former will go towards simplification, as long as we have plenty more keeping the tinkering spirit.
Besides, each and every distro has a powerful tool that can help you do everything: the terminal. No one limits you there, and unlike in Windows, terminal is heavily and commonly used.
As AI-skeptical as I often am, is this really problematic? AI taking notes and then sharing them at the end of the meeting, for example, is objectively good.
I know how it works, my problem is that server software is meant to run constantly in the background, and needs to be managed in a specific way, and I specifically don’t want this to happen.
I know I can put self-hosted server behind a VPN, but it’s an entirely different use case.
The rise of self-hosted option comes from the distrust of the Big Tech and the desire to avoid a single point of failure.
Sure, commercial solutions are better hardened, but they are also more likely to be attacked in the first place. And nothing is there to protect you from the prying eyes of those who host it for you, which is a valid threat as well.
Still, one thing better, privacy-wise, than having your own server is to not rely on any servers to begin with.
Aside from all controversy around snaps and stuff, which newbies don’t have to get into, there’s GNOME coming as default.
Desktop environments essentially define how the new user treats the system and Linux as a whole. And I believe GNOME is a terrible starting point, at least for those coming from Windows.
It follows entirely different logic, is very different visually, and overall, adds a lot of extra confusion.
IMO, for a smooth transition, you’d rather offer something based on KDE or at least Cinnamon. Kubuntu will do fine, but it has to be mentioned specifically. Mint will be nice. And then as they explore, they’ll find what fits them best.
Quite some people do, so it’s great such options exist.
My own gripe is with self-hosted apps that don’t need a server to begin with.
Why do I have to run a server to manage my bookmarks? Write down recipes? Control available stock? Manage finances?
All that can be done via local-first apps that may then have some backup functionality (or have files in one place so I could sync them). Adding a server layer only adds complexity and forces me to keep it on or toggle every time, affecting performance and battery life.
For all I remember, Timeshift only supports /home snapshots, which won’t help to revert the system. Could be wrong though.
I’m happy you’re happy about your distro, though!
For a boring stop, I ended up on OpenSUSE Tumbleweed.
It’s not too boring, and at the same time, once you set it up, it just works and does what you ask it to.
It’s also very drama-free, not taking radical and controversial steps and not breaking someone’s workflow.
In case something got broken anyways, rollback functionality is set up nicely out of the box on btrfs systems, and snapshots are automatically taken before any updates.
This rollback functionality, along with extensive automated testing of all packages in the official repos, also makes it pretty much the only stress-free rolling release experience.
That’s the magic of distro-agnostic DE’s :)
Happy it worked for you without a hitch - it’s not the most primitive operation out there :)
Why did you go this way, if I may ask?
Fair! Especially as a server software
I appreciate Debian being the community distro, but other than that, how’s it much better?
Arch broke for me quite fast any time I tried to run it. I have no idea how to manage Arch properly without being a red-eyed nerd constantly checking forums for broken updates and other notes.
Nah, OpenSUSE/Fedora require very little maintenance too - the only thing separating them from Mint is more knowledge required to set them up the right way. Terminal has more use there.
So, I’d expect you to confidently operate either at home without much work. You have competence, and neither requires your constant attention.
Tumbleweed might be a bit of a hard start, since it assumes you already know a bunch of nuances. But I’m happy that you were ready to learn and grasped it from the get-go!
Hope you’ll have your software figured out
Which is exactly what OpenSUSE/Fedora have to offer. It just works and doesn’t get in the way. The only real difference between them and Mint in terms of user experience is that they require some more proficiency with the terminal and experience with Linux overall and do not assume user to be a complete newbie.
So, you’re on the right track with Mint. It holds to nearly the same philosophy, and offers you the tools you may find useful as a less proficient user. Keep it up!
As someone who ran Manjaro as my first Linux for 1,5 years, it’s a breeze to set up and everything just works…until it doesn’t.
What screws it is that eventually, over time, something goes wrong. Something breaks here and there, new bugs appear, and without Arch proficiency that is not really expected of a Manjaro user, it’s next to impossible to track it down. So, eventually one has to reinstall.
I’ve been a strong Manjaro proponent back in the day, but now I see its flaws, unfortunately. I wish it could be a great option, though.
Terminal is the only thing that is pretty much universal in all distributions. It is too essential to lose relevance. Besides, even when giving advice to new users, you can either list settings for each specific DE and possibly distribution, or you can just give a terminal command.