Consider your needs and preferences when selecting a distribution.
Consider your needs and preferences when selecting a distribution.
I’m seeking a reliable OS without the hassle of constant switching. Debian looks promising, but I need a quick decision. Key points: lightweight, stable, user-friendly like Windows, and ease of use. Also, a short summary on how well Debian works with its related versions would be helpful.
How minimal the system can be? What operating system should I use? I think Debian Stable or Ubuntu would be a good choice. Their package sets should work together, though usually everything you need is available in the repositories—just stick to those sources for the best experience.
I agree with the reviewer. It perfectly satisfies all your needs and features a stunning "Windows theme" you can set up. The top bar mimics Windows closely, giving a polished look. It includes a standard Win10 background and appears like genuine stock Windows at first. Additionally, it offers a useful app library, which is a great addition.
It should run smoothly without extra background tasks. I expect it will work well on an XPS 13. Mint seems a good fit for my requirements. I’m leaning toward Ubuntu or Mint. Appreciate the advice!
I suggest trying mint too. I installed it for my parents many years ago and it's working fine. It's not about the mint itself, but the Cinnamon desktop it uses. You can install that on Debian as well. Keep in mind: mint runs on the Debian testing branch, which is also used by Ubuntu. For a stable version, consider Linux Mint Debian or Debian with Cinnamon desktop.
I favor official documentation when available. This is because many software packages on numerous repositories remain unupdated for years. For example, Eclipse IDE. It’s worth checking its status on the repository. Nvidia drivers can also be outdated. For these proprietary tools, I recommend visiting their website or using a third-party PPA to obtain and refresh them.
Consider Xubuntu if you prefer a Windows-like feel while retaining a similar vibe. Xfce offers a lightweight desktop that works well within Xubuntu, and it receives solid support because it’s essentially Ubuntu with a different interface. Regarding package management, there are two main types: Debian-style (.deb) files are common in Debian and Ubuntu, while Red Hat-style (.rpm) files are typical for Fedora and OpenSUSE. Package files consist of multiple files that together form software, maintained by maintainers who may distribute them directly or via a central repository like Canonical’s. For Debian-based systems you’d use dpkg to handle .deb packages and apt-get or aptitude for repositories. On Red Hat systems, rpm and yum serve the same purpose. For example: (Debian style) sudo apt-get install vlc and dpkg --install /pathToFile. I suggest sticking with any Ubuntu-based distribution. Edited February 10, 2018 by SilverSoul