Created a fresh setup, yet numerous Linux choices exist—what should you choose?
Created a fresh setup, yet numerous Linux choices exist—what should you choose?
Hey everyone. I just finished setting up a new PC and it’s been a bit of a learning curve. I went with Ubuntu because it worked well for me. It turned out to be the only version that fit my needs. I’m still getting comfortable with Linux, though not quite the command line yet. Plus, my company relies on Ubuntu for its servers, so using something similar made sense for both personal and work use. I’ve read through all the comments here. Thanks for the chat. I might close this thread now since most questions seem answered. Appreciate your help! End edit. I’m planning to set up a dual-boot system. I already have Windows 10 Pro on one drive, and I intend to install Linux on the other. I’ll use it mainly for work—design, writing, and coding. For design and writing, I usually rely on my MacBook. I also code there, but I need to set up a desktop at home for that. I don’t think I’ll need direct access to the Linux drive from Windows. But I should still be able to reach the Windows drive from Linux, just in case I use some Windows tools. If that’s not possible, I can transfer files via USB or cloud storage. I’m looking for something practical rather than super easy to set up. I’ve checked many Linux distros and there are plenty of choices. I’m leaning toward Ubuntu, though. If you want details about my PC, here’s the link: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/q9gwrH. I’ve heard sometimes a Linux distro might not play well with certain hardware. Are there workarounds for that? Also, my monitor is 144Hz wqhd; will Linux support that resolution? Probably more about the drive specs than the display itself. Edited October 23, 2019 by rejor11
Thanks for the update. I actually set up the LTS version of Ubuntu before reading this. I managed to download and install the drivers from the AMD site for my 5700x running Linux, and everything is working smoothly. I’m currently using it at my desired resolution of 144hz. It looks fine for now. I don’t intend to play games on Linux, just using my Windows partition. Maybe gaming would change things.
I'm focused on Linux because it offers flexibility, stability, and a strong community support system.
I'm using Mint right now. It's built on Ubuntu, which itself is based on Debian, but it looks more like Windows. I've tried Ubuntu, Mint, and Manjaro, and I prefer Mint the most.
I begin with Fedora paired with your preferred desktop setup. Once installed, you can deploy a kvm VM to discover your ideal operating system. Switching OSes is straightforward. However, Fedora’s netinst stands out since it lets you craft your own customized environment. Adapting to Linux becomes much simpler once you’re comfortable. After gaining experience, I recommend Arch as the next step. I initially chose Ubuntu (16.04) for its popularity, but after realizing Ubuntu’s size issues, I moved to Fedora’s minimal version and later switched to Arch. I’ve been using Arch for about a year now.
Distributions aren't crucial, what matters most is whether they offer continuous updates versus static versions. Certain utilities such as package managers vary slightly. Choose the one that suits you best.