Help me pick a distro!
Help me pick a distro!
I chose opensuse with xfce. Many people assisted me. It's manageable. Just wish the search function looked for files rather than applications. I've been using Linux daily since 2013. I've experimented with Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, Puppy Linux, and all those variations of Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, etc. It's frustrating. I won't pretend it's fine; I use it because it performs better than Windows from 2018 onward. I often revert to Windows 7 for reliability since it functions better. After watching a recent video on the main Linus channel, I feel justified. My criteria for a distro are: 1) Stability. I currently run Ubuntu, which has this annoying issue that blocks opening tabs from the tray unless triple-clicked. Every other distro I try has problems. That's acceptable, but I prefer fewer issues. 2) Package manager. I'm not skilled at compiling or installing software myself. It's difficult. I want to know which distro offers the best, most maintained GUI installer. Sometimes I need tools like Paint.NET and when no Linux version exists, I have to search for alternatives on the download store. More than half the programs fail to launch, and those that do are terrible. 3) Limited updates. All updates seem to cause problems. Until now, installing a distro usually leads to instability—breaking things right away. So, does a suitable distro exist? Updated November 17, 2021 by marcosmoutta
No software matches this requirement. It's hard to quantify, but OpenSUSE stands out as a solid choice. Regular updates are essential for safety. Server-focused distros (such as OpenSUSE or Debian) typically don’t provide feature upgrades in their repositories, though they still deliver security patches. You can opt out of these updates, but I advise against it.
This appears to be a task suited for Fedora Silverblue or Kinoite. Check out their websites at https://silverblue.fedoraproject.org/ and https://kinoite.fedoraproject.org/ for more details. Both projects rely on rpm-ostree to build an immutable package manager, though Silverblue uses Gnome while Kinoite uses KDE.
It seems you're considering alternatives to Flatpaks. Debian stable and openSUSE Leap are solid choices. Remember, Flatpak limits still apply, and the OP preferred a more stable update path. Fedora might not fit even with its immutability. CentOS Stream, Rhel, Alma, or Rocky could work better downstream.
There are likely both, since there are many documented issues with Windows 7. While it made significant improvements, it still has unresolved bugs. Nearly every application contains some flaws, particularly given the complexity of an operating system.
Many have noticed that every operating system has its flaws. But if you aim to reduce bugs, choosing one with stronger hardware and software sync makes sense. Windows excels with Intel processors thanks to the partnership between Microsoft and Intel. Similarly, Ubuntu and RHEL perform smoothly on Xeons. For those using home setups, the Raspberry Pi 400 offers the best balance of tight integration. It’s not always about buying a new machine; sometimes a budget-friendly device like the Pi delivers excellent results. Unless your tasks require heavy GPU use, it handles most needs just as well. Even though it’s inexpensive, it lasts a long time. I’ve maintained crucial home automation and self-hosted systems on the same Pi for six years. If you want to play games beyond emulated versions, consider upgrading to a Raspberry Pi 4 or 400 as your primary gaming rig. Then pair it with Windows 10 for optimal performance. Welcome to a new way of computing.