Hi there!

Seeing the enshittification of Windows unfold, I’m curious about trying out Linux.

I don’t want to move over my main machine just yet, but I’ve got a 9 yo HP Pavilion 15-e001ed spare laptop I want to experiment with. Eventually I want a gaming laptop that can run steam games.

When I googled I found a plethora of pieces of advice, but seeing the proselytizing for Linux here, maybe I could get a bit more personal advice as a potential conscript.

So what advice would you give me to start my journey into Linux?

UPDATE: Ok my cherry is popped, writing this from a fresh Mint install. It’s suprisingly smooth sailing. Only thing is somehow software gets installed on my root partition instead of the home partition I made because people told me so.

But overall not nearly as dounting as I thought it would be. Thanks for the help everybody!

  • naeapEnglish
    1·
    4 days ago

    Not OP, but will need to check it out if it fits for my mother’s laptop, thanks for the recommendation!

    Could you tell my, why you think it’s better?

    • LucidBoi@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      2·
      4 days ago

      Honestly, I just prefer GNOME and the fact that their (Zorin) whole design philosophy caters to people completely new to Linux. I was too, a few months ago, and Zorin OS was a totally smooth ride.

      • naeapEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        Thanks for the answer!

        I just looked through the different Zorin OS editions and I’m not quite sure, what their “Advanced productivity tools” are, they’re selling in their “Pro” Version

        Anyway, I was more flirting with the education edition anyway, but not sure if there is too much bloat, meant for school administration stuff.

        So I was thinking about just going for the Core version and install the educational software afterwards.

        But the Pro version kinda puts me off.
        If there are some system settings not accessable, because they strangle the user account to not be able to actually do with their system as they want, then this is not interesting for me.

        But I guess, I’m seeing it to dark here…?
        Would be nice to know, if you have any insight, what the actual difference to the Pro version is, despite some themes and pre installed creative software
        Only the advanced productivity things let some alarm bells ring, but maybe I’m paranoid here?

        Thanks in advance!
        I’ll soon need to manage to test it out, but would be nice to have some more information upfront :⁠-⁠)