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submitted 1 year ago by WR5@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

Hello!

I'm interested in moving my personal computer to running Linux but I'm not sure where to even begin. As background, I am a casual user and have a desktop with hardware from around 2014 running Windows. I am hoping to setup a NAS drive as a media server in the next year or so, offloading all of the files currently on the Windows desktop and have been interested in open source software such as Jellyfin. I also mostly game on an Xbox and Nintendo Switch, but have used the desktop in the past for gaming such as with an Oculus Rift Headset and some Steam games so not huge on getting games working on the computer. But, I do sometimes torrent using the computer so don't want to lose that capability (especially with upkeep for the media server).

With all of that said, I didn't know how to get started with choosing what Linux OS to use, setting it up, backing up my files to make sure I can use them with the new OS, etc. Making the switch seems to have great options for customization and "choosing a distro that works for you", but I don't know what would work for me or what will be user friendly for a beginner.

Any tips or pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

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[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago

Okay great! An interesting tea combination: Mint with Cinnamon :) do most desktop environments work with most distros, or is there a list per each distro?

[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

I second the Mint recommendation, but with your older hardware, I suggest using the version with Xfce instead of Cinnamon, as it's lighter weight

[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Does a desktop environment really draw that much more resource than another?

[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Oh definitely. Though I'm not actually sure how heavy Cinnamon is. Xfce or LxQt are my preference, since my hardware isn't great.

https://itsfoss.com/linux-mint-cinnamon-mate-xfce/ is a good comparison Mint-wise

[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I've added it to the list for review! Thank you!

[-] glasgitarrewelt@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

Yes, most desktop environments work with most distros. And it is quite easy to switch between them.

Something I didn't think about when my Linux journey started: A new desktop environment is exactly that. By installing a second environment you will end up with two different programs to open pictures, two different programs to open your files,.. Not a problem, just very bloaty. So chosing the prefered desktop environment in the beginning is the easiest way.

More experienced users don't choose a distro based on the desktop environments they come with but because of other factors.. For me release cycle, package manager, stability and software philosophy were important and I installed Debian.

[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Would the programs I install while using one desktop environment not be accessible from the other desktop environment? Akin to installing software in a Windows computer and each user logging into that computer can access that software?

[-] glasgitarrewelt@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

All programs you install while using one desktop environment are also accessible from the other desktop environment.

As with windows: you can have different users using different programs. If user A installs a programm it is not automatically accessible for user B (Edit: Not correct. His/her configs are not accessible, the program itself is.) User A can install two desktop environments, from both he/she can access every programm he/she has installed.

[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

So if I wanted two users for instance, then I'd have to download an extra copy of each piece of software (one per user) to be able to access (if I wanted tk store them on the drive and not on the network?)

[-] glasgitarrewelt@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Sorry, I have to correct/specify myself: By installing a programm it is by default installed on every user account. The only things that are user specific are the config and personal files. So you can make the programm look and behave in every way you want, independent from other users.

So the program files are only once on the system, independent from the number of users. There are ways to make a program accessible for only one specific user, but I never tried that.

[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Okay I see. Thanks for the clarification!

[-] silent_water@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

is it possible? yeah, it's linux, you can do whatever you want. but as a newcomer, I'd pick a distro + DE combo that you can install all at once as switching may not be the most straightforward process. when you want more control so you can set things up exactly the way you like them, there's more DIY distros that make the process easier (because you don't first have to remove the configuration that made the existing DE work the way it's set up to work).

[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Okay that's good to know. That will come later as I get more comfortable in the environment.

[-] Junkdata@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Most desktop enviornments work with most distros. There will be a selection of linux users that say it doesnt matter because though its true you can make any distro look like each other. The navigations can change depending on the distro you use. I agree with most of the comments here, since you are starting out, mint is a solid choice. You get the backings of ubuntu, + its very user frienldy. A gui for packages/drivers and good sweep of software for daily usage. Im using it now since my arc 380 gpu is supported on it to use as the host for my virtual machines. ( i virtualize other distros/BSD and windows [for those pesky windows only games/programs])

[-] WR5@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the response!

this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2023
128 points (96.4% liked)

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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