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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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Linux admin with 20 years experience, looking for "beginner" distro [Solved, the real beginner distro was the Debian I've used along the way] (self.linux)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by KISSmyOSFeddit to c/[email protected]

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I'm over tinkering with my OS. So I'm looking for a distro that "just works" out of the box for my laptop. Also I want to test an "easy" distro I can install for my grandpa.
I don't care for immutability, declarative config, being fully FOSS or having the newest stuff. I don't want snaps, or a software center that relies on them. So no Ubuntu.

What I do want (ideally out of the box):
Important:

as few annoying visible bugs and crashes as possible (looking at you, Ubuntu)
Wayland support
good package selection, so no independent fringe distro
fluid YouTube videos, streaming, pre-installed codecs

Less important:

ideally with Gnome
encrypting the hard drive from within the GUI installer
nice font rendering (used to be a problem, but I guess not anymore)
installing Steam with a button press
pre-installed sane-airprint and sane-airscan (automatic setup of my networked printer-scanner-combo)

You get the idea. The usual stuff (low-end gaming, browsing, streaming, printing, scanning) should just work. I don't have any hardware that poses a problem.
From what I've read, Mint doesn't yet support Wayland and doesn't ship with video codecs anymore. (Or am I wrong?)
What are the other options? Is Zorin king of the block now? Is Manjaro good now?

Thanks for any and all input.

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[+] [email protected] -6 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Manjaro is great.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

I really like Manjaro. I've been running it on my personal computer for many years now, however, I would not recommend it for grandma's computer. Their "delayed and curated" release strategy mostly just works but when it doesn't it doesn't. As someone mentioned elsewhere in the comments I would lean towards Red Hat or Debian for more mindless distros. I've administered thousands of Debian package updates and distro upgrades and it's so stable. We don't deserve Debian.

[–] KISSmyOSFeddit 1 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Does it have automatic updates, or do you have to manually update often like with Arch?

[–] chronicledmonocle 2 points 6 months ago

It uses pamac/pacman for packages like Arch. I believe pamac has automatic updates, if turned on.

[–] ikidd 2 points 6 months ago

I've run Manjaro for various relatives with zero issues for about 5 years now. Most of them just hit the Update button in the notification tray when it shows up, or if I'm visiting I'll update it, but it might go months without updates and just keeps working. But if you ingrain in your dad to just hit the button when he sees it, it'll be fine.

I quite like Manjaro overall. Lots of usability tweaks and low maintenance because it's curated and not completely cutting edge on the latest packages. It works.