Best Linux Distro

[vision]

I feel like adding a bit more to the conversation.

First, I've used Linux so long that I get really frustrated using Windows 10 and 11. Same with MacOs. I have no idea how to use an iPhone, like literally can't seem to turn it on and open an app. However, all these things have more in common than differences and it's just a matter of learning how to do that thing you want, which is usually clicking/tapping/swiping in a new place and remembering that for the future.

Second, Linux has been dead easy to use for the past several years. All the major distributions have reached convergence and are fully mature. The only thing different is the level of choice you have in Linux and that's in comparison to "no choice" on other operating systems. Allow me to explain.

I never heard the term "desktop environment" before 2010. Window, Mac, Android -- there is a limit to how you can customize menu bars, windows, etc. But Linux allows you to change literally everything, and all those ideas spawned different desktop environments. I give potential Linux users the same advice I give friends who want to get into home recording: just download anything that looks interesting and try to make noise with it. If it feels intuitive great, you're done. If not, just download something else because every major DAW (digital audio workstation) is basically the same. This is also true for Linux. You go to the Linux Mint site and download three different versions of the same thing. Don't like any of those three? Try Ubuntu or Fedora and choose between Gnome and KDE. Still not your taste? Well get ready because there are at least a dozen other DEs out there. There is actually a term for trying them out, it's called distro-hopping and everyone does it. From 2010 to 2013 I probably installed a new OS every three months. Now I've been using one for the past six or seven years and I don't see me changing any time soon.

[Jeff250]

I have no idea how to use an iPhone, like literally can't seem to turn it on and open an app.

I can totally relate. I had to Google how to turn off an iPad today.

[Isaac]

I thought my work-issued iphone was glitching when tried to copy and paste. Apparently you click to pull up the copy/paste/select menu in a textbox... And it goes to longpress if it's regular text. That's so bad. Android does this way better.

[TigerRaptor]

If you decide to try Kubuntu or a distro with KDE Plasma at some point, here are a few things worth noting.

Kubuntu’s firewall is disabled by default. If enabled, you may need to manually forward ports for programs to function properly. Waydroid, Samba, and Apache fall into that category. This generally applies to all Ubuntu-based distributions.

Speaking of Waydroid, since BlueStacks doesn’t support Linux, it’s an excellent alternative for running Android apps. Genymotion is another solid option.

Another thing that’s turned off by default in Kubuntu is Flatpak. You can enable it through the Settings menu in Discover.

If you’re using a dual- or triple-monitor setup, you might run into an annoying issue where applications don’t remember their size or position after being moved. To fix that, right-click the toolbar once (twice for Firefox), go to More Actions > Configure Special Application Settings > App Property, and adjust the settings from there.

The classic desktop icons Computer, Network, Home, and Trash, reminiscent of the old Windows 95 days—were removed from Plasma around version 5. If you’d like to bring them back, the YouTuber Switched to Linux has a great tutorial that shows you how to do it. (Linux Mint still has them).

https://switchedtolinux.com/tutorials/a ... -to-plasma

[Jeff250]

I think that the idea of running a firewall is mostly unnecessary on linux. Like, if you don't want people connecting to your machine on port XXX, then why did you install and configure a service to run on port XXX? Just don't do that. (If you want only you to be able to connect to it, then configure the service to bind to 127.0.0.1, the address of your loopback interface, instead of 0.0.0.0.) The only reason you need a firewall on Windows is because it comes with a bunch of dangerous services running out of the box.

[Tunnelcat]

Wow, Microsquish is really trying hard to make everyone switch to Linux. That last three updates have broken something each time they've rolled out. The first one broke the mouse and keyboard in the recovery environment. The fix for that broke the Realtek Sound Controller and yet another fix broke the task manager, so that each time you opened it, it left the instance running when you closed it. Eventually, you had umpteen instances of the taskmaster running depending on how many times you opened it, eating up valuable CPU cycles. Linux Mint is looking pretty good right now on my office machine, even though I managed to get a local account when I first set it up on 23H3. Right now, on all my Win 11 computers, I've blocked updates for the time being until they get their effing mess fixed. It's reported that they're using their stupid A.I. to create updates. Uh huh. Stupid is as stupid does

[Krom]

Huh... So I checked, with process explorer and sure enough task manager was staying resident. Fascinating.

Well, the way to get around it is instead of closing task manger with the X like normal, just end task on itself in the apps tab and it closes properly.

[Tunnelcat]

It gets better. Another patch has been confirmed to turn on Bitlocker Recovery at reboot, at least on Enterprise versions of Windows. Geezus H! Now I have to make sure that MF stays OFF on Pro.

[Tunnelcat]

Oh this gets worse. I've already found out that Bitlocker is turned on by default when you install the OS. I have a local account on my office machine and Bitlocker wasn't turned on after the install, fortunately. But apparently, any time MS installs a patch or update, it will automatically turn Bitlocker back on, which it did. Is there a way to permanently disable Bitlocker and prevent the automatic re-enabling of Bitlocker by MS? When I have the time, Linux is going on this particular machine.

[Krom]

I'm on a local account and bitlocker is off on all my drives. Actually my D: drive appears to be entirely exempt from bitlocker and doesn't even show up as an option to turn it on for, probably because it is a dynamic disk mirror array.

[Tunnelcat]

That machine is on a local account. Apparently, MS will turn on Bitlocker after every update no matter if you have a local or MS account. So now after every update, I have to turn the damn thing off. And you can bet that there'll be no class action lawsuit to reign MS in as long as Trump is in office. We're already seeing the rampant use of A.I. since he deregulated that monster.

A question about Linux security. What does everyone use for virus protection?

[TigerRaptor]

Linux desktop users aren’t a major target compared to servers, so there isn’t much available in terms of antivirus software. Comodo, Sophos, and ESET used to offer desktop antivirus options, but those are mostly discontinued. These days, the main choices are on-demand scanners like ClamAV or the Kaspersky virus removal tool, though you’ll need a VPN to use it.

[Jeff250]

I've never used anything for antivirus on Linux. I don't think it is very typical to do so.

[vision]

I also have never used anti-virus on Linux. Or Windows. The anti-virus programs are more trouble than the viruses.

[Isaac]

https://www.webpronews.com/linux-breaks ... and-macos/

5% (2% gain from the original 3%) seems small but that loss means lost sales and ad revenue for Microsoft. I don't really care if M$ fixes their ways since it's been decades since I had any copy of windows. I think XP was supported when I ditched it. But I fully expect the greedy corporation to quantify that 2% loss into dollars. Not to mention I'd expect there's a greater % of people switching to Apple since it's technically easier to buy one than learn what a bootloader does.

So I FULLY expect in 2026 M$ releases a Pro style OS with no "online" account requirement, no ai, and stripped down pre-installed software. Their best OSes were the always the least bloated versions. that's my hot-take, anyway...

[Jeff250]

You may be describing the present server version of Windows. But I don't see any of those things happening in the consumer version. In fact, I predict that in 2026 the online requirements will become even more onerous, the amount of AI injected into the OS will reach new levels, the OS will become even more bloated, and there will be more advertising and tracking than ever before. These days less than 10% of Microsoft's revenue is from Windows. They loathe the users of their operating system and will do their best to extract as much value from them as they can while they can.

[TigerRaptor]

It's still possible to use a local account on Windows as long as someone is willing to put in the work to stick it back to Microsoft.

Chris made an easy workaround.

[Isaac]

The fact that it depends on curl, a program that's not even installed by default on every Linux distro, is pretty depressing. I'm kind of amazed it's a default app. What next? Python3 by default on windows?

[TigerRaptor]

YIkes! Microsoft admits many core features don't work on windows 11.

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-f ... re-broken/

[Isaac]

I saw this and thought it's like the marketing guys said "we need windows 11 to be the hype train OS. We want to hype the stock market so much that it will be impossible to describe any part of windows without mentioning AI... What do you mean it's not realistic?... just make it KIND OF WORK, stupid engineers "

[TigerRaptor]

Microslop Winblows keeps getting worse. Copilot is now integrated into the file manager.

[Isaac]

So what will it look like when M$ bails on copilot? When the fire the CEO or when windows 12 launches as a normal OS?

edit: I assume this is what causes the AI bubble to burst.

[TigerRaptor]

From the looks of it, Microsoft doesn't seem to have any plans for a Windows 12 release. Copilot will be sticking around for a while; maybe it's permanent—hard to say. Despite the heavy backlash Copilot has received, Microsoft is still pushing it very aggressively. Turn on your LG TV in the morning, and there is Copilot right on the screen. That move didn't go well after numerous complaints.

I seriously hope the AI bubble collapses. Microsoft, Nvidia, and so many others are getting ridiculous.

Tunnelcat how is your adventure into Linux working out?

[Isaac]

Just chiming in to say it's gotten worse. Apparently you need to sign into your online account to have terminal access and M$ has the ability to give law enforcement your disk's encryption key (like how...?).

[Tunnelcat]

Crap, even Notepad had a vulnerability that had to be patched this time. With all those "features" that Microslop has been bloating it up with, as well as their hated A.I. CoPilot, it's not surprising. Why they can't leave a simple typing program alone is beyond me. And now there's a new Edge bug caused by the February update. Apparently it turns red on many systems. Since the previous updates screwed up graphics and gaming, it should be no surprise that something would break when they "fixed" their earlier January patch debacle. And don't get me going on MS dropping support for .NET 3.5. There goes playing some of my old games on my newer system.

[Isaac]

Notepad++ was already my goto if on windows (which has its own share of vulnerabilities, like people attacking the updater), but that's still way better than what M$ Notepad has become.


edit:

Things are getting worse. California's AB 1043, Colorado Bill 26-051, and New York Bill S8102A, all "protect the children" laws, are going to require all operating systems have ID Checks. This is all happening in the same year Windows 12 is set to come out, which has no lessons learned from Windows 11, requiring even more NPU usage for AI features that really don't need to be on everyone's machine.

If M$ is somehow funding the "protect the children with your OS" lobby, then I'm expecting all states to bend the knee.

[vision]

Attached a chart I found with OS stats from Proton. I don't know anything about CachyOS but it's the top Linux OS for gaming.

[TigerRaptor]

Attached a chart I found with OS stats from Proton. I don't know anything about CachyOS but it's the top Linux OS for gaming.

CachyOS is one of the few Linux distros that lives up to the hype. Compared to a distro like Kubuntu, the difference in performance and resource usage is noticeable. Even when running it with the Btrfs file system, my system remained very responsive. Games performed better, and web browsers (Google and Firefox-based) were noticeably more responsive.

I did notice some differences between EXT4 and Btrfs as EXT4 felt a little snapper with Waydroid. I can't comment on F2FS since I stopped running the OS a couple of weeks ago. For a rolling release, Cachy is stable. The only reason I stopped using it was the constant daily updates got annoying over time.