[ShadowAce]

[aquila48]

I use Mint and am quite happy with it.

[Bob434]

Someone posted about a version that was very much like windows- I hadn’t heard of it before, but now can’t recall the name. I checked it out, but it looked like maybe a work in progress, so,I didn’t check it further. Though i should try it on a spare hd jusy for something g to do. I. Thinking it was called something like xplinux or soemthing like that. I’ll see if I can find it somehow

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

It's interesting to see how Linux Mint has moved from about #4 over the years to be #1 on a list.

I've been using it for years. I loves my Mint!

[Paladin2]

“Cons

But these are some of the constraints

Not much of an eye-candy desktop
Legacy desktop layout (menu & icons)” [Linux Mint]

Sound like Pros to me....

[DaxtonBrown]

I’ve been all Linux for about 8 years now. Started with Redhat Fedora but have been using linux Mint the last 5 years.
Saved a lot of money. No gaping holes or needs to be filled.
Libre Office (for Word and Excel compatibility)
MariaDB (Mysql)
Netbeans for Java development.Gimp for photoshopping.
Blender for Video and 3D models for 3D printing.
Apache webserver for hosting my websites through static IP

I’m a bit of a power user. But without the Microsoft until death tax.

[HippyLoggerBiker]

Good info...Thanks Much

[Lockbox]

My thoughts are with either a new or very late model computer needed for Windows 11 upgrade and the state of the economy, Linux looks to be a great option for those needing mainly basic computer functions. I know Linux can handle many programs and features but most users need just the basic programs and internet connectivity since browsers have limited the need for may individual programs.

So I would expect Linux to gain many new users.

Also read

Get over it: Microsoft is a Linux and open source company these days

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-the-linux-company/

[Organic Panic]

I have been using Ubuntu for the shop office always on machine. It has been the easiest for me to get working with the tethering app, PDAnet, for unlimited data off my cell phone plan. I go through hundreds of gigs a month and tmobile just sends a text warning they may throttle. They never do. I don’t do much with linux except for music and podcasts and running a local backup server. All my engineering and design software requires window$.

[taxcontrol]

Linux Mint babe!

[usconservative]

Some context around #4 - Ubuntu for those looking to switch from Windows.

One of the "Con's" of Ubuntu is listed as:

Requires modern hardware for better performance

The bare-bones minimum requirements for any Linux distribution should be 8Gb of memory, which is no different than Windows for the last 8+ years now. (I know, Windows says 4Gb, that's not realistic and Windows runs like a pig on three legs with only 4Gb.)

My 12+ year old AMD FX-8350 with a fairly old NVIDIA video card and a reasonable 500Gb Samsung SSD runs Linux 22.04 with Linux Kernel 5.18 very well. Enough so that I use it for my Ham Radio operations and DSP audio processing & editing.

While I haven't tried a number of the distributions on this list, I've been hard pressed to find any hardware made in the last 10-12 years that doesn't have at bare minimum a 2 core Intel or AMD CPU, 8Gb of memory that won't run Linux.

I frequently get older hardware in, clean it, refurbish it, add a cheap SSD here and there, install Linux, Brave Browser, Libre Office on it, secure it, ensure it runs reasonably well and then donate it to someone who needs it. I've done more of these than I can recall. I've yet to run across an older PC that meets the minimum requirements above, that won't run a reasonably well supported version of Linux, Ubuntu being my personal preference.

If you have older hardware 'laying around' give Linux a try. (Again, my preference is Ubuntu and it's install is as easy/simpler than Microsoft Windows. An average computer user can easily install it.)

[krogers58]

What would you recommend for a USB stick distro? (For those of us not ready to take the final leap)

[dayglored]

Microsoft is pretty smart in one respect. To the general public, it's "Windows". Maybe releases ("Windows 10" or "Windows 11", but IMO they should have stuck with 10 forever). But not every individual variant flavor. Your average Windows user doesn't know if they've got "Home" or "Pro" or "Server" or any other variant -- they just have "Windows".

Apple is even smarter in that respect. They have releases ("Catalina", "Monterey") but there are no variants like "Home" or "Pro" or "Server". It's "MacOS", done. Easy to choose.

A Windows user who is looking to switch to Linux doesn't know how to sort through a dozen Pro/Con distro distinctions.

IMO Linux will never get the wide acceptance it deserves until the number of distro choices in the "Best For Beginners" articles narrows down to one "best".

(BTW, it appears to me that Mint is the clear winner for Linux beginners.)

So why confuse things? Pick the #1, trumpet it to the heavens, and if you must present additional choices, list the others as "Alternatives to the best".

I guarantee you'll see Windows -> Linux use pick up substantially.

[Varmint Al]

Linux Mint version 21.0 beta is available for testing. I have downloaded the .iso and installed it on an SSD and moved my complete system over to it with Aptik. It has tested solidly with no errors so far. Only thing I am missing is the Clipit software, but they substituted dodin instead that works the same. Here is the link to the beta .iso: https://plug-mirror.rcac.purdue.edu/mint-images/testing/

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[Varmint Al]

Here is one example of what a customized Linux Mint Cinnamon 20.3 desktop looks like.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[Openurmind]

Finally... An honest impartial review!

Thank you Ace!

[Openurmind]

Finally... An honest impartial review!

Thank you Ace!

[killermosquito]

Manjaro on my Raspberry pi 4b works great.