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I've used ubuntu on and off for a while now, and I've been debating switching over my main computer from windows to ubuntu. Would you recommend Debian instead?

I've used ubuntu on and off for a while now, and I've been debating switching over my main computer from windows to ubuntu. Would you recommend Debian instead? Are there any downsides/incompatibilities I should be aware of before doing so? I've used Raspbian a reasonable amount, but mainly for normal raspberry pi things instead of as a desktop system so I've don't really have much hands-on experience with it

Wickedflickr 2y ago
If you opt for Debian, try out Linux Mint's Debian edition, it's the smoothest option for desktop use.
- zcar 2y ago
  Mint is great, served me well for many years. Never had an issue. With Debian I would mess things up if I messed with something I should not be touching. There are faster options but it requires more maintenance. Mint gets out of your way and just works.
  - kennysoona 2y ago
    You would probably have issues in mint if you messed with things you should not be touching also. Seems wrong to hold that against Debian.
    - zcar 2y ago
      That's the thing about mint. You don't have to mess with it because it works. Updating, installing, deleting, changing settings, no problems. That's is my experience with mint. Cannot say the same about any other distro.
      - kennysoona 2y ago
        You don't have to mess with Debian either. By your own admission you were messing with things you shouldn't have been.
        zcar 2y ago
        I did if I wanted to fix issues with WiFi, audio, installations, etc. That never happened to me when using mint. Another example: I shouldn't be messing with fixing packages after an arch update, but I sometimes have too. It has always been something simple, even less issues than debian, plus other advantages. Again, that is my experience.
        kennysoona 2y ago
        > I did if I wanted to fix issues with WiFi, audio, installations, etc. That never happened to me when using mint. That might have been due to a bug in some issue that you would have to fix under Mint as well. > It has always been something simple, even less issues than debian, plus other advantages. Again, that is my experience. Sure, that's fine, I still don't think it makes sense to put down a distro because you were messing with things you shouldn't have been. If you said you had to, then that's different from messing with something you shouldn't have been, since you should have been to fix it. It seems the real issue was not that you were messing with something you shouldn't have been, bur rather stuff was not working for you as well out of the box.
- marssaxman 2y ago
  I switched to Mint from Ubuntu on my personal laptop, and mostly like it. I've had no compatibility issues.
- gspencley 2y ago
  I'm another Mint user. IIRC it was when an Ubuntu update pushed the Unity DE on me that I abandoned it. And that would have been back in like 2012 or 2013 ish. The reason I use Linux in the first place is because I know what I'm going to get. There may be a few UI tweaks between Mint MATE versions, but there's rarely breaking changes that completely and fundamentally alter the way that I'm meant to be interacting with my machine. As an end user I want stability in all things. Don't move menus or change keyboard shortcuts (and especially don't change the entire freakin' DE) without making a massive fuss that this "upgrade" might not be for all users with an option to . In any case, Mint MATE gives me the compromise that I want between a smooth and "pretty" user interface that looks relatively modern without being a heavy resource hog like other DEs that strive for that (cough KDE cough).
- Pantheria 2y ago
  [dead]
arcfour 2y ago
As someone who has not used Windows for years now, Ubuntu is fine, but personally I ended up switching to Fedora after a while. But I think people will always have problems with any OS and you'll hear about those more than the people that are running without issue.
timbit42 2y ago
I would recommend Linux Mint first. It's definitely one of the best distros out right now and great for people coming from Windows. There is also a Debian edition of Mint called LMDE. I would recommend Debian second and I wouldn't recommend Ubuntu at all, mostly because of the SNAPs but also because they really gave up trying to provide a good desktop experience when they stopped Unity many years ago now.
- voidUpdate 2y ago
  Seeing as everyone seems to be recommending that, I'll give it a look haha. I am pretty comfortable with Linuxes (Linuces?), I'm only on windows right now out of habit and program support, but I believe that Linux has a lot better compatibility these days through things like Proton. And if I really do need something Windows-flavoured again, I can just spin up a VM or something haha

Wickedflickr 2y ago

If you opt for Debian, try out Linux Mint's Debian edition, it's the smoothest option for desktop use.

zcar 2y ago
Mint is great, served me well for many years. Never had an issue. With Debian I would mess things up if I messed with something I should not be touching. There are faster options but it requires more maintenance. Mint gets out of your way and just works.
- kennysoona 2y ago
  You would probably have issues in mint if you messed with things you should not be touching also. Seems wrong to hold that against Debian.
  - zcar 2y ago
    That's the thing about mint. You don't have to mess with it because it works. Updating, installing, deleting, changing settings, no problems. That's is my experience with mint. Cannot say the same about any other distro.
    - kennysoona 2y ago
      You don't have to mess with Debian either. By your own admission you were messing with things you shouldn't have been.
      - zcar 2y ago
        I did if I wanted to fix issues with WiFi, audio, installations, etc. That never happened to me when using mint. Another example: I shouldn't be messing with fixing packages after an arch update, but I sometimes have too. It has always been something simple, even less issues than debian, plus other advantages. Again, that is my experience.
        kennysoona 2y ago
        > I did if I wanted to fix issues with WiFi, audio, installations, etc. That never happened to me when using mint. That might have been due to a bug in some issue that you would have to fix under Mint as well. > It has always been something simple, even less issues than debian, plus other advantages. Again, that is my experience. Sure, that's fine, I still don't think it makes sense to put down a distro because you were messing with things you shouldn't have been. If you said you had to, then that's different from messing with something you shouldn't have been, since you should have been to fix it. It seems the real issue was not that you were messing with something you shouldn't have been, bur rather stuff was not working for you as well out of the box.
marssaxman 2y ago
I switched to Mint from Ubuntu on my personal laptop, and mostly like it. I've had no compatibility issues.
gspencley 2y ago
I'm another Mint user. IIRC it was when an Ubuntu update pushed the Unity DE on me that I abandoned it. And that would have been back in like 2012 or 2013 ish. The reason I use Linux in the first place is because I know what I'm going to get. There may be a few UI tweaks between Mint MATE versions, but there's rarely breaking changes that completely and fundamentally alter the way that I'm meant to be interacting with my machine. As an end user I want stability in all things. Don't move menus or change keyboard shortcuts (and especially don't change the entire freakin' DE) without making a massive fuss that this "upgrade" might not be for all users with an option to . In any case, Mint MATE gives me the compromise that I want between a smooth and "pretty" user interface that looks relatively modern without being a heavy resource hog like other DEs that strive for that (cough KDE cough).
Pantheria 2y ago
[dead]

arcfour 2y ago

As someone who has not used Windows for years now, Ubuntu is fine, but personally I ended up switching to Fedora after a while. But I think people will always have problems with any OS and you'll hear about those more than the people that are running without issue.

timbit42 2y ago

I would recommend Linux Mint first. It's definitely one of the best distros out right now and great for people coming from Windows. There is also a Debian edition of Mint called LMDE. I would recommend Debian second and I wouldn't recommend Ubuntu at all, mostly because of the SNAPs but also because they really gave up trying to provide a good desktop experience when they stopped Unity many years ago now.

voidUpdate 2y ago
Seeing as everyone seems to be recommending that, I'll give it a look haha. I am pretty comfortable with Linuxes (Linuces?), I'm only on windows right now out of habit and program support, but I believe that Linux has a lot better compatibility these days through things like Proton. And if I really do need something Windows-flavoured again, I can just spin up a VM or something haha