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Linux Mint isn't the answer for Windows refugees anymore (www.xda-developers.com)

submitted 1 day ago by cm0002@literature.cafe to c/linux@programming.dev

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I've been having a big think over Linux distros. See, I've been looking back at my still-new Linux experience of nine months, and wondering how my own journey can help other people get started with FOSS operating systems. Whenever the topic of a Windows refugee-friendly OS came up, I would recommend Linux Mint because, first, it's the one everyone says, and second, it was the Linux OS that I started with, fresh off Windows.

I always follow that up with a comment about how you don't have to stick with Linux Mint if you don't want to. You can do what I did, which is to dip your toe into the Linux distro water and find something that suits you better. But if I'm setting up Linux Mint as "my first Linux distro," why not just skip the middleman and get right into the distros that have a bit more meat on them?

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[–] tux0r@snac.rosaelefanten.org 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

I think the problem here generally stems from the view that a system which is explicitly not Windows should be suitable for "Windows refugees". (Haiku would come to mind sooner than Linux, but I don't want to open that can of worms here.)

Mint isn't "like Windows", not even Zorin is "like Windows". No operating system (except perhaps ReactOS) that isn't Windows aims to provide a good sanctuary for "Windows refugees". The expectation that a Linux distribution must be "suitable for Windows users" will lead to many more disappointments.

Bill Joy (google him if necessary) once said (quite rightly):

What was the goal of the Linux community--to replace Windows? One can imagine higher aspirations.

Take Linux for what it wants to be (a free implementation of parts of V7 UNIX for reasonably modern systems), and you'll immediately be less disappointed.

(Disclosure: As far as Linux is concerned, I currently only use Gentoo myself—not because it's great for Windows users, but because it's a great Linux distribution.)

[–] Horse@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

when people say "like windows" they mean that if you are coming from windows things will be where you expect them to be and things will (on a surface level) work how you would expect them to work

[–] tux0r@snac.rosaelefanten.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

if you are coming from windows things will be where you expect them to be

This is something that Linux neither can do nor (in my opinion) should try to do.

[–] Horse@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 1 day ago

mint (or cinnamon specifically if you want to be annoying) by default has the equivalent to the start menu in the bottom left, exactly where it is on windows. the taskbar is along the bottom like it is on windows. the taskbar (on the surface) functions like it does on windows. the application menu is similar enough to windows that windows people can find where things are easily, because they are where they expect them to be. the default file browser looks and behaves (on the surface) like windows explorer.

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