this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2025
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Linux

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submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) by arya@lemmy.pt to c/linux@lemmy.ml
 

I have a laptop from 2014 and I'm thinking of installing Kubuntu or Arch. I don't know much about linux but the computer is not important and is damaged so I can screw it What would you recommend? I'm thinking of something customizable (Arch) but easy to use (so Kubuntu is a good option)

If the English is not good, blame the translator 😃👍

I have the minimum requirements for both.

Edit: The computer isn't suposed for be a daily driver. And thanks for the replies.

Edit 2: I use Kubuntu btw

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[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 19 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

If you're new, you should go with Linux Mint. It works great, and provides sane GUIs and defaults for everything, unlike most other distros. For a newbie, it's the best decision. I've personally have had 5 people on Mint so far, who were originally unhappy that I formatted away their Windows partition when I told them that "I will fix it for ya" (when they came to me with their laptop because I'm a computer person), but they came to all love Mint. They said "why wasn't I using this before?".

I use Linux since 1998, and I still use Mint. Sure, I have other distros installed (Debian-Testing is my default on my desktop, many other distros on my various laptops), but Mint is the one I use the most. It just works. Just because I know how to fix something in the command line doesn't mean I want to spend time doing it, GUIs are just fine!

In fact, I'm able to easily deliver both the MacOS and the Windows look, to lure new users in with Mint, haha: https://mastodon.social/@eugenialoli/114653608461737248

[–] communism@lemmy.ml 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

who were originally unhappy that I formatted away their Windows partition

?!?!?? You can't just do that without telling someone? What about their files?

[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago

They knew about it, don't worry. It was our agreement. They saved their files too. :)

[–] timmytbt@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago

Seconded. And if you want to avoid the Ubuntu sh!t you can go for Mint DE (Debian edition)