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this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2024
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I see Linux in my future, as I just don't have the cash for a new rig.
I have to be careful though, as it's my family PC, and the rest of my family aren't going to tolerate much of a learning curve. It really needs to just work out of the box.
Considering Zorin OS. Hopefully I can get it on my SSD next to Windows so I can dual-boot for a while to test the water...
You'd be better off installing Linux on another drive if you're going to dual boot. Windows loves to mess with the EFI boot partition which ends up borking the Linux bootloader.
If your family does more than just browse the web, there's definitely going to be a bit of a learning curve, it's possible though. I converted my 73 year old father to Linux after he used Windows for 25 years.
If you install the Linux bootloader on a separate partition from the Windows bootloader, then it's trivial to repair it, but that might be a bit advanced for a basic user.
I have been wanting to make the switch to Linux myself, and have done a bit of research on which to try for a beginner coming from windows. However the dual boot dangers are worrying me a bit, I dont want to nuke my windows installation just yet and only test the waters.
I have an SSD with windows on it and another with most of my programs and files. Could I partition the latter for a Linux installation or would I risk windows messing with it anyway?
Installing Linux on a separate drive is probably a better bet. I'll admit I didn't have much trouble with it, but I dual booted Windows 8.1 with Linux, not 10, and my understanding is it has only gotten fuckier.
In either case you may wish to "test the waters" by installing and running Linux in a virtual machine or on a thumb drive at first, to take it for a test drive and see if you can live with it.
Yep, in fact, installing it on a different drive completely would probably be your safest bet 😉 Windows may still mess with it, but if it has its own EFI System Partition, it should hopefully leave the one for Linux alone.
Ah really? I could put it on the hard drive, but the whole point of the SSD was for it to take the OS... Will have to think on that.
They generally don't do more than browse the web so I'm not anticipating any major issues. I used to game on it, but it's so old now I've stopped using it for games.
Maybe I'll put it on a usb for a while instead of dual booting.
I meant installing Linux itself on another drive, but having the EFI System Partition on another drive could work theoretically.
Go with Pop! Pop! Is a great OS and has pretty much everything working right out of the box. Go with Gnome so that people understand they need to do things slightly different rather than trying to use a Linux machine like a Windows machine. Plus Gnome is just awesome. Hit the windows key, type the first couple letters of the program you want to open, hit enter, done! The Pop shop has almost everything an average user would need, so you can install things with the click of a button without having to search the Internet, and updates are a hands off affair.
Edit: since you're not a Linux user I'll clarify Gnome. Gnome is a desktop environment, and Pop is the actual operating system. In Linux you can change how your computer interface looks and works by choosing different desktop environments(DE). A variation of Gnome is the default DE for Pop, and it works great. KDE would be the DE most similar to Windows, but it has enough differences that it can frustrate Windows users. Gnome is completely different, so they'll take the time to figure something out rather than just getting frustrated that it's different. Besides, the learning curve on Gnome is basically zero. Just use the Windows key and start typing. It's literally that simple.
I’ll counter that when I tried gnome it was so far it was frustrating while KDE took some adjustment but it worked like a de was supposed to work in my brain. And gnome wasn’t as easily customizable as kde
Yeah, no recommendation will work for everyone. My advice was just based on observation of new Linux users and the challenges I see them complaining about. I'm glad you found something that works for you.
Oh absolutely, I just wanted to share because some people will see that and think “if gnome is easier and I hated it then I shouldn’t bother with KDE”. Nah if you don’t like gnome try KDE or cinnamon. Everyone is different, that’s why there are multiple major des.
Go with Mint rather than Zorin.
I use Linux Mint on a bunch of my machines
In general it's pretty painless
I still have a Windows machine but I'm hoping to fix that soon