How to get started on Linux?

[IAmNotAlpharius]

I’m sick of windows. I’ve only stuck with it personally for gaming (I have no control over work devices lol). I’ve already switched to libre office and I’m moving away from Microsoft, Google, and Apple products and services. I’d mostly just use it to game, modding, and occasionally I’ll use gimp. I’m looking to build my own computer but I don’t have much experience with Linux. I’m willing to spend 2-3k. Where’s a good place to start? I know more than the average normie but I’m open to learning new things, so I won’t be put off by something that isn’t normie friendly.

 

[dumb idiot]

install gentoo

 

[Bongocat]

Joke answer: There's (usually) nothing about linux that requires special hardware. There might be particular motherboards that have trouble with it or particular video cards that don't have drivers available (though rare). If you're building a desktop, pick what parts you want and just check that they're linux compatible with some internet research. As for distros, people recommend Mint or KDE (Kubuntu) but I really like Xubuntu. Be mentally prepared to debug your graphics card a little bit. Sometimes there's trouble with flickering but that can usually be fixed by messing with the compositor settings. Just remember to backup EVERYTHING. Make installs on separate disks. Don't try to use partitions.

Real answer: Install Gentoo.

 

[Gone Ham]

Lmao imagine using Linux

 

[Agent Abe Caprine]

Install Exherbo.

 

[Epic Fail Man]

Embrace tedium, learn to do things the hard way.

 

[User names must be unique]

I recommend just using a live USB stick for a while, you can make one with practically any flavour of linux. and if you get fed up all you need to do is restart and unplug the USB

 

[Justanotherguy]

Burn an offering to Terry Davis in Temple OS and you should have all the guidance you need

 

[Erika Furudo]

Linux Mint is supposedly the best beginner option. Just make sure you know you can stick with libre. I dropped linux prety quick due to difficulty in working with others who just use windows for everything, buf if you can live without office you're probably fine without windows.

 

[naaaaiiiiillllll!!!]

First step: get proper attire.

 

[Battlecruiser3000ad]

I’m sick of windows. I’ve only stuck with it personally for gaming (I have no control over work devices lol). I’ve already switched to libre office and I’m moving away from Microsoft, Google, and Apple products and services. I’d mostly just use it to game, modding, and occasionally I’ll use gimp. I’m looking to build my own computer but I don’t have much experience with Linux. I’m willing to spend 2-3k. Where’s a good place to start? I know more than the average normie but I’m open to learning new things, so I won’t be put off by something that isn’t normie friendly.

I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called “Linux”, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use.
Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called “Linux” distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

 

[naaaaiiiiillllll!!!]

I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called “Linux”, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use.
Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called “Linux” distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

Mmmm, pasta.

 

[Car Won't Crank]

PopOS, Mint, or any of the big Ubuntu based distros are an easy gateway. Use etcher to create the live usb and install away

 

[Faggotdog Niggertail]

Before you even attempt getting into Linux, you must get yourself into the Linux mindset.
Have a distro you want to try? Good, now throw it out. Puny beginner Distros are shit and you should feel bad, and instead go through the pain of installing Arch. Don't want to cry? Too bad. Every other linux user went through the pain and suffering of Arch and they won't even look at you until you do it too, so good luck finding any help. Make sure you pick software that is horribly supported so that when you do show your Elitism, you can also complain about it too and yet still be autistic enough not to do anything about it. Flex to everybody, even your friends (not like you have any at this point if you did) about using Linux and how superior it is, and REEEEEE at them when they bring up how nothing works for you.

Thinking about using a proprietary software because it "just works"? Cringe. Go through the pain of an old open source program that hasn't been updated since 2009 and it crashes everytime you click on it. Want it to work? Learn to program, it's opensource noob.

Oh no, did something crash? Bite the bullet and reinstall, because fuck trying to fix a problem. Distro hop. You know how I said to use Arch before? The new one is Gentoo bitch better suffer again. Arch came with an installer and everyone knows its shit now and if you use Arch, you should feel bad.

Make sure everyone knows your current linux status is using Gentoo, and make sure they clearly know so they can stop being your friend.

Oh no, can't connect to the internet. Better ask someone for help... oops looks like you don't know what you are using. Looks like someone is telling you that you should use X because X is better as you were using Y even though X is experimental, crashes, doesn't work well, and will be a living nightmare. You don't know what the fuck you are doing so you install X and now you install linux from scratch because you've been shunned again. You've bricked your computer.

Rinse and repeat.

 

[MediocreMilt]

I recommend just using a live USB stick for a while, you can make one with practically any flavour of linux. and if you get fed up all you need to do is restart and unplug the USB

This or install it in a VM

Or if all of that is tedious, set yourself up to dual boot.

I used to recommend Ubuntu for beginner, but that was before about 2014 when I realized Ubuntu is compromised by Amazon and the Chinese Communists.

Anyway, over time, you'll naturally want something less training wheels, and that only makes you a "by the way I use Arch" faggot if you

• use Arch
• brag about using Arch

I don't even know what to recommend for beginners. I guess the Dear Feeder recently began using Manjaro, which from what I understand is Arch on training wheels, as opposed to Ubuntu which is Debian on training wheels.