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Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start?

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  Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Oguz Kaan Ocal <oguzkaanocal3169@hotmail.com> - 2026-03-26 12:46 +0300
    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-26 10:13 +0000
      Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-03-26 11:57 +0000
        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-26 12:58 +0000
      Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-26 21:53 +0000
        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-27 10:49 +0000
          Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-27 21:22 +0000
            Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-28 02:42 -0400
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:25 +0000
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:28 +0000
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:53 +0000
                  Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-03-29 11:51 +0000
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-28 18:34 +0000
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-03-30 08:13 -0700
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-30 23:58 +0000
                  Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-31 04:55 +0000
                    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-03-30 22:32 -0700
                    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-03-31 09:22 -0700
            Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:19 +0000
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-28 14:31 +0100
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-03-28 08:12 -0700
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 15:28 +0000
                  Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-28 17:15 +0100
                    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-28 18:50 +0000
                      Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 22:45 +0000
                        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-29 00:15 +0100
                          Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-28 23:20 +0000
                            Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-29 22:02 +0200
                              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-29 22:37 +0000
                                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-30 11:23 +0200
                                  Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowled  ge. Where do I start? vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-03-30 11:07 +0000
                                  Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-30 23:53 +0000
                        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-29 03:04 +0100
                          Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-29 07:05 +0000
                          Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-29 10:11 +0100
                    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-28 21:38 +0000
                  Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-28 23:30 +0100
                    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-29 03:14 +0100
                    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-29 06:54 +0000
                      Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-29 14:49 +0200
                        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-29 20:03 +0000
                          Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-30 12:29 +0200
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-28 15:11 +0100
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-28 21:36 +0000
                  Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-29 22:05 +0200
                    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-29 22:40 +0000
                      Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-30 01:33 +0000
                        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-30 20:32 +0100
                      Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-30 11:21 +0200
                        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-31 00:01 +0000
                          Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-31 14:52 +0200
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Robert Riches <spamtrap42@jacob21819.net> - 2026-03-28 14:31 +0000
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-28 16:01 +0100
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-28 18:42 +0000
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-29 03:02 +0100
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-03-29 22:06 +0200
    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? JJenssen <joemajen@arcor.de> - 2026-03-26 11:18 +0100
    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-26 14:41 +0100
    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-03-26 08:28 -0700
    Re: Completely new to Linux�Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-03-26 21:31 +0100
      Re: Completely new to LinuxZero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-26 20:37 +0000
    Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? Erin <erin@home.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:05 +0000
      Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:57 +0000
        Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-28 18:55 +0000
          Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-29 03:10 +0100
            Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-29 06:58 +0000
              Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-29 15:18 +0100
                Re: Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-29 19:59 +0000

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#84084 — Completely new to Linux—Zero coding knowledge. Where do I start?

I’m thinking about switching from Windows to Linux, but I don’t know 
anything about Linux—I’m just an end-user and don’t know a single 
command-line command. Is there a resource I can use to learn, or will I 
have to teach myself if I switch?

[toc] | [next] | [standalone]

#84088

On 26/03/2026 09:46, Oguz Kaan Ocal wrote:
> I’m thinking about switching from Windows to Linux, but I don’t know 
> anything about Linux—I’m just an end-user and don’t know a single 
> command-line command. Is there a resource I can use to learn, or will I 
> have to teach myself if I switch?

Install a noob friendly distro - I recommend Mint. If you ever used 
windows XP its very similar in look and feel.

https://linuxmint.com/

There is a forum for new users and very good installation and getting 
started guide,
https://forums.linuxmint.com/
https://linuxmint.com/documentation.php

There will be no need to use the command line or program anything. 
installation is way easier than installing Windows 11.

Download the iso and burn a USB drive or stick or CD and boot from that 
and follow instructions

You can try it out from that boot medium before you install it to the 
hard drive to get a feel for the interface.

If you cant get online help and are stuck ask here

-- 
  “A leader is best When people barely know he exists. Of a good leader, 
who talks little,When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,They will say, 
“We did this ourselves.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

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#84096

On 2026-03-26, The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 26/03/2026 09:46, Oguz Kaan Ocal wrote:
>> I’m thinking about switching from Windows to Linux, but I don’t know 
>> anything about Linux—I’m just an end-user and don’t know a single 
>> command-line command. Is there a resource I can use to learn, or will I 
>> have to teach myself if I switch?
>
> Install a noob friendly distro - I recommend Mint. If you ever used 
> windows XP its very similar in look and feel.
>
> https://linuxmint.com/
>
> There is a forum for new users and very good installation and getting 
> started guide,
> https://forums.linuxmint.com/
> https://linuxmint.com/documentation.php
>
> There will be no need to use the command line or program anything. 
> installation is way easier than installing Windows 11.
>
> Download the iso and burn a USB drive or stick or CD and boot from that 
> and follow instructions
>
> You can try it out from that boot medium before you install it to the 
> hard drive to get a feel for the interface.
>
> If you cant get online help and are stuck ask here
>

Mint is a good choice for new people.

As for the command line, you won't need it, but it can be really useful.

I use the command line still, to do the following sort of things...

Batch operations on files.  For example, resizing a bunch of images, or
converting some OPUS format downloaded files to MP3 for my car stereo.
If you need to repeat something multiple times for multiple files, the
command line is good.

Some command line programs, such as groff, running a compiler.

Some file management.

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#84098

On 26/03/2026 11:57, Borax Man wrote:
> I use the command line still, to do the following sort of things...
> 
> Batch operations on files.  For example, resizing a bunch of images, or
> converting some OPUS format downloaded files to MP3 for my car stereo.
> If you need to repeat something multiple times for multiple files, the
> command line is good.
> 
> Some command line programs, such as groff, running a compiler.
> 
> Some file management.

My main use is in accessing headless servers
Running compilations
editing configuration files

All of which are not noob level activities


-- 
Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
  – Will Durant

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#84146

On Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:13:48 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 26/03/2026 09:46, Oguz Kaan Ocal wrote:
>> I’m thinking about switching from Windows to Linux, but I don’t know
>> anything about Linux—I’m just an end-user and don’t know a single
>> command-line command. Is there a resource I can use to learn, or will I
>> have to teach myself if I switch?
> 
> Install a noob friendly distro - I recommend Mint. If you ever used
> windows XP its very similar in look and feel.
> 
> https://linuxmint.com/
> 
> There is a forum for new users and very good installation and getting
> started guide,
> https://forums.linuxmint.com/
> https://linuxmint.com/documentation.php
> 
> There will be no need to use the command line or program anything.
> installation is way easier than installing Windows 11.
> 
> Download the iso and burn a USB drive or stick or CD and boot from that
> and follow instructions

I'd expand that to 'download the Cinnamon Edition'.  Linux has a lot of 
rabbit holes you don't need to explore at the start. Cinnamon looks quite 
a bit like Windows and almost everything can be done without going near a 
command line.

Reddit gets a lot of criticism but the r/linuxmint subreddit is useful.

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#84175

On 26/03/2026 21:53, rbowman wrote:
> I'd expand that to 'download the Cinnamon Edition'.  Linux has a lot of
> rabbit holes you don't need to explore at the start. Cinnamon looks quite
> a bit like Windows and almost everything can be done without going near a
> command line.

+1

Personally I found MATE to be a bit closer to what I wanted, but fir a 
noob Cinnamon is the pretty sexy and simpler option.

-- 
“People believe certain stories because everyone important tells them, 
and people tell those stories because everyone important believes them. 
Indeed, when a conventional wisdom is at its fullest strength, one’s 
agreement with that conventional wisdom becomes almost a litmus test of 
one’s suitability to be taken seriously.”

Paul Krugman

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#84218

On Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:49:30 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 26/03/2026 21:53, rbowman wrote:
>> I'd expand that to 'download the Cinnamon Edition'.  Linux has a lot of
>> rabbit holes you don't need to explore at the start. Cinnamon looks
>> quite a bit like Windows and almost everything can be done without
>> going near a command line.
> 
> +1
> 
> Personally I found MATE to be a bit closer to what I wanted, but fir a
> noob Cinnamon is the pretty sexy and simpler option.

When I first installed 22.2 I went with MATE and then added Xfce. MATE was 
okay. The Mint tweaks to Xfce surprised me compared to what I assume is 
the plain vanilla version in Debian Bookworm.

For noobs I think it is helpful to point them to a specific iso. If 
someone coming from Windows is presented with a choice of 17 (random 
number pulled from butt) DEs analysis paralysis is sure to set in. I won't 
even mention the distros; DistroWatch only lists 100 by default.

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#84232

On 3/27/26 17:22, rbowman wrote:
> On Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:49:30 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> 
>> On 26/03/2026 21:53, rbowman wrote:
>>> I'd expand that to 'download the Cinnamon Edition'.  Linux has a lot of
>>> rabbit holes you don't need to explore at the start. Cinnamon looks
>>> quite a bit like Windows and almost everything can be done without
>>> going near a command line.
>>
>> +1
>>
>> Personally I found MATE to be a bit closer to what I wanted, but fir a
>> noob Cinnamon is the pretty sexy and simpler option.
> 
> When I first installed 22.2 I went with MATE and then added Xfce. MATE was
> okay. The Mint tweaks to Xfce surprised me compared to what I assume is
> the plain vanilla version in Debian Bookworm.
> 
> For noobs I think it is helpful to point them to a specific iso. If
> someone coming from Windows is presented with a choice of 17 (random
> number pulled from butt) DEs analysis paralysis is sure to set in. I won't
> even mention the distros; DistroWatch only lists 100 by default.

   XFCE is technically "better", though "Mate" is, well, OK.

   However a Winders junkie probably wants loads of eye candy
   and such. As such Cinnamon is theoretically "better".

   Not entirely sure if/how Mint has 'contaminated' XFCE.

   Me, gimme LXDE any day.

   The question for the OP is whether something really "different"
   is desired - or whether the quest is just for a "free Winders".
   If the latter then, well, just keep paying Bill.

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#84243

On 28/03/2026 06:42, c186282 wrote:
> The question for the OP is whether something really "different"
>    is desired - or whether the quest is just for a "free Winders".
>    If the latter then, well, just keep paying Bill.

If you are paying Bill it is  not free.

But what is happening across the board is that Win 11 appears to suck so 
badly that anyone who hasn't drunk the MicroSlop Koolaid is seriously 
eyeing 'this Linux thing, which so many people rave about'.
Now you may resent that, wishing to preserve the Purity of Linux for 
sysadmins and computer geekery.
Or you may simply see it as likely an inevitable reaction to the over 
monetisation of everything.
Personally I think that reasonably intelligent people just need to be 
pointed in the right direction. If they are too dumb to follow the 
signposts, they need to pay Steve Jobs for a walled garden of User 
Experience instead.

My sister, an art student loves her I-pad...

-- 
Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
  – Will Durant

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#84244

On 2026-03-28, c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
> On 3/27/26 17:22, rbowman wrote:
>> On Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:49:30 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> 
>>> On 26/03/2026 21:53, rbowman wrote:
>>>> I'd expand that to 'download the Cinnamon Edition'.  Linux has a lot of
>>>> rabbit holes you don't need to explore at the start. Cinnamon looks
>>>> quite a bit like Windows and almost everything can be done without
>>>> going near a command line.
>>>
>>> +1
>>>
>>> Personally I found MATE to be a bit closer to what I wanted, but fir a
>>> noob Cinnamon is the pretty sexy and simpler option.
>> 
>> When I first installed 22.2 I went with MATE and then added Xfce. MATE was
>> okay. The Mint tweaks to Xfce surprised me compared to what I assume is
>> the plain vanilla version in Debian Bookworm.
>> 
>> For noobs I think it is helpful to point them to a specific iso. If
>> someone coming from Windows is presented with a choice of 17 (random
>> number pulled from butt) DEs analysis paralysis is sure to set in. I won't
>> even mention the distros; DistroWatch only lists 100 by default.
>
>    XFCE is technically "better", though "Mate" is, well, OK.
>
>    However a Winders junkie probably wants loads of eye candy
>    and such. As such Cinnamon is theoretically "better".
>
>    Not entirely sure if/how Mint has 'contaminated' XFCE.
>
>    Me, gimme LXDE any day.
>
>    The question for the OP is whether something really "different"
>    is desired - or whether the quest is just for a "free Winders".
>    If the latter then, well, just keep paying Bill.
>

Cinnamon seems to me to be the one closest to Windows 10 and 11, and
therefore likely to result in the lowest amount of "culture shock".

However, this depends on the user.  For me, when I started using Linux,
I LIKED the fact that the GUI was different, and the more differences
the better.

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#84248

On 28/03/2026 11:28, Borax Man wrote:
> However, this depends on the user.  For me, when I started using Linux,
> I LIKED the fact that the GUI was different, and the more differences
> the better.

It didn't especially bother me. I moved my desktop from win 98 to XP at 
some point
And had a parallel Debian machine.

At some point two things happened, Linux got smart enough to allow an XP 
machine in a virtual box, and Debian stable just didn't run the code I 
wanted to run.

I tried Ubuntu, but I didn't like the interface and on my hardware it 
didn't run very well

There was a lot of noise about MINT so installed that, and mostly it 
worked. Issues with scanners, plugging in cameras and wifi and video 
hardware, but each release was better than the last.

And it came with a C compiler. And could run a web server.And VirtualBox 
could run my XP installation well enough for Corel Suite and Rhino CAD, 
which all I needed windows for.

Bliss...

Never seen any reason to change.


-- 
The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all 
private property.

Karl Marx

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#84367

On 2026-03-28, The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 28/03/2026 11:28, Borax Man wrote:
>> However, this depends on the user.  For me, when I started using Linux,
>> I LIKED the fact that the GUI was different, and the more differences
>> the better.
>
> It didn't especially bother me. I moved my desktop from win 98 to XP at 
> some point
> And had a parallel Debian machine.
>
> At some point two things happened, Linux got smart enough to allow an XP 
> machine in a virtual box, and Debian stable just didn't run the code I 
> wanted to run.
>
> I tried Ubuntu, but I didn't like the interface and on my hardware it 
> didn't run very well
>
> There was a lot of noise about MINT so installed that, and mostly it 
> worked. Issues with scanners, plugging in cameras and wifi and video 
> hardware, but each release was better than the last.
>
> And it came with a C compiler. And could run a web server.And VirtualBox 
> could run my XP installation well enough for Corel Suite and Rhino CAD, 
> which all I needed windows for.
>
> Bliss...
>
> Never seen any reason to change.
>
>
I used it back in 2000, so before Cinnamon, MATE, before XFCE was
popular, and back when GNOME was good.  What impressed me was AfterStep
as it was so radically different.  Was good to know I wasn't limited to
the "taskbar/start button" paradigm.

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#84269

On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:42:52 -0400, c186282 wrote:

>   Not entirely sure if/how Mint has 'contaminated' XFCE.

Mint didn't contaminate it but chose defaults that differ from Debians. 
Most distros add their own secret sauce to a DE. Ubuntu apparently adds 
the 'dash to dock' or a similar extension to GNOME so there is a taskbar. 
Leap 16's GNOME may be purer. It's like Windows 8 or a phone. 

KDE on Arch and Fedora is pretty much the same although there a subtle 
differences.

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#84667

On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:42:52 -0400
c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:

> However a Winders junkie probably wants loads of eye candy and such.
> As such Cinnamon is theoretically "better".

You're thinking of Mac people. There was a brief moment where the eye-
candy junkies hung around Windows, back in the XP/Win7 era when themes
& Aero were a thing, but MS killed those as part of its quest to create
the ugliest possible tablet UI. The typical Windows user these days is
more about just never having to think about the UI, which is why any
time MS changes it for marketing purposes someone comes out with a hack
like Classic Shell to change it back as far as possible.

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#84752

On Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:13:24 -0700, John Ames wrote:

> There was a brief moment where the eye-candy junkies hung around
> Windows ...

They obviously didn’t know about <https://www.reddit.com/r/unixporn/>.

> ... back in the XP/Win7 era when themes & Aero were a thing, but MS
> killed those as part of its quest to create the ugliest possible
> tablet UI.

They killed it because it was embarrassing that Windows needed so much
in the way of hardware resources to produce that eye candy, when a
Linux system running KDE Plasma could manage all of that, and more, on
something as low-powered as a single-core 900MHz Celeron (which was
what you had on an Asus Eee 701 netbook).

> The typical Windows user these days is more about just never having
> to think about the UI, which is why any time MS changes it for
> marketing purposes someone comes out with a hack like Classic Shell
> to change it back as far as possible.

Those hacks just seem to make Windows even more unstable than it
already is ... or maybe the users don’t notice one or two crashes and
freezes more or less ...

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#84803

On Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:58:10 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:

> They killed it because it was embarrassing that Windows needed so much
> in the way of hardware resources to produce that eye candy, when a Linux
> system running KDE Plasma could manage all of that, and more, on
> something as low-powered as a single-core 900MHz Celeron (which was what
> you had on an Asus Eee 701 netbook).

We would have clients complaining about ghosting, the mouse leaving 
tracks, and other strange effects. "Are you running Aero? Turn it off."

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#84804

On 3/30/26 21:55, rbowman wrote:
> On Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:58:10 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:
> 
>> They killed it because it was embarrassing that Windows needed so much
>> in the way of hardware resources to produce that eye candy, when a Linux
>> system running KDE Plasma could manage all of that, and more, on
>> something as low-powered as a single-core 900MHz Celeron (which was what
>> you had on an Asus Eee 701 netbook).
> 
> We would have clients complaining about ghosting, the mouse leaving
> tracks, and other strange effects. "Are you running Aero? Turn it off."

	Mandriva Linux on a Dell Inspiron 4000 with a Coppermine 750 MHz and 584 MB
of ram, graphic memory of 8 MB and ran KDE 3.59 and cut the virtual desktops
to one but it worked fine.  That was a while back.

	
	

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#84889

On 31 Mar 2026 04:55:32 GMT
rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

> We would have clients complaining about ghosting, the mouse leaving 
> tracks, and other strange effects. "Are you running Aero? Turn it
> off."

7 wasn't as bad about it as Vista, but it got *vastly* more usable when
you disabled all the glitz and ran it as basically XP with a souped-up
kernel.

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#84242

On 27/03/2026 21:22, rbowman wrote:
> For noobs I think it is helpful to point them to a specific iso. If
> someone coming from Windows is presented with a choice of 17 (random
> number pulled from butt) DEs analysis paralysis is sure to set in. I won't
> even mention the distros; DistroWatch only lists 100 by default.

Well the 'latest mint cinnamon 64 bit full distro' is unique
At a certain point the old adage of 'you are probably too stupid to 
install any operating system: go and buy an Apple'  comes into play.

I have no doubt that e.g. linux laptops will appear preinstalled at some 
time in the future, just like Android phones.


-- 
Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
  – Will Durant

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#84254

On 2026-03-28 12:19, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 27/03/2026 21:22, rbowman wrote:
>> For noobs I think it is helpful to point them to a specific iso. If
>> someone coming from Windows is presented with a choice of 17 (random
>> number pulled from butt) DEs analysis paralysis is sure to set in. I 
>> won't
>> even mention the distros; DistroWatch only lists 100 by default.
> 
> Well the 'latest mint cinnamon 64 bit full distro' is unique
> At a certain point the old adage of 'you are probably too stupid to 
> install any operating system: go and buy an Apple'  comes into play.
> 
> I have no doubt that e.g. linux laptops will appear preinstalled at some 
> time in the future, just like Android phones.

They have existed for years.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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