Distro thoughts

dbarron

Well continuing with my distro survey (such as it is..not trying all distros), I've tried Sparky, Mint,Ubuntu (ran for years), Debian, Manjaro, Elementary, and Deepin relatively recently.
Today was Mint installation, and there's some good points to it. It especially feels like it gives direction to those that might need (more newbie) with the welcome panel and suggested activities after setup. But it just feels slow (though it was much improved when I disabled vblank). Solus feels much more snappy.

I'm doing the research because I enjoy it and because I want to look at options for the install-fest that I want to do next month.
Now a question, if anyone wants to answer it, obviously I like speed and cleanliness, but maybe I should put more priority on user friendliness? (this will be hard for me..because I'm long term familiar with things and friendliness is often just a time-waste for me (lol)). But I want to do whatever will long-term make people happy with their new desktop.

[deleted]

dbarron I think Solus is as user-friendly as Windows, with a sane selection of default apps as a plus

brent

dbarron I think absolutely for your shindig, steer them to a comfort zone.
I spent 5 minutes with Mint (didn't like looks). Spent 5 minutes with Ubuntu (didn't like looks). Tried Solus Mate. All 3 pretty windows-y. Then went all in on budgie and I'm happy.
But those first two are easier than Solus.
Somebody coming from a life of windows has no context, pre-knowledge, or philosophy, or ethos, or concept of foss.
My learning curve with Solus/Linix architecture, was painful. After two years I'm attempting compiling a program myself.
I wouldn't have changed a thing! I made myself do it. I am better for it. I had tenacity and did not go back to tried and true.

So for your install day, ease of use is a selling point. But at the end of the day my EYES made the decision, and my brain made the commitment. This might be more normal than I think and likely the way one of your converts will approach it. Good luck. I think it's great what you are doing in your community.

Justin

brent But those first two are easier than Solus.

Easier how?

dbarron Go with something you're most familiar with supporting as I assume YOU will be their link to support/assistance.

RLFontan

dbarron

dbarron Now a question, if anyone wants to answer it, obviously I like speed and cleanliness, but maybe I should put more priority on user friendliness?

My opinion is that you should put your effort on what suits you... Linux is too big for you to try to play this game with yourself... an OS is a tool, we should choose the best tool for ourselfs. Sometimes values and "politics" can have influence on that of course... me for example, i really value the fact that Solus is independent and desktop focused... i feel like this "general-purpose-backed-by-companies-distros" sometimes produce conflicts of interest... despite we now that some "general-purpose" distros don't have a general-purpose focus of course... we can't say that Void Linux focus on servers, as we can't say that Alpine Linux focus on desktops for example... despite, i must say again, i really value that Solus say "we are desktop focused", since in my opinion it avoids conflict of interests.

Beyond that, is necessary to say that having experience with some "user-friendly" distro will be almost always a needed thing, because it's this kind of distro that you put on other people (beginners) Pc's...

otavioschwanck

I find Solus super easy friendly. I've installed for my girlfriend, she able to install chrome and all things that she use, she found easier than Windows (And super fast).

For me, as developer, managed to install all things that i use (Ruby with rbenv, postgresql, redis, franz, neovim + plugins, docker), just works, super fast.

Of course, i need some research, learn how to use eopkg. I come from mint, still likes mint, but solus is my new love.

And this Forum is super cool for support.

fishyman65712

I don't know how helpful this will be for your end goal - but this is and was my experience with Linux and I started at Mint Cinnamon because it was what somebody else was using and does use.
I came to Linux by word of mouth from a total stranger at the time, had no clue who they were at the time. They are employed by the same company my wife works for. Ok so that is a glimpse at how this unfolds.

Had only ever used Windows with the exception of android phone, all my info comes from 20 years with windows.
Had no idea what to expect / did zero study of Linux - so I had no preconceived ideas or feelings of what to think or look for when I tried Linux for the first time. He installed his Mint Cinnamon from USB to my laptop that had Win 10 on it to see if it would stop my over heating. I ran it for a couple weeks it gave me zero issues and fixed the overheating issue.
I had began a search for something different after finding out there was more variations of Linux ( Distros ). I later found out I was called a hopper when I had downloaded and installed 16 different Distros in a week. In about another month I stumbled on to Solus, because I had 1 game left that I could never get to run on any other Linux Distro.
With all of that I avoid using the terminal / or doing any of the dd or any of the other commands most all the other Linux users rely on. I have since found out Solus does most everything with a point and click " Install " or point and click " Uninstall " so simple anybody can do it with zero previous experience. The wife final caved and wanted the same thing on her laptop, when it finished I handed it to her said break it if you can I'll just reformat it.

From what I can tell it appears most try to get their versions of what they think is the best Linux Distro to be pretty user friendly without the need of the end user messing with to much to get a working install. Which I prefer a more simple straight forward install and user experience. Most people when it comes to most things want it easy to use, and familiarity is a bonus.

brent

Justin
Semantics here?
I.E.--subjectivity. A Solus thing or a linux thing for me?
Who knows?
Here's your answer:
Felt in my Mint and Ubu testing that I was still in windows and in my comfort zone--wasn't feeling the distro (or Linux?) experience. Not the authenticity I was seeking.
I felt with Solus I had to bring a lot more to the table of myself.
(You still don't know how much I appreciated that).
I moved from planet Neptune (WIN) to planet Mars (Solus or is it Linux?)without even researching or buying a phrasebook.
Not an OOTB experience for me, but no complaints. I'd do it again.

And the entire answer here to your question rests on sentiment and experience more than two years ago (version 1.4 or something?) Different times. Different Solus.

dbarron

Well, I'm not sure I'm constitutional capable of support (long term), because I worked for years in the technology industries...and support brings back nightmares. I still cringe EVERY time the phone rings.
I know I'm not giving them my phone number, but I might let them email (but I'm using an alternate email to communicate about this...lol).
Brent, do you mean easier as in better documented and more user support (huge forums)?

Justin

I'm not thinking full term support but initial support to get them used to the OS and then assist them by directing them to IRC or here depending on their issue.

dbarron

Ah...that I can do 🙂 I might even meet them somewhere to give in-person aid if needed. Though that begs the question, should I add myself a userid on their systems and install an ssh-server?

Naah, I think I can easily enough email them the commands to do that in oh..three lines or so, surely I can walk them through opening a terminal window. If it won't boot X-win, I probably would have to bring a rescue ISO anyway.

dbarron

Well at least it's not collecting data about us and selling it (like one big name distro did for a while..maybe still does).

[deleted]

brent Oh, that has been the opposite for me. At Ubuntu I would've even thought about ditching Windows, since they felt somehow hacky and ugly. With Solus I felt at home.

brent

[deleted] Solus was home as soon as I saw it. We all take different paths to get there...