Aug 25, 2026, 8:29 PMI don't see this advice a lot, so to feel better about never seeing it said, I'm gonna say it.
If you're thinking of switching to #Linux, and it seems like there's an interminable amount of #linux distros to choose from, here's a handy principle;
You shouldn't have to be a mechanic just to drive a car.
Some Linux distributions are more driver friendly, and others are more mechanic friendly.
Pick one that suits your intended use.
Aug 25, 2026, 8:38 PM...And BY ALL MEANS, especially if you're not going the mechanic route, find yourself a mechanic, and pay them (pizza and beer are good currency) to install the OS for you!
Well said.
I would also add that people looking to choose should know that where you start is not necessarily where you will end up. Picking a flavor of Linux does not condemn you to that choice forever. Distro-hopping is a thing. So too is customization.
@mousey Even simpler: if you're new and don't know what to choose, go with ubuntu or mint. They're not my distro of choice, but they're well supported, making them good for new linux users.
Regardless of what you choose, though, *don't* rely on search results or AI to answer your questions, things move fast in the Linux world and new users won't have the background to figure out what's out of date. Ask a human instead.
@mousey Oh, and learn to love man pages. Except for ffmpeg's, that one's nuts. But I guess you kinda have to expect that when they shove an entire video editing suite into a single command.