Linux

[Keithmac]

I've got a Hp Pro Book S series Intel Core I3 that was on Windows 7.

Always wanted to give Linux a try, what's the recommended build to use?.

What are the differences between all the different Linux distributions?

 

[msh10]

Hi, I use Mint, straight forward and easy to use, have a look at distrowatch fir all of the available versions, you can boot from a USB drive if you just want to try.

 

[Onoff]

Definitely try it from a "live stick" first.

Agree that Mint is amazing.

 

[masleeve]

Another vote for mint - and try it live first

 

[Kayos]

On my work machines I use Ubuntu, mostly because of the Surface kernel support

I have Arch on one machine and keep a Kali usb handy

Not sure I'd recommend Ubuntu but having used Linux on and off for 20 years I found it straightforward

 

[gaz1]

i went linux and got the zorin version its close to windows 7 so for me swapping from windows 7 to zorin was the best alternative for me

im still playing with the version is have as its the free version and so far im liking it

 

[Martin-Sy]

another vote for Mint here.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I use Kali on a virtual machine on my laptop, don't use it all the time but it has it's benefits, especially when trying to download stuff that windows doesn't agree with

 

[Onoff]

I use Kali on a virtual machine on my laptop, don't use it all the time but it has it's benefits

Next you'll be saying it's great for hacking nextdoor's WiFi to stop the little **** there screaming at the top of his voice whilst gaming in the small hours...

 

[Kayos]

Next you'll be saying it's great for hacking nextdoor's WiFi to stop the little **** there screaming at the top of his voice whilst gaming in the small hours...

Kali is powerful if you understand the tools

I remember the early versions, called Backtrack and based on Slackware

 

[BrokenBiker]

Next you'll be saying it's great for hacking nextdoor's WiFi to stop the little **** there screaming at the top of his voice whilst gaming in the small hours...

i mean...i changed the wifi name of the guy behind me to keep the f@cking dogs quiet about 2 years ago...and changed his password...and the admin password...ive still got an alfa wireless card here somewhere i think although doubt the drivers would work on the current version, it was a ballache getting it to run on the 2023 versions

but to be fair kali is way more powerful than just nicking someones wifi password, thats basic stuff especially with stuff like airgeddon that basically does it all for you if you have a few days to spare to let it run in the background with a hashcat dictionary attack...i use it more for OSINT games and just generally find it more user friendly than windows for getting around annoying firewall issues...and i probably only use about 5% of what its capable of. i have used things like sherlock and phoneinfoga (when it worked) with some success to find people, or atleast find more about people, at the request of concerned parties (fully legally, i might add) and a few times to scope out someone after a gut feeling they werent being entirely truthfull about their life.

 

[badabec]

I use Ubuntu. I'm on the latest iteration with LTS (long term support). No problems at all.
Plus Firefox, Thunderbird and TOR.

 

[bump]

Mint is generally liked by former windows users. I run various Ubuntu based desktop distros. I have specific distros on live USB sticks for things like pen testing.

 

[tigdlo]

Depends what you are looking for, cinnamon desktop environment would be a good choice if you want it to feel like windows. Mint is based on Ubuntu, Ubuntu is based on Debian. The last time I setup Linux I couldn't get Mint to work so installed Debian, worked first time setting up wake on lan/remote desktop control from a windows 10 pc and file sharing between windows and linux both ways without any issue.

 

[Shedendman]

@Keithmac
Fill ya boots

DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

News and feature lists of Linux and BSD distributions.

distrowatch.com

 

[Kayos]

Depends what you are looking for, cinnamon desktop environment would be a good choice if you want it to feel like windows. Mint is based on Ubuntu, Ubuntu is based on Debian. The last time I setup Linux I couldn't get Mint to work so installed Debian, worked first time setting up wake on lan/remote desktop control from a windows 10 pc and file sharing between windows and linux both ways without any issue.

Completely agree, I think most new users want "not Windows but works"

I remember Ubuntu, mint etc all being the new hotness, I remember Arch and gentoo being new ideas

On the 2.2 and 2.4 kernel I was Slackware or nothing, 2.6 was when I tried others, including a Debian server, but I never liked it on the desktop

I've come back to it because on second boot my new to me Surface Pro 7+ (a Microsoft device) threw a wobbly so I installed Ubuntu and the Surface kernel, bit of tweaking and I use it daily

I have also found a (paid) web app that replaces the only Windows specific software I need for work, I have never been happier to pay, delete Wine and the VMs

 

[Nomad]

A mate put Ubuntu onto a spare laptop for me and it’s easy to use moving from windows.

 

[badabec]

I didn't even know there were other Linux distributions when I did a fresh install of Ubuntu on my new computer.
I was fed up with Windows updates taking ages. Ubuntu updates nearly every day, takes seconds.
If you install Ubuntu, you MUST remember your password. You'll need it for some updates and any time you use Terminal.

 

[Kayos]

I have been playing with .bashrc

This is displayed on first load or a new tab

 

[BrokenBiker]

dont worry so loud