this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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If you ever get bored of Ubuntu. You could try fedora kde, the recent versions are so good.
Don't forget to install codecs though.
That's exactly what I did haha, started with Kubuntu and moved to Fedora
I run Kubuntu on my desktop and laptop machines but I'm seriously considering switching to Debian (which I run on my server). Any reason I wouldn't want to do that on my desktop or laptop?
(Previously I ran Slackware on everything, so both of them feel like gliding softly on a cloud to me.)
There’s no reason. I switched to Debian after leaving Slackware around the reiser4 time. It’s real good.
Yeah it seems to work very well on my server. I've always just wondered why I don't see more people recommending it when they're switching from Ubuntu/Kubuntu. From what I've seen on the server (which I mostly access remotely), it seems decent.
It’s not cool. It means you have gray hairs. The packages are old by default.
Well I do have some gray hairs, so no issue there...
May I recommend lxqt and a trackball?
lol Listen here, sonny...
@limelight79 @gayhitler420 my only real nitpick with debian is that the package updates are too slow for my personal taste. for other people, maybe its perfect, but i think ubuntu has just a bit more bleeding edge without being unstable.
my 2 cents
ymmv
Hmm interesting point, thanks. That's the sort of thing I might not have noticed since I don't use it on an interactive system like my desktop.
You probably will not notice that you are in other distro when you start using Debian. They are the same in most things, but without Snaps and most propietary stuff (by default. But if you really need propietary things, you may see the official non-free sourcelist)
Thanks. I often wonder why I don't see people recommending Debian as a potential destination from Ubuntu/Kubuntu. Why not go to the Free source?
I really do not know. But what I can say for sure is that during the installation of Debian, it allows you to choose the desktop environment at installation time, so you can have your Debian with KDE at minute 0 after installing it.
On the other hand, remember that Kubuntu is derived from Ubuntu. I don't see Ubuntu fans very enthusiastic about creating another Debian-based distro with KDE preinstalled when they even offer it (live images) to you here.
Weird. I've been trying to find a distro I'm happy with and was setting Fedora KDE up today. Ran though my bookmarks and found no videos played on Twitch. Had to install codecs to get it to work. I hadn't seen this in previous distros. Is this specific to Fedora? Other than this hiccup I've enjoyed it so far.
I liked how straight forward Linux Mint is but prefer KDE Plasma. Plus Mint seems quite far behind in versions.
In their gnome version, during the setup process (first boot, not install), they would prompt for third-party repo and codec (Enabled by default, IIRC).
I think you might have unchecked that? or KDE not offering such experience?
EDIT: NVM, I just checked, and I have never installed the codecs... LOL.
Fedora is notorious for avoiding shipping proprietary software with their distro even at the cost of new users.
I think this might stems from the fact that fedora used to be a distro aimed for advanced users. It is slowly getting better at being new user friendly.
I wonder if it is notorious?
Do most Linux users (in this context we'll say people who specifically choose to use Linux and by extension chose a specific distribution) look unfavorably on proprietary software being excluded by default?
For me, I prefer it so I don't see it that way. But it is also an extra step and an annoyance if you want things to "just work". Which is an understandable position.
Food for thought, I guess.
I'd like it if they weren't necessary and everything was AV1, then I would be alright with the codecs being omitted by default without any simple way to install them.
Similarly with the NVIDIA proprietary driver, NVIDIA actually recommend installing the driver through the package provided through your distro on thier download page
It is definitely not, at least for me when I switched to Linux.
I noticed weird issues while watching a video through VLC, posted about it on Reddit and someone suggested that I had not installed the codecs.
Yeah, I don't recall seeing that and installed it about four times.
Haha the pain of finding out...
Didn't you notice the decreased quality?
Yeah, I was wondering why I have desync issues couple days ago watching videos with my wife.
Modern YouTube videos are generally fine, but many other site has poor support for popular codecs.
I love me some Fedora with KDE, and looking forward to the next major version of KDE.
Yeah those codecs always get you.
Save the pain and install Nobara.
I mean, it's one dropdown/checkbox click, to enable codecs sources. I get your point though, having to remember to enable that.
I'd used Nobara if I knew it was being supported by more than just one (great/special; I'm aware of his contribution to gaming on Linux) guy (please correct me if this is no longer the case?), since it would be installed on my daily driver box, and it's important for me to have a high level of reliability, even though I do more gaming tasks than non-gaming tasks on it.
I'm aware that Nobara is based from Fedora, but am nervous about having a single point of failure, support wise.
I started this way today but kept coming up with an error with rsync during install. I tried in Virtual Box and had the same error. I gave up and just installed Fedora in the end.
No clue what rsync would be doing. Maybe there's an issue with the current ISO, but I've installed it on a few systems in the last couple months with no issues.
How do I install codecs? I'm running Ubuntu and I don't have the option to encode in H.265, which I could do on Windows.
I fas as I am aware, Ubuntu ships codecs by default.
Fedora does not ship proprietary software due to license issues.
*This is just what I know, you should fact check both.