I also have a single Windows machine remaining but it’s specifically because I have tons of services and stuff on there and it’s fine. It’s Windows 7 Pro and does its job. No need to fix what ain’t broke. All my other systems I changed over to Linux many years ago.

Nowadays when I see someone have trouble in Windows I just shake my head and express sadness. What a shame you gotta be using that sewage.

Elementary OS is beautiful, polished and easy. Maybe also check out Ubuntu Studio Edition since you do a good deal of editing? I like Pop! as well and have it on a couple of systems, but it’s nothing extremely special over others, it’s just very well-curated with regard to features and updates. They’ve tweaked a bit of stuff that’s sloppy in the main Ubuntu.

The best thing to do really is learn as you go, but definitely put some real effort into reading about the basics. The file system and the settings are both to look at first.

For good customization of your desktop if you enjoy that, go with KDE/Plasma.

You can also change later if you learn enough that you’d like to go to a more bare base system. Personally I’m on Kubuntu on my main machine but that’s only because it’s a pretty new laptop - or was when I got it - and raw Debian didn’t have the drivers yet for some of it. I’m sure by now it’s all supported and I eventually want to set aside a day to reformat and go to raw Debian. It’s my favorite distro and in the most recent version they did away with their draconic restrictions of drivers so it’s quite more accessible now.

But for a very easy and comfortable, eye-pleasing start, I’d really suggest something like ElementaryOS. It’s possibly the most beautiful looking one I’ve seen, and just jump right in and start kind of setup.

That’s my contribution to suggestions for you. Hope you make the journey easily. Linux really is phenomenal and a massive change from the disease-infested world of Windows.

Different strokes for different folks. I replied to the guy who replied to you and raised a couple of ideas that I think may distinguish the options to answer your question.

He’s just asking as in, maybe someone can share their perspective on why there may be an advantage to tab groups over windows. And to that end… isn’t there a certain amount of system resources that are increased more with a whole new window as opposed to just more tabs in groups? I would think it would consume more resources, albeit perhaps not to any severe degree. —?

And to the actual question I think visually tab groups are easier to navigate than swapping back through windows. Task managers don’t really tend to present windows in a fashion where you could refer to them in context of one-another. Maybe some custom views that you can install in Linux but even then, ones I’ve tried still don’t quite give you a quick easy overview that shows enough detail. You pretty much see what program you’re swapping to, but not laid out in ways you can compare and choose on the fly the way you want when it’s the same application but different content. That’s my experience, anyhow.

Right??! So instead of clutter of tabs it will be clutter of tab groups… of tabs, lol.

Anyone know if it will be integrated into Fennec as well? Or, like, soon?

Firefox is still extremely messy on Linux. It’s split between multiple platform types (flatpak, deb, snap) and I’ve seen multiple parts start to branch off on their own due to some fault. It’s really weird. Can’t even describe it. Why can’t they just do things simply.

One or two of my computers have been on for about five years. The laptop I use mostly has been on for several months. But I’m a very teched-up person. I’ve got computers in various forms all over the place. Actually less nowadays compared to many years ago. I don’t shut anything down because I’ve got various services in operation 24/7.

Thanks! By your brief description of ethereum I can see why people consider it a pyramid scheme lol.

Not to hijack this post, but since there are knowledgeable folks participating, could someone point to either an article or a video that explains the various crypto currencies, how they work, what role the mining functions, and explains them in language that most people can understand?

Thank you if anyone has a reference to provide. :-)

P.S. I’m aware Google exists, but I’d like one that’s at least vetted by someone knowledgeable. Between search manipulations and AI, I’ve found searching to be very iffy as it is in terms of finding good authoritative results.

Well, despite the fact that I’ve heard more than once that Elementary “looks like Mac” it’s really only the fact of having a dock on the bottom and a status bar on top. And the dock that ships with Elementary does not even zoom (it’s disabled due to some license issue). So I really don’t see it as resembling Mac except maybe to someone who has only ever seen Windows and Mac and only the one style. Thinks resemble other things in some ways sometimes. But it behaves nothing like Mac. I do find some of their choices rather disturbing like how there’s no minimize button. Immediately fixed by installing tweaks. That’s one of many great aspects of Linux: you can change what you don’t like.

Anyway, I usually recommend it because of its simplicity and elegance. You can just dive right in and use it, and likely accomplish whatever your ordinary work entails, and you don’t ever really have to fuss about with anything. The only reason I don’t use it myself is because I customize the shit out of all my tech. I have many widgets and such things to enhance efficiency and the variety of tools I use. So that’s why I’m on KDE Plasma. But if not for my customization I would honestly enjoy using ElementaryOS.

I also have a few touch-screens one on a hybrid notebook and one a Tpad. I have Pop!OS on the hybrid and a slightly older Ubuntu on the tpad. Gnome is a really good DE for touch interface. I really wish something truly touch would arrive, but I think because Android is so successful, nobody wants to try tackling that with straight up Linux. I can understand it, especially given the limited demographic I mean how many people would really make serious use of a touch Linux system? Too few to make it worthwhile. But the Tpad I use is a very slow device, relatively, and yet Ubuntu works quite smoothly on it. It’s prompt and responsive and does what I need out of it without any problem or noticeable latency.

I am quite happy with my main laptop which is a fairly new ASUS Zenbook. I’m running Kubuntu but I think pretty soon I may be changing over to plain ol’ Debian which is my favorite by far. I just need to be certain that all my hardware will function and it should, as it’s no longer brand new. But when I first got it, literally only the latest build of Ubuntu was properly seeing my audio device. Even 22.04 would not, it had to be 23 or 24 which had just come out.

Anyway, I’ve rambled on quite a bit. I think if builds like Elementary were more popular, it would be easier for newbies to take a stab at using Linux and it would be easier for folks like us to encourage others. I hate when someone I know has problem after problem with WinBlow$ 11 or 10, and I know that Linux would be just perfect. But they are scared of new and different. Even customization could be really offered and appealing if it were done with templates rather than so many little elements.

But, that being said, I’m happy that for the most part, when I interact with another Linux user, I can usually assume they’re savvy and understand what I’m talking about. I am glad that there’s no completely dumb-friendly distro, and I don’t think there should be. But simplicity is appealing to even the most clever of users if all they need to do is use and expect reliability. For shits sake Windoze just does a million things you never asked it to, because it serves a master other than you. It’s worth getting away from it for pretty much anything.

Well, simple and clean appeals to people who don’t want to be overwhelmed. There’s a reason it’s pleasant.

Well, except that they have consistently been the one that has and installs proper drivers for a variety of hardware I’ve used it with. Many - many test units over the years with either brand new or older and obscure hardware that not a single distro I could find recognized, nearly every time it was Ubuntu that came through for me. Including my current laptop. I have been aware of the progression toward a corporate type atmosphere with them, though, and I don’t like it. I’m thinking about seeing if plain ol’ raw Debian now has the proper drivers because if it does, I may replace my Kubuntu with it. But that doesn’t change the fact that they’ve delivered when all others failed.

That’s numerous threads every day in every Linux-related forum. A lot of people cannot seem to distinguish a sincere recommendation based on stated needs frombjust the opportunity to proclaim their allegiance to their favorite.

I always recommend to beginners ElementaryOS. The name being coincidental. It is a relatively simple looking but very very elegant and polished interface. Give it a try.

In my experience with new hardware, it’s always been Ubuntu that works it perfectly where everyone else is like “what’s that? I don’t know that hardware”

A while back I got a new laptop and the audio hardware would only work with Ubuntu which is fine because that’s what I was already using on the previous hardware. Ubuntu with KDE is a very solid setup.

Yeah, methinks this will be one of those alerts pretty much everyone will be like “yeah, yeah, I know” and click to silence those notifications.

Yeah basically what I meant.

Yyyyeeeah, all ideally. Things don’t always go ideally. Something will always happen. That’s the truth no matter what, and I’d think it’s best to eliminate externals as much as possible. That’s my position. No actual right or wrong here.

So it’s the default. Big deal. You can change that when you start the app first time. If that gets them funding that’s not a horrible price to pay. Also, that’s not money getting influence exactly, that’s a transaction. “We will pay $x to get this status.” Not the same at all as “I donated lots of money therefore I get to say how you develop the software.”