I’ve also got the Linux Basics for Hackers book but it’s at home while I’m on vacation.

I’m just really happy rn yall :) this install took some work, SecureBoot kept getting in the way and I’m not the most savvy person so there was a lot of Googling and trial and error in the way of getting here.

  • Mwa@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    15 days ago

    did the same thing and Did a raid0 btrfs config on my old windows drive.

  • asudox@discuss.tchncs.de
    71·
    16 days ago

    Welcome to the community.

    I do have a question: Do you like your current desktop environment (Cinnamon)? Some newcomers complain that it looks quite dated (which I agree). If so, you could try out KDE Plasma or GNOME instead.

  • Smokeydope@lemmy.worldEnglish
    17·
    16 days ago

    Welcome! I have been using Mint many years now its a gold standard distro you made a solid choice.

  • Punkie@lemmy.world
    5·
    16 days ago

    I have been using Kubuntu as a daily driver for almost 10 year now, and never regretted it. I had one Windows box for things like special cases (like dumb website forms that won’t let me use Linux), Pearson Vue exams, and edge cases related to work, but it’s on standby as a secondary system I RDP into. I am not a gamer, so I didn’t need it for that. I saved so much money not having to buy hardware in the last decade or so.

    Sadly, Windows 11 won’t work on anything I have (TPM issues, too old), so I recently got a cheap Windows 11 laptop before the tariffs hit and I pay more for dumb Windows-only reasons.

    Linux all the way, man. Gave me a career, a life, and my hardware back.

  • Cyborganism@lemmy.ca
    4·
    16 days ago

    Way to go! Welcome to the club buddy! If you need help, don’t be shy. You can DM me anytime and I’ll do my best to help. :)

  • infinite_ass@leminal.space
    33·
    15 days ago

    I’ve used Linux for 20 years and never picked up a book on it. Not that there’s anything wrong with the books, but let’s not give the impression that it’s necessary.

    • Retro_unlimited@lemmy.world
      4·
      15 days ago

      When I bought a book on Linux, I followed it chapter by chapter then when I got to chapter 6 or something none of it matched my OS and I was lost again. It was really bad for a modern book.

      I did learn a lot from the book, but quite discouraged after getting lost there.

      About a year or 2 later I went full time in Linux after the windows Recall and their One drive was stealing all my files when it was disabled. I saw the sync icons all over my desktop with the computer idle. Last straw and I switched to Linux for good.

    • MonkeMischief@lemmy.today
      4·
      15 days ago

      The NoStarch books are excellent overviews for newbies to go beyond being “just a user” though. They’re written in a very friendly and approachable manner. If you’re enthusiastic about learning how the OS works and playing with commands, they’re really good about that! I think it’s cool OP is repping rhem. :)

      If someone was like “Hey I wanted to try Linux!” and thought they needed to go through LPIC/LINUX+ doorstoppers or had manuals about the kernel or something, I’d be like “Woah there. Calm down.” LOL

      • infinite_ass@leminal.space
        5·
        15 days ago

        I hear ya. I use linux just fine but now and then I dicover a new trick or command and I’m like “holy shit it’s a superpower”. A good book could be gold.

  • astronaut_sloth@mander.xyzEnglish
    9·
    16 days ago

    Congratulations! Enjoy the journey! You’ll look back in a few years and wonder how you ever managed with a Windows set up while you slip into the comfy-ness of your customized system.

  • CMDR_Horn@lemmy.world
    1171·
    16 days ago

    Welcome! Don’t listen to anyone trying to shame you for your distro choice. The most important is that you didn’t choose windows.

    • A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.worldOP
      39·
      16 days ago

      Thanks! I plan to experiment with others, but I wanted a nice smooth transition for my wife and I both, so Mint seemed like a great starting point.

      • dustyData@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        15 days ago

        I used Mint for almost its entire existence so far, but recently I’ve started main driving immutables, and gotta say the experience is even more user friendly. That’s my current experimentation stage but, so far, it doesn’t feel experimental at all, it just works out the box, no issues.

      • acid_falcon@lemmy.world
        9·
        16 days ago

        Mint is rad. I currently use barebones Debian testing with a bunch of customized stuff, but I always keep a bootable Mint flash drive on my keychain. It’s a very solid choice

      • Thymos@lemm.ee
        2·
        15 days ago

        My boyfriend wanted Linux on his laptop and he’s not tech savvy at all. I installed Mint for him and he’s very happy with it, no complaints. It’s a very good choice.

      • megopie@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        2·
        10 days ago

        I’ve been daily driving mint for over a year now, gotta say, never been tempted by anything else. It really is solid and functional and easy to work with. The only issue I’ve ever had with the system was programs closing randomly, and turns out I was just running out of ram. Fixed that by adding more swap (using part of the hard drive as back up ram).

        Having come from windows, it’s really nice to not have to search through 5 different settings menus, not to mention not having changes I made reverted at every update.

    • stupidcasey@lemmy.world
      12·
      16 days ago

      I agree that’s why I don’t listen to all the hater’s who say my distro Choice of Android Tv is bad.

    • Atlas48@ttrpg.network
      2·
      11 days ago

      Mint’s a pretty nice distro, all things considered. The only one I’d turn my nose up against is Manjaro, mostly because of their leadership’s reputation as clowns.

      • theangryseal@lemmy.world
        13·
        16 days ago

        If you have something to hide from The Glorious and Omnipotent Kim Jong Un, our beloved leader, you do not deserve to be a human. All hail our Dear Leader.

        M’comrade…

    • FindME@lemmy.myserv.oneEnglish
      602·
      16 days ago

      No, no! Listen to the shamers! Change your distro eight times over the first month as you listen to them whine, and eventually return to the first one you chose, full of wisdom of why those other distros suck so you can tell the noobs who choose one of them first instead of your glorious choice!