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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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I started with Bazzite recently after getting a recommendation to go with a SilverBlue derived distro, and other than trying to figure out my own issues, it's been pretty smooth.
I do have a weird issue that crops up after reboot where the display environment variable isn't exported or something. But considering I also had an issue with my steam library not loading that was user error, I'm not entirely sure that isn't of my own making as well...
Mint is da only way
I learn a ton on Nobara, but I'm not so sure it's a forever distro
Maybe Aurora by Universal Blue?
It's based off of Fedora Silverblue, so it's atomic, rock solid and basically guaranteed to work (more secure by design as well). But uses KDE Plasma instead of Gnome and has a bunch of improvements here and there, including proprietary codecs and Nvidia drivers preinstalled (latter depending on the image you choose)
This is an excellent answer. Kinoite (basically the same thing as Aurora) is what enabled me to finally make the switch to full time linux a few months ago.
I think you should cruise this guy's channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg6gPGh8HU2U01vaFCAsvmQ
He's very fair and uses all operating systems. I'm almost certain he's had a video on this exact question.
You're asking for a distro to best fit certain criteria; what's better for you.
What you're going to get is everyone waving the flag of their favourite distro and selling you on it as a solution; what's better for them.
Yea lol
Every time I've tried Kubuntu it's been a mess. Though it's been a couple years since I subjected myself to it. It's still going to use Snaps, so there's that.
If they want bulletproof and up to date, Fedora KDE.
That's what I did
I used to recommend Ubuntu. Now that immutable distributions exist, I prefer to recommend openSUSE Aeon or Fedora Silverblue to new users. However, check this website before installing Linux.
I know I'll get down voted for this, but from that site:
"Microsoft wants you to buy a new computer.
But what if you could make your current one fast and secure again?"
Kind of a sensationalized statement. I've upgraded tons of machines from 2015 and newer to windows 11 without issues. Sure, not all of them, but I'd say a majority of them, and the "upgrade" is free.
I guess I wanted to point out this piece isn't as doom and gloom as it seems.
I think you underestimate how many computers that are in use today that can’t be updated to Windows 11.
I, and many others, have run Windows 10 on unsupported hardware. Difference is that Windows 10 didn’t care and Windows 11 actively try to stop you from doing so. So, what is this if not Microsoft now forcing people to buy new hardware, if they have unsupported hardware?
Edit: What where the CPUs on the 2015 computers you upgraded?
Edit: What where the CPUs on the 2015 computers you upgraded?
No idea, I touch so many computers in a day I don't keep track. I just know the release dates of the machines and surprised how many from 2015-2020 were actually OK with installing windows 11.
I think you underestimate how many computers that are in use today that can’t be updated to Windows 11.
Nah, do you mean like those windows xp ones that banks use, or windows 7 ones that governments use, etc? Those are obviously in a category of their own.
So, what is this if not Microsoft now forcing people to buy new hardware, if they have unsupported hardware?
There's an obvious answer to this, even if many may not like it, but switch. Switch to a Mac or install Linux on your machine. It's generally a bad idea to stay in a relationship with someone who treats you poorly, so...
Nah, do you mean like those windows xp ones that banks use, or windows 7 ones that governments use, etc? Those are obviously in a category of their own.
No, I talk about lots of normal ordinary people that have computers that work perfectly fine, so why should they upgrade? A computer from 10 years ago runs Windows 10 easy, and would run 11 easy as well, if Microsoft let it.
This site refers to "local repair cafés" more than once. Is that a regional thing? I've never seen those three words in that order ever before.
ZorinOS or the recent AnduinOS can be very Windows like with modernish windows sex appeal as you call it.
Edit: If a gamer you could add Nobara with its own theme or bazzite with KDE.
You have had many answers, all of them revolving around Debian / Ubuntu. Yet it doesn't give the "like-windows" esperience. It's More like "slightly windows-flavored Linux".
For a more Windows-like Linux, which helped me transition easily because I retained muscle memory, is Zorin OS.
Linux. Mint.
Everytime.
OP explicitly said Mint isn’t what they’re looking for.
Fedora Atomic (immutable OS), install it and you can swap between Atomic, Kinoite, Bazzite, and any other atomic distribution easily.
Get an immutable distro. You’ll never need to touch it again.
This may actually hinders new users because you can't just change stuff on the system.
And no, not everything always work out of the box. Fedora & OpenSUSE codecs, I'm looking at you.
fwiw I am a power user by Windows standards (n00b by Linux standards) which is to say I tweak a lot of settings and do a lot of customization, and in six months of using Kinoite I have not encountered a single thing I wanted to do but couldn't because of it's immutability.
I think you overestimate the average persons need to configure their computers. Most people just use a web browser, email, and maybe some light gaming. No one new to Linux is going to be really upset that they can’t do complex system operations on the command line.
I commented elsewhere, but I do a lot of customizing and immutability has not proven to be even the slightest barrier for me in over six months now.
No, but they'd be upset if they cannot play their usual media files. H265 is known to be absent by default on a lot of these distros.
Atomic distros by Universal Blue build proprietary codecs into their images
I’ve never had a problem with any media playback. I don’t think this is an issue on Bazzite, the immutable distro I’ve been using for over a year.
I just switched to a ublue distro (bluefin) and think it's great. These are designed from the ground up to be an "install it for a family member or friend and never have to touch it again" experience. They are based on Fedora. Bluefin has been the most trouble-free install of linux I've ever tried. I can't say enough good things about it.
I would go with Aurora (essentially bluefin but with KDE instead of Gnome), unless they do a lot of gaming, in which case Bazzite-kde would probably work best (bazzite is more up-to-date which can mean more instability).
These are set up to use flatpak with a software center, so all gui apps can be installed from there and is similar to windows. It updates everything automatically in the background and only requires rebooting whenever you want to switch to the updated system. Also the immutable nature makes it hard to break, but if something does go wrong it makes it easy to roll back to the previous working install. There are also GTS versions of bluefin and aurora available, which are pinned to more stable releases so there's even less chance of breakage.
Live USB installs aren't stable yet so that might be an issue if you want to make sure hardware works before install, but you can install to a usb harddrive and boot off of that to check it out that way.
I'd honestly just recommend Debian stable at this point.
I personally like mint and pop!os for new users, but for this user I want to try something windows like with more sex appeal.
what don't you mean by "sex appeal"?
They want this person to be sexually attracted to their computer.
Fedora KDE is a good one.
Agreed. For a new user that wants to minimise system maintenance I'd recommend the atomic version, Fedora Kinoite. Flatpak plus rpm-ostree makes it like a phone where you can just do system updates and install/remove apps.
I'm personally a fan of Debian. Default KDE isn't bad looking from what I can remember (I personally don't use it - I neither hate or love it just because I love XFCE). I'm personally a big XFCE fan, but you do have to do some work to get it working good, and there are still jank parts here and there.
While no distro is completely set and forget, I think Debian Stable is as close as you can get. Once you install it and get it working the way you want (depending on your setup, you might encounter minor issues as with any distro), it will pretty much stay that way until you upgrade to the next version, and you can go up to 5 years before upgrading.
I would recommend you use the KDE (or whatever DE you want) live installer, though, as the default installer is quite unintuitive. You can find it in the list of installers at https://www.debian.org/distrib/.
I've never used Kubuntu specifically, but I would personally avoid Ubuntu these days if just because of Snaps. Also, Ubuntu is heavily bloated - base Ubuntu is almost unusable in a VM now, while vanilla GNOME and PopOS run well in VMs on the same machine. Personally, when I need to test Ubuntu builds, I always prefer working with PopOS.
Overall, I'd say if you don't end up using Debian (I don't blame you - while I like it, you might not), just please don't use anything Ubuntu-based that isn't Mint or PopOS.