Pop!_OS, PikaOS, CachyOS, and Bazzite are the top gaming distros right now.
I recommend Pop! if you have Nvidia cards. If you have AMD, any of them will work.
PikaOS or Bazzite with the KDE Plasma desktop are going to be closest to Windows 10 in terms of how you use them.
Pop! has a super different UI, almost Mac-like. But it’s based on Ubuntu, the most-used distro. Which means that if anything goes wrong you can search “[problem] Ubuntu” and get hundreds of solution pages.
CachyOS is based on Arch, which is the big, scawy Linux that all the nerds say they use. It’s easier to break than the other ones, and won’t officially offer some of the apps that something Debian/Ubuntu based might have. I would recommend it when you’re looking to get a bit more technical.
That said, I haven’t broken my install yet and CachyOS is like the fastest OS available right now. Serious FPS gains for a LOT of games compared to Windows, and even other Linux distros. I also have not had to sit and troubleshoot it over anything. I was shocked at how smooth it was for an Arch system.
So, there’s not really a bad choice in those 4. I’d recommend Pop! if you never want to have to tinker, Pika or Bazzite if you want to feel like you’re still using Windows, and Cachy when you feel comfortable taking some training wheels off (and that could be right now!).
For browsers, try LibreWolf. It’s a locked-down version of Firefox. Or just use Firefox. It ain’t perfect, but then again it ain’t Chrome.
PopOS vote from me. Very easy to get set up, especially if you have an Nvidia card. Flatpak is integrated to their store, it just works out of the box.
Nobara and pikaOS also both good options. I use CachyOs on my main PC and nobara on my htpc and have had a very pleasant time with the distros and their communities. Just gotta leave windows at the door and be open to learning a new way of doing things. Best of luck OP
and browser I love zen browser and have Vivaldi as my chromium browser of choice when some niche task needs it
Bazzite is awesome I just don’t like immutable distros personally. I like to tinker more than they allow. Nobara works great for my htpc but I think if I had to switch from CachyOs on my gaming PC I’d go pikaOS
CachyOS has recently stopped playing H264 videos on some websites after a system update.(on Librewolf and other browsers too).
Installing ffmpeg4.4 will fix this.
Huh. I’ve not had that experience. Then again, I don’t have a ton of tray icons on my Mint install, mostly just Steam, Telegram, and occasionally Discord.
I did have my panel set up vertical, with the system tray icons in two columns. Typically there were two groups (for some reason) stacked on top of eachother and if the top one had an odd number of icons then there was a conspicuous gap.
Now I use Kubuntu, though I miss the GNOME text editor (I installed it, but with GNOME being GNOME it wasn’t themeable, and I can’t find the Cinnamon or Xfce fork in the repositories).
KDE is also similar enough but actually looks good, and is a more complete and coherent experience.
I also don’t think “looks similar” is actually good if you’re switching. Because it will be similar enough to be confusing when it then behaves differently, and it’s IMO easier to learn something that’s obviously (slightly) different than trying to just learn different behavior.
I’ve had a good experience with Bazzite. It worked out of the box for steam, and the “bazaar” app store built into it had everything I needed. Heroic is in there and good for handling PC games from other stores. Use Proton+ to get the latest Proton GE if you run into any windows game compatibility issues and it may solve them.
If you have a Nvidia card, I’ve found mint and neon to be really poor performing. Kubuntu and Q4 have been amathiugh, I wouldn’t use Q4os unless you have low end hardware though.
That being said mint is just the best os in the sphere for performance and usability, if it runs well for you that would be awesome.
Libre wolf is an amazing Firefox branch, runs well, super private, good overall, though in my opinion it fails to perform well on beefy websites with alot of visual goodies (like sketch sketchfab and other 3d model websites.) Best to have both Firefox and Libre Wolf.
On a side note some fun apps to use on Linux I found: qdirstat (winderstat replacement.) Portmaster (take control of what can access your pc via the internet, also has built in dns, a wonderful user interface, its just amazing.) Vencord (yeah I know discord sucks, but its almost impossible to get away from. Seriously I’ve tried to get my friends to use matrix, no Bueno.)
Also, Plasma is the greatest thing ever. My god is it good.
I use Lemmy and Steam games, someone please recommend a Linux OS and a browser to end this stupid shit for me.
Linux Mint and Firefox should be good starting points.
Went this route a few months ago. The switch was incredibly easy.
I’d like to add that librewolf is a great privacy focused browser based on Firefox.
Pop!_OS, PikaOS, CachyOS, and Bazzite are the top gaming distros right now.
I recommend Pop! if you have Nvidia cards. If you have AMD, any of them will work.
PikaOS or Bazzite with the KDE Plasma desktop are going to be closest to Windows 10 in terms of how you use them.
Pop! has a super different UI, almost Mac-like. But it’s based on Ubuntu, the most-used distro. Which means that if anything goes wrong you can search “[problem] Ubuntu” and get hundreds of solution pages.
CachyOS is based on Arch, which is the big, scawy Linux that all the nerds say they use. It’s easier to break than the other ones, and won’t officially offer some of the apps that something Debian/Ubuntu based might have. I would recommend it when you’re looking to get a bit more technical.
That said, I haven’t broken my install yet and CachyOS is like the fastest OS available right now. Serious FPS gains for a LOT of games compared to Windows, and even other Linux distros. I also have not had to sit and troubleshoot it over anything. I was shocked at how smooth it was for an Arch system.
So, there’s not really a bad choice in those 4. I’d recommend Pop! if you never want to have to tinker, Pika or Bazzite if you want to feel like you’re still using Windows, and Cachy when you feel comfortable taking some training wheels off (and that could be right now!).
For browsers, try LibreWolf. It’s a locked-down version of Firefox. Or just use Firefox. It ain’t perfect, but then again it ain’t Chrome.
PopOS vote from me. Very easy to get set up, especially if you have an Nvidia card. Flatpak is integrated to their store, it just works out of the box.
I’ve been on PopOs for over 7 years and its been steady as a rock! I could never go back to windows.
oh hey nice I haven been on Mint for awhile and my Nvidia card gives me no end of trouble
Linux Mint. If my 85-year-old dad can get used to it after over 30 years of Windows, you’ll be fine.
/edit Also Firefox comes with pretty much every Linux distribution, but if you need something Chromium-based, I’m partial to Vivaldi.
https://yearofthelinuxdesktop.net/
According to the flowchart there, cachyOS or bazzite, also some other tools and recommendations, good luck!
Nobara and pikaOS also both good options. I use CachyOs on my main PC and nobara on my htpc and have had a very pleasant time with the distros and their communities. Just gotta leave windows at the door and be open to learning a new way of doing things. Best of luck OP
and browser I love zen browser and have Vivaldi as my chromium browser of choice when some niche task needs it
I went from Nobara to Bazzite, Nobara worked but felt super janky, Bazzite is on another planet in terms of polish.
Bazzite is awesome I just don’t like immutable distros personally. I like to tinker more than they allow. Nobara works great for my htpc but I think if I had to switch from CachyOs on my gaming PC I’d go pikaOS
I keep reading this, but it’s never clear what people mean. I still haven’t found anything I’m not allowed to tinker with, it’s just done differently.
CachyOS has recently stopped playing H264 videos on some websites after a system update.(on Librewolf and other browsers too). Installing ffmpeg4.4 will fix this.
Lol, CAD on Linux at 90% of what is available on Windows? That’s straight out dishonest.
Source: CAD user on Linux
bazzite and librewolf
I just came here to upvote LibreWolf.
Mint is very similar to a Windows feel
Just wish Cinnamon looked a bit better.
Sure, but the cool thing about Linux is that you can pick the gui. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_window_managers
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_Window_System_desktop_environments
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_display_servers#Wayland
TBH I’m fine with XFCE. It looks reasonably modern but is lightweight and uncomplicated. Takes recolors well, too. Never had any problems with it.
Yeah, but system tray icons don’t really behave consistently on Xfce.
Huh. I’ve not had that experience. Then again, I don’t have a ton of tray icons on my Mint install, mostly just Steam, Telegram, and occasionally Discord.
I did have my panel set up vertical, with the system tray icons in two columns. Typically there were two groups (for some reason) stacked on top of eachother and if the top one had an odd number of icons then there was a conspicuous gap.
Now I use Kubuntu, though I miss the GNOME text editor (I installed it, but with GNOME being GNOME it wasn’t themeable, and I can’t find the Cinnamon or Xfce fork in the repositories).
KDE is also similar enough but actually looks good, and is a more complete and coherent experience.
I also don’t think “looks similar” is actually good if you’re switching. Because it will be similar enough to be confusing when it then behaves differently, and it’s IMO easier to learn something that’s obviously (slightly) different than trying to just learn different behavior.
LInux mint or bazzite, I’d take a look at both, and firefox with ublock origin
CachyOS could be great! If not, Zorin and Mint are great.
Stop giving new people choices! (Quasi facetious)
Yeah you gotta stay stuck in a duopoly of shitty multibilion companies, like God intended! Lol
God intended for a monopoly, hence there must be an armageddon between Apple and Google
Bazzite and Librewolf
I’ve had a good experience with Bazzite. It worked out of the box for steam, and the “bazaar” app store built into it had everything I needed. Heroic is in there and good for handling PC games from other stores. Use Proton+ to get the latest Proton GE if you run into any windows game compatibility issues and it may solve them.
If you have a Nvidia card, I’ve found mint and neon to be really poor performing. Kubuntu and Q4 have been amathiugh, I wouldn’t use Q4os unless you have low end hardware though.
That being said mint is just the best os in the sphere for performance and usability, if it runs well for you that would be awesome.
Libre wolf is an amazing Firefox branch, runs well, super private, good overall, though in my opinion it fails to perform well on beefy websites with alot of visual goodies (like sketch sketchfab and other 3d model websites.) Best to have both Firefox and Libre Wolf.
On a side note some fun apps to use on Linux I found: qdirstat (winderstat replacement.) Portmaster (take control of what can access your pc via the internet, also has built in dns, a wonderful user interface, its just amazing.) Vencord (yeah I know discord sucks, but its almost impossible to get away from. Seriously I’ve tried to get my friends to use matrix, no Bueno.)
Also, Plasma is the greatest thing ever. My god is it good.
You could literally go into any “technology” post and there will be dozens