Linux 101 stuff. Questions are encouraged, noobs are welcome!

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what's the best way to get started with a desktop (laptop) linux? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 1 day ago by cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/linux4noobs@lemmy.world

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caveat; i've used linux in the best from debian to fedora to ubuntu to redhat on servers but this is the first time i want to actually switch to using it on my laptop because win11 is increasingly bad but also because i love it.

i'm just lost as to where to start. i'm currently looking at laptopwithlinux.com, system76.com, and thinkbooks. a lot of them come with specific distros, though i'm much more partial to debian than ubuntu. is it generally able to switch between a different one without too much hassle?

i also have an hp envy; https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/cpu/compare/5818425?baseline=5818425 is it wise to get rid of windows and just install linux on it?

i know some hardware but i'm not an EXPERT (with drivers and such)

any thoughts? hopefully this is an alright community for this question; it was the closest community when searching that i could find that seemed like it fit.

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[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I bought my Lenovo Legion a few months back, and the plan all along was to nuke Windows and install Linux Mint on it. Worked like a charm as Mint has done for me for the past 10 years or so.

No compatibility issues, but I chose to install a better wifi driver, but it worked OKish before that too (it was just a bit too slow for my taste).

The Lenovo hotkeys for controlling cooling schema and keyboard lights worked out of the box.

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

ooh yeah i was looking at lenovo for thinkpads too but i'll look at legions too.

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I don't see any reason why ThinkPad would be less compatible than Legion.

For reference, I have a variant of this one, only with ISO keyboard and 32GB RAM. I highly recommend it; good screen, good keyboard, nice performance, small and easy for travel, and relatively quiet cooling system. If I had to point at a downside, I wish it had at least one more USB-A port. Plenty of USB-C, though.

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

oh sorry i just meant i was looking at lenovo already but just for thinkpads so i'll look up legion too :)

but i'm looking at that variant too for reference!