Hey folks! I'm getting a fresh laptop for the first time in about a decade (Framework 16) in a couple of months and am looking forward to doing some low-level tinkering both on the OS and hardware. I'm planning to convert into a "cyberdeck" with quick-release hinges for the screen since I usually use an HMD, built-in breadboard, and other hardware hacking fun.
On the OS, I'm planning to try NixOS as a baremetal hypervisor (KVM/QEMU) and run my "primary" OSes in VMs with hardware passthrough. If perf is horrible, I'll probably switch back to baremetal after a bit. But, I'm not likely going to be gaming on it so, I'm not likely to have much issue.
Once the hypervisor is working in a manner that I like, I should have an easy time backing up, rolling back, swapping out my "desktop" OS. I've been using Linux as my pretty much my only OS for over a decade (I use MacOS as a glorified SSH client for work). Most of my time has been on distros in the Debian or RHEL families (*buntu, Linux Mint, Crunchbang, CentOS, etc) and I pretty much live in the terminal these days.
With all of this said, I am coming to you folks for help. I would like you folks to share distros, desktop environments, window managers that you think I should give a try, or would like to inflict on me and what makes them noteworthy.
I can't guarantee that I'll get through suggestions, as my ADHD has been playing up lately, but I'll give it an attempt. Seriously. If you want me to try Hannah Montana Linux, I'll do it and report back on the experience.
EDIT: Thank you all for your fantastic suggestions. I'm going to start compiling them into a list this weekend.
I agree and disagree at the same time.
Agree, because now you don't have to know your system anymore. In my beginner times I never knew where my programs are installed and what they would do.
Now, due to the differentiation of "my stuff" (home) and "everything else" is easier, because the latter is immutable.
A noob doesn't even have to know that.
On the other hand, there are barely any resources due to popularity. Every Linux guide begins with "And now, enter sudo apt install...", which just won't work.
I would install Silverblue on people's PCs without any doubt, because it's maintaining itself, but for starting Linux, I'd still recommend Mint.
Yeah. Mint or a *buntu flavor tends to be my beginner recommendation. Mint, Kubuntu, or Xubuntu are approachable for those who are comfortable with Win95-7 and those that like Gnome 2's UI. Unity is great for those that are more comfortable with MacOS's UI.
I wouldn't recommend those to be fair.
In my opinion, only the 3 major DEs are good ootb.
Everything else, like Mate, Budgie, XFCE, and so on, looks either extremely old, or crappy.
If my first impression on Linux is stock Mate for example, I would just say "That's crap, but at least it's free".
With KDE on the other hand, like on the SteamDeck, I'd say "Wow, that's awesome! I would have never thought something like this exists!".
Don't get me wrong, one of the biggest powers of Linux is customisation.
XFCE and so on can look modern, but by default, it looks like crap and 20 years old.
And I don't want a newcomer to have this "Meh. And this is what all the hype is all about?"-impression.