So like it says in the title. I’m looking to make a change. The only coding I ever did was like, some very light HTML on stuff like LiveJournal 20 years ago (because I’m ancient in internet years, haha) and even that I barely remember.
I’ve seen people talk about LinuxMint in other comment sections and how that one might be closest to something like Windows (in that a layman like myself can use it out of the box like buying a new laptop from Best Buy or whatever store). Is that actually a good one or is there something better for somebody like me?
I’ve seen enough people go ‘NO UBUNTU!!!’ to steer me away from that one, but otherwise I have no clue what would actually be good for somebody in my shoes.
I have a laptop that still technically runs Windows 8 that I just use for downloads so I’d be trying it on there so that if something goes wonky I’m not fucked. After looking at the LinuxMint website, the specs on that laptop meet the requirements for it.
Thanks so much!
ETA: Because it’s come up a few times and after the first time I didn’t want to reply the same thing a over and over, I associate Linux with coding because everybody I’ve personally known that uses Linux is a programmer by trade, by hobby, or at least has a CompSci degree and understands this stuff on a level a million times higher than I do (even if they didn’t end up in the field). Clearly I misunderstood something about what they were doing with Linux somewhere along the way. It looked like coding to a layperson at any rate so that’s what stuck in my mind.
You don’t need to do any coding or have any experience in coding. Linux is for everyone and doesn’t need any special skills or knowledge to use it. Everything can be done with a mouse and keyboard just like Windows.
You can install Linux exactly as you would Windows - stick in a USB stick and follow the prompts. You can even try Linux using live USB sticks although it’ll be a little slow to load compared to an actual install (as USB sticks are generally slower than hard drives).
Linux Mint is a good place to start. It’s user friendly and stable, and there are lots of guides out there if you need help, even just to install it.
So anybody that I’ve ever personally known that I can think of and uses a Linux-based OS is either a programmer by trade, a CompSci grad that didn’t go into the field in the end (but understands it if they were able to graduate obviously), or programs as a hobby. I personally know of no people outside of the realm of those that understand coding on some level that use Linux anything. So hopefully you can see how I would make that link in my mind.
I could have been confusing seeing somebody on Linux using the Command Box thing as more intricate coding, but for somebody in my shoes, with limited tech knowledge, it all looks like coding and is a little intimidating.
And yeah, the plan is to do an out-and-out install, not what I’m assuming a live boot is (I have a comment in a thread above). What I’m thinking feels very beyond me. An install feels like the better option for me. :)
It is, I will agree with you. But it’s not that complex . It’s just… different and require we learn to use it, like when one learns a new foreign language of some sort…
And, btw, I did learn to use it that command prompt… not because I was forced to but because I realized how effective it was. It’s incredibly useful even though I barely use it at all, compared to experts. I run some scripts to prepare content for my website… First, I was doing everything by hand, which was a real pain, but it’s so much simpler and faster to let a script do all the work. And, like I said in my previous comment, I’m anything but a coder ;)