What Linux Operating Systems do you like?

Timber · 4 May 2025 at 00:36

Tonight spend the evening installing Arch on my Minisforum/second PC. Fedora 42 started having network 'drop outs' over the last few days and stupidly because the network cable is quite new & high quality I didn't think to change it. I had tried a different port on the switch and some other configuration. So decided to use as an opportunity to Arch again. I was then I realised the cable may be the cause. Doh!

That said it's been interesting re-installing Arch. No graphical glitches on this very same PC as there were when I last tried it (GNOME as the DE). I only tend to need a few packages from the repos, or the AUR. Arch doesn't have a quiet splash screen on boot-up like Fedora, but will be interesting to see how long it lasts before I brake it. Fedora has been very solid over the last few years and quickly become my favourite flavour of Linux.

EDIT: And...less than 24hrs back to Fedora 42. Obviously you have to configure more in Arch; bluez, power-daemon, cups etc. But even with that certain irritations persist such as not being able to find my network printer. So whilst Arch has definitely been a better experience than last time I think I'm too comfy with Fedora for now. The new graphical installer with Fedora 42 (haven't not installed it fresh for a while) is lovely.

f666 · 5 May 2025 at 13:44

Timber said:
Tonight spend the evening installing Arch on my Minisforum/second PC. Fedora 42 started having network 'drop outs' over the last few days and stupidly because the network cable is quite new & high quality I didn't think to change it. I had tried a different port on the switch and some other configuration. So decided to use as an opportunity to Arch again. I was then I realised the cable may be the cause. Doh!

That said it's been interesting re-installing Arch. No graphical glitches on this very same PC as there were when I last tried it (GNOME as the DE). I only tend to need a few packages from the repos, or the AUR. Arch doesn't have a quiet splash screen on boot-up like Fedora, but will be interesting to see how long it lasts before I brake it. Fedora has been very solid over the last few years and quickly become my favourite flavour of Linux.

EDIT: And...less than 24hrs back to Fedora 42. Obviously you have to configure more in Arch; bluez, power-daemon, cups etc. But even with that certain irritations persist such as not being able to find my network printer. So whilst Arch has definitely been a better experience than last time I think I'm too comfy with Fedora for now. The new graphical installer with Fedora 42 (haven't not installed it fresh for a while) is lovely.

Manjaro would have prob covered off most of those pure arch niggles?

Timber · 5 May 2025 at 15:19

f666 said:
Manjaro would have prob covered off most of those pure arch niggles?

Tried Manjaro before a number of years ago and don't really like it. Endeavour OS is another one I've tried, but was quite bloated. I do love the concept of Arch and for a gaming PC I'd seriously consider Arch + KDE. To be clear is was a better experience on this Minisforum PC than last time. However I just think Fedora is in a great place and is my flavour right now. Cutting edge, very reliable and works reasonably well out of the box.

Ironically the issues that cause me to blame Fedora now appear to be network related as I have funny behaviour on a few devices so I don't think it has anything to do with the PC, or the ethernet cable (bringing forward an upgrade in my Ubiquiti upgrades). But it was quite interesting seeing Archinstall baked into Arch, the new Fedora GUI installer. I also realise I can build an install a Linux OS in very quick time, but because I use so much cloud stuff (email, notes, steam, social media etc.) that just re-enabling everything is where I lose most time.

Cromulent · 5 May 2025 at 16:31

Timber said:
Tried Manjaro before a number of years ago and don't really like it. Endeavour OS is another one I've tried, but was quite bloated. I do love the concept of Arch and for a gaming PC I'd seriously consider Arch + KDE. To be clear is was a better experience on this Minisforum PC than last time. However I just think Fedora is in a great place and is my flavour right now. Cutting edge, very reliable and works reasonably well out of the box.

Ironically the issues that cause me to blame Fedora now appear to be network related as I have funny behaviour on a few devices so I don't think it has anything to do with the PC, or the ethernet cable (bringing forward an upgrade in my Ubiquiti upgrades). But it was quite interesting seeing Archinstall baked into Arch, the new Fedora GUI installer. I also realise I can build an install a Linux OS in very quick time, but because I use so much cloud stuff (email, notes, steam, social media etc.) that just re-enabling everything is where I lose most time.

You should look into OpenSUSE Tumbleweed. It is a rolling release distro like Arch but far more stable and easier to manage.

Buffalo2102 · 5 May 2025 at 16:54

I guess YMMV. Arch + KDE is perfect for me and has been pretty faultless for quite some time. No niggles to speak of, although I do agree that you have to configure more things to get them working. But that's part of the attraction for me.

Timber · 5 May 2025 at 21:57

Cromulent said:
You should look into OpenSUSE Tumbleweed. It is a rolling release distro like Arch but far more stable and easier to manage.

Something I've been thinking about, probably one of the few mainstream distro's left to try.

Buffalo2102 said:
I guess YMMV. Arch + KDE is perfect for me and has been pretty faultless for quite some time. No niggles to speak of, although I do agree that you have to configure more things to get them working. But that's part of the attraction for me.

I think I could easily use it and as you say configuring it is half the fun. That said I'm running two PC's in the office atm; a gaming machine (Windows 11) and a daily driver (Fedora 42). Fedora's more plug-and-play stableness just suits the latter context more for now. When and if I can get the Windows 11 machine to Linux (kids playing Roblox atm so not an option even the android emu) I would probably consider Arch + KDE.

f666 · 5 May 2025 at 22:49

Good shout on opensuse tumbleweed, will have to check it out. Also reminds me to put a box on fedora, had parked a test build which I hope to find some time for soon.

Ad_Augendae · 12 May 2025 at 14:28

Kali-Linux GUI Via wsl 2
I have to admit it works even on old rubbish, even the sound works. Also been testing Docker with Portainer front end.
I've not quite got a grip on the config editing process yet, maybe a few hints might help.