There’s no reason to choose Ubuntu over Debian these days, and plenty of reasons to use Debian over Ubuntu.
For context, Ubuntu is based on Debian, so most of the stuff under the hood is the same, but Ubuntu keeps forcing background decisions about things that are not always in the user’s best interests.
As for user interface, if you’re used to Ubuntu with Gnome, try Debian with Gnome. If Ubuntu with KDE, try Debian with KDE. That way you get a familiar desktop environment and a sensible base OS.
I’m no expert, but here’s my working knowledge: If Debian is the engine/frame of the car, KDE and Gnome are different versions of the body/interior. KDE looks more like windows, Gnome looks more like macos or andriod maybe? Standard Ubuntu does aftermarket mods to Debian with Gnome.
That’s pretty good.
I’m gonna piggyback your analogy:
Ubuntu is like an aftermarket car company that put in their own engine. They’ve started putting locks onto things, and when you ask them to install certain options, they say “yes, here you go” but secretly put in a worse version of that thing that only they can fix.
Then you take it to a shop and say “please fix this part, it’s one of these” and they say “that’s clearly not what’s in here, you’re on your own”.
KDE and Gnome are like different consoles and steering wheel, if you could bring those with you into your next car. If you’re used to where the buttons and knobs are, you have the option to bring the whole thing over into a different car.
Not sure this metaphor can be stretched enough to shoehorn wine into it.
Wine is just an application and it’ll work in any desktop environment (KDE, Gnome, etc), and it allows you to run Windows applications. Think of it as an application that lets your system pretend it’s actually Windows
(and for the pedantic neckbeards: yes I know this sounds like I’m calling wine an emulator, which it isn’t)
It’s a “compatibility layer”.
Wine tricks Windows programs into thinking they’re running in Windows.
It sets up a fake C: drive and intercepts requests for built-in Windows features with Linux equivalents that are wearing Groucho Marx glasses and T-shirts that say NORMAL WINDOWS FEATURE.
I gamed on it when Proton magically made it so games I bought on Steam worked. Otherwise I just gamed on an Xbox before that. I only recently switched to popos, (still gaming on it). I started on Slackware 3.4 and switched to Ubuntu in 2006-2007. I think as long as you aren’t on the LTS version, you should be good. In any case, it’s not a permanent decision and seems like every distro is crazy fast at installing these days. Worth a go whatever you try or where ever you land.
I’m on Kubuntu and loving it. The most I’ve had to go for a game on steam is change a compatibility tool (literally right click and click a checkbox and dropdown). Final Fantasy XIV (MMO) was mostly straightforward, but I had very specific mods and 3rd party tools I wanted, but they all work still after going down a mostly straightforward rabbit hole. Not a lot of weirdness there, just learning how to mod on Linux.
I used to use ubuntu but stopped bc i couldnt really game without dual booting to windows anyway.
Would you recommend ubuntu now? I know linux gaming is in a much better place, it just wasnt user friendly as an OS back in 2010
There’s no reason to choose Ubuntu over Debian these days, and plenty of reasons to use Debian over Ubuntu.
For context, Ubuntu is based on Debian, so most of the stuff under the hood is the same, but Ubuntu keeps forcing background decisions about things that are not always in the user’s best interests.
As for user interface, if you’re used to Ubuntu with Gnome, try Debian with Gnome. If Ubuntu with KDE, try Debian with KDE. That way you get a familiar desktop environment and a sensible base OS.
Could you translate this to stupid please
I’m no expert, but here’s my working knowledge: If Debian is the engine/frame of the car, KDE and Gnome are different versions of the body/interior. KDE looks more like windows, Gnome looks more like macos or andriod maybe? Standard Ubuntu does aftermarket mods to Debian with Gnome.
That’s pretty good.
I’m gonna piggyback your analogy:
Ubuntu is like an aftermarket car company that put in their own engine. They’ve started putting locks onto things, and when you ask them to install certain options, they say “yes, here you go” but secretly put in a worse version of that thing that only they can fix.
Then you take it to a shop and say “please fix this part, it’s one of these” and they say “that’s clearly not what’s in here, you’re on your own”.
KDE and Gnome are like different consoles and steering wheel, if you could bring those with you into your next car. If you’re used to where the buttons and knobs are, you have the option to bring the whole thing over into a different car.
So if im most used to windows i should try debian with the kde stuff? Whats wine in this metaphor? Is that the same thing as kde?
Not sure this metaphor can be stretched enough to shoehorn wine into it.
Wine is just an application and it’ll work in any desktop environment (KDE, Gnome, etc), and it allows you to run Windows applications. Think of it as an application that lets your system pretend it’s actually Windows
(and for the pedantic neckbeards: yes I know this sounds like I’m calling wine an emulator, which it isn’t)
Okay so i do know what dual booting is. So wine is sorta like ezpz dual booting without having to restart my pc each time?
Ty for your patience
It’s a “compatibility layer”.
Wine tricks Windows programs into thinking they’re running in Windows.
It sets up a fake C: drive and intercepts requests for built-in Windows features with Linux equivalents that are wearing Groucho Marx glasses and T-shirts that say NORMAL WINDOWS FEATURE.
I’d say Debian with KDE would perfectly fit your use case and level of experience.
I gamed on it when Proton magically made it so games I bought on Steam worked. Otherwise I just gamed on an Xbox before that. I only recently switched to popos, (still gaming on it). I started on Slackware 3.4 and switched to Ubuntu in 2006-2007. I think as long as you aren’t on the LTS version, you should be good. In any case, it’s not a permanent decision and seems like every distro is crazy fast at installing these days. Worth a go whatever you try or where ever you land.
I’m on Kubuntu and loving it. The most I’ve had to go for a game on steam is change a compatibility tool (literally right click and click a checkbox and dropdown). Final Fantasy XIV (MMO) was mostly straightforward, but I had very specific mods and 3rd party tools I wanted, but they all work still after going down a mostly straightforward rabbit hole. Not a lot of weirdness there, just learning how to mod on Linux.