Switching to Linux... what the hell is a desktop!?

2024/06/24

TL;DR

Use KDE Plasma or Cinnamon if you want a similar experience, LXQt if you have a potato computer.

On Distros

Firstly I would like to make my opinion on distros clear: they don't matter as much as everyone thinks. It might not be something that people say that much, but I'm of the opinion that the underlying distro doesn't matter nearly as much for a beginner as surface-level components like the desktop and the programs they use daily.

So, with that in mind, here are my thoughts on some of the most popular desktops currently in use with home desktops, and that I have some experience using.

GNOME

This is what I started out using, and as much as people like to give it shit for it not being enough like Windows or being heavy on resources, it's a perfectly fine desktop with modern bells and whistles and good looks out of the box. The learning curve will most definitely be steeper - the layout and how the whole thing flows between its components is almost completely different to Windows. It could definitely be a very good option, despite this.

KDE Plasma

Often referred to as just "KDE" or "Plasma." I used it for a few months and I can say with confidence that it's a lot closer to Windows, so if you're in doubt I'd probably recommend either this or Cinnamon. It uses less resources than GNOME, has a lot of eyecandy and cool gimmicks that aren't too gimmicky, and has a far more intuitive flow for Windows users in my opinion.

Cinnamon

For all intents and purposes of a beginner who knows nothing about tech gobbledegook, it's good for the same reasons as Plasma. Pick whichever one looks cooler to you.

LXQt

This is what I use on older systems. It is a lot more lightweight than the other major desktops, which makes it a very good option for older or less powerful computers which don't have a lot of leeway for something like GNOME or KDE Plasma. Despite this, it still looks half decent and has enough features baked in to satisfy the vast majority of people. It's definitely worth a look.

XFCE

Having used it as a daily driver for the longest time out of all of these, it's a great desktop but it looks like absolute shit out of the box. If you're willing to spend some time customizing then go ahead by all means, but if you just want it to work out of the box then look somewhere else. Someone had to say it.

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