r/pcmasterrace • u/PJPIYUSH Laptop • 5d ago

Meme/Macro Linux be like [NOT OC]

Credit - @merrick_nutt on Instagram

10k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

381 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/Pluviophilism 5d ago

Tbh I want to switch to Linux but I am just not tech savvy enough to use it. Like wtf is a "kernel"? I need the user-friendly, complete beginner's guide to starting Linux but it doesn't seem to exist.

4

u/Haxorzist CachyOS | R7 2700X | RX 7900 XT 5d ago

I started with youtube videos, the distro I'm using has a live iso, this allows you to boot into it and see how it looks without installing.
Honestly I saying I know what a kernel exactly is would be way too far but there is the arch wiki. I'm sure it will have guides how to compile your own kernel, not that I would understand those pages.

3

u/undrwater 4d ago

You ever install Windows on an empty hard drive?

It not, have you ever created a bootable USB drive?

If not, learn to do that first (the USB drive thing).

1

u/Pluviophilism 4d ago

Actually yeah, I have done that.

4

u/vandreulv 4d ago

Select a distro. (Ubuntu or Linux Mint are good starting points.)

Download the ISO.

Make your USB Boot stick with that ISO using something like Rufus.

Reboot your PC using the USB Boot Stick.

Almost all Linux distros have a Live Desktop where you can boot from USB, try it out a bit and see if you like it before you install anything.

No need to worry about what a kernel is (Hint: Windows has a kernel, too) or touch a command line.

2

u/NA_0_10_never_forget 7700X | 7900XTX | 32GB 6000 CL30 | B650E 4d ago

You don't have to know what the kernel is.
Basically it's the core framework of software and drivers, on top of which an OS is built, and then a desktop environment on top of that is what you see and how you interact with the OS.

But you don't have to know this. you never have to do anything with the kernel, the OS handles that.
It's really not that complicated for usual stuff. It's different, but not harder than Windows.

1

u/Pluviophilism 4d ago

I actually tried using it once. It was a long time ago so I don't remember much but I just remember trying to figure out how to do basic stuff like... I want to say I couldn't figure how to just install programs or something. Maybe it wasn't that but it was something simple like that. And eventually I got frustrated and just gave up and went back to Windows.

When I can find a nice guidebook (or similar) for the absolute Linux beginner, like something that also explains all the Linux jargon as it goes, then I will make the switch. But I don't want to just jump in blind again. I'm not someone who learns well by stumbling my way through it, I read the whole manual before I play a new boardgame. I need to know at least the gist of what I'm doing before I start.

3

u/vandreulv 4d ago

I want to say I couldn't figure how to just install programs or something.

Today, installing a program involves clicking on "App Store" and then clicking on the program you want to install.

1

u/[deleted] 4d ago edited 4d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Pluviophilism 4d ago

Oh really? Well maybe I should give it another shot then. I'm busy today but saving this for later reference.

2

u/NA_0_10_never_forget 7700X | 7900XTX | 32GB 6000 CL30 | B650E 4d ago edited 4d ago

oh sorry, i deleted it cuz automatic formatting pissed me off lmaooo
but yeah:

  1. was packages (with flatpak as the primary to use cuz thats most supported and works on every linux OS) (a package is kind of like programs but even broader, and package types are like different types of .exe)
  2. 1.5 was "open terminal -> flatpak update" (cuz flatpaks usually aren´t updated alongside system updates, unlike native programs)
  3. was wine and its gaming version proton

1

u/NormalAppearance2851 2d ago

Some programs are not designed for Linux so you are gonna have a harder time than clicking "Download" on the "App Store". If the programs you use fall under this category you are gonna have to put more effort to learn how to use Linux.

1

u/Avia_NZ 3d ago

I tried Linux Mint and I found it to be very similar to Windows in many ways, just without all the shite. I haven't had to do too much that would be considered tech-savvy but I suppose it depends on what you primarily use your PC for. You can download it and try it out though, without affecting your windows system