Post by Alan K.Post by azigniSo do reviews, both would be equally valuable. Linux ix linux is linux,
only the DE and the apps you want make a difference.
Really? Arch linux seems to be another animal.
Yes, ultimately 'cd' and 'ls' etc are linux, but in reading about
installing Arch, it seems as if that system isn't wrapped up at all
and you have to manually install it 'your' way not Mint's way or
Ubuntu's way.
You could use something like EndeavourOS. It provides more help with
installation and initial setup than Vanilla Arch does. Once installed,
it's the same as using Arch though and it uses Arch's software repos and
AUR AFAIK.
There are plenty of distros to try, and plenty that people can be happy
with.
I tend to recommend that people start out with something like Mint or
Ubuntu. They help you get started and become comfortable with the
Unix/Linux experience.
These distros also have large user communities and plenty of
documentation and people discussing them on the web. I feel that this
kind of support is vital when you're just starting out.
Later on after you've learned more, maybe you will decide that you have
reasons for wanting some other distro. But you'll be doing it based on
knowledge, not just picking something at random or distro-hopping.
Now, if you have some friends that all use a certain distro, you might
be well-served by starting with the same distro. Your friends can be a
close support system for you. There will be a good chance that any issue
you run into will already have been solved by one of your friends, so
the overall experience will be smoother.