NutWrench

I also recommend downloading a linux image file, putting it on a USB stick and booting your computer from it. This lets you try out linux without making any changes to your computer. The other nice thing about a live USB stick is that it lets you make sure that linux detects all your computer’s hardware. If you don’t have any problems during the live session, you won’t have any problems when you install it for real.

Another vote for Linux Mint. You can always try different linux distros later on.

Yup. I’m not about to take the word of politicians who have unwavering support for The King of the Pedophiles and a serial rapist.

This right here. It’s not about “protecting children.” It never HAS been about “protecting children.” It never WILL be about “protecting children.” It’s about surveillance and control. The money class is desperate for ways to identify you online that can get around your use of a VPN. They want to know who you are, where you are, where you go, who you talk to, what you buy and what your politics are. And if you think they’ll be satisfied with just an age check for porn sites, you are hopelessly naive.

Fortunately, when someone or something “damages” the Internet, like these sorts of laws, the Internet routes around that damage. If a website won’t accept my connection because of an age check, I’m just going to move on the something else. These idiot lawmakers act like we don’t have a choice. I say they’re wrong.

The Linux Mint upgrade is recent and folks migrated from 22.2 to 22.3 You can see it right in the stats. Don’t know about Ubuntu.

I recently upgraded from Linux Mint 21.3 to 22.2 and my login screen STILL shows the Wayland (Cinnamon) display manager as “experimental.” Wayland runs a lot smoother on 22.2 and it’s a lot less crash-ey, but I don’t think it’s ready for prime time, yet. (Your own mileage may vary.)

Get or build a PC instead of getting a console. Introduce to kid to games. After a while, say “you know, computers can do other stuff besides play games” and introduce the kid to that as well.

Tell them to keep their personal life completely separate from their online life. NO personal info shared online.

Well if you’re still interested in updating your laptop, Soundblaster actually makes a sound card on a USB stick for less than $20 (Amazon). :)

It might be worth getting a cheap Soundblaster card for your computer. Mint seems to have good support for all of them.

I’m really enjoying the learning curve with Linux because it’s a valuable skill to master. On the other hand, every time I’ve had to “go under the hood” with Windows, it’s been to keep it from doing something awful to me.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently gave Trump a 24 carat gold bribe.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/07/tim-cook-trump-gift/85555805007/

I’ve got 2 Brother printers that work just fine with Linux Mint, the Brother L2640 and L2685. They’re both black and white toner cartridge printers that use either wireless or a USB cable connection. I print maybe a dozen pages a day on both printers and replace the cartridges ever 4-5 months or so. I can get third party replacement toner cartridges on Amazon for around $25 for a 2-pack. Replacement drums are about $25-30 every 3 years or so.

If you’re still on the fence about switching to Linux, try downloading a Live Linux USB image and booting it from a USB stick. This lets you try out Linux without changing anything on your Windows drive. The Live version will also let you see if Linux detects all your computer’s hardware before you install it for real.

I recommend Linux Mint for beginners.

This. Also, get a VPN service, like Nord that’s preferably not based in the US. Also, Microsoft is literally installing spyware on your computer already. (CoPilot and Recall). They would have NO problems turning over your computer data to the Trump regime on their whims.

Another vote for trying a live distro. If the live version detects all your computer’s hardware, it will detect it when you install it for real.

I’ve had 3 different graphics cards since 2009.

I have an nVidia RTX 3060, running on a desktop I built back in 2009. I’m running Linux Mint with the KDE Plasma desktop with no problems. All the Steam I bought on Windows, run with no problems under Linux.

Any non-Steam games, like Giants: Citizen Kabuto or Deus Ex (1) run on Wine under the default settings with no problems.

I think adopting Proton was the smartest thing Valve ever did. They are going to capture 90% of gamers switching from Windows to Linux.

Many Linux distros have “live” versions that you can boot from without changing anything on your computer. If the live version detects your fingerprint sensor, it will detect it when you install it for real.

And Trump is just going to screw him over anyway, bribe or no bribe.

Well, “dark traffic” sounds SCARY. You wouldn’t want to do anything scary, would you? Like, use the computer you paid for to control the content you want to see? /s