Looking for suggestions besides Kubuntu, KDE Neon, Debian, Arch Linux, or Kali.

Would be on a modest Dell Latitude with i5, 14" 1080p display with intel graphics, and maybe 16gb ram. I have previous experience with XFCE, Ratpoison, Openbox, KDE Plasma. Recently started trying out LXQT.

Well if you don't want to use those that you listed than maybe that Hannah Montana one would suit your needs.

Is there something not working out for you? Linux has basically simply "just worked" for a long time... It's basically down to how you want your updates and what DE you prefer.

I prefer endeavor with kde for rolling release and fedora and gnome for a more stable set it and forget it install.

Okay, just wanted to be clear on systems I already understand. Hmm, it did just receive an update... https://gitlab.com/DecaCagle/hannahmontanalinux26

Asking since I'd otherwise just stay on Kubuntu LTS

I'm somewhat interested in Void Linux, for the claim that it's "stable rolling". If it weren't for patterns, I might prefer OpenSUSE Slowroll for something more user-friendly. Both of these seem less talked about (than say something like NixOS*), though Slowroll is still listed as 'experimental'. I probably would like something more flexible than Slowroll's release schedule, too.

Haven't tried anything new myself, my system is a bit outdated and my now-legacy GPU makes it a bit harder too. Internet is shared and not the fastest, add on Arch's need for manual intervention and that's why I can't just update (and the sort of thing I hope to sidestep with a different distro).

Also meta note, the rules link in the sidebar doesn't seem to work.

* technically an option for me, but overcomplicates things (and not sure about point releases). If I went this route, I might try nixpkgs on its own first.

I'll add slow roll to the list. Nix is on there. Window manager suggestion? Also, are you referring to the wiki sidebar (much of it restricted to account holders)

Window manager suggestion?

I prefer XFCE (I even have my own ultra-minimal XFWM window theme). Cinnamon isn't too bad either, though anything with this sort of paradigm is fine and not exactly new.

are you referring to the wiki sidebar (much of it restricted to account holders)

Not sure what you mean about wiki, but yeah the See rules link. Seems like it should be visible to anyone, either that or remove the link and have rules directly in the sidebar like many Fediverse communities do already.

I liked zorin for the install and go aspect. It has a bunch of default software someone would expect to use and tries to be friendly to somone familiar with windows. Its an unbuntu respin which is based on debian if that makes a difference but there are only a few core distros. I now use bazzite whos main thing is steam integration off the bat as well as being one of the immutable ones.

Bazzite is on the list. I'll add Zorin... got a particular window manager to recommend? Like I posted, I'm already very experienced with Debian and Ubuntu spins. So, fyi.

I don't. I see it as an opportunity, otherwise I won't change. Haven't changed my wallpaper since 20.04 LTS, but
I am willing to give what people recommend a real try.

I'm extremely experienced with XFCE. Haven't tried Cinnamon. Here is the related wiki link.

Are you looking to mess around and challenge yourself with a new way of doing things? NixOS

Are you looking for a daily driver with less mucking around? Fedora

Lots of people recommending Fedora. I've tried NixOS twice for about a week each time... willing to go again, but for longer.

I'm personally very happy with CachyOS. I switched to it over a year ago and it basically just works, no drama. Like any arch-based distro, you can pick whatever desktop environment you want, and switch later (or install multiple) if you want. It has sane defaults, and a good installer. The performance is a nice bonus.

Try Gentoo. It teaches you a lot about stuff you may already know, but perhaps it's good to revisit, and it gives you extreme fine grain control over your system. Don't just install, actually configure and use it for a bit.

so bazzite is kde and zorin is gnome. I ended up adding kde plasma to gnome as it has better window snapping. I have not used much of the other window managers. I used to love the next step workstations but openstep just never really felt the same. I think part of it was os things that were not strictly part of the window manager. its similar to how windows like linux is not going to be totally like windows.

Here are options, which I'll choose by dice roll. Laptop arrives eta today.

• Project Name Window Manager
• Devuan —
• Fedora default Gnome
• Gentoo Libreboot firmware
• Void Sway or Niri + noctalia-shell
• MXlinux Sway
• CachyOS Niri + Limine
• Bazzite
• NixOS Cinnamon + Guix + Flakes
• QubesOS Whonix
• Zorin Gnome
• LMDE
• OpenSuse Slowroll
• EndeavorOS Plasma
• Slackware
• Alma
• Aurora