Linux desktop browser build for a friend, which distro?

[skyking]

That's it. I am a Debian guy for servers, but the desktop environment is not my cup of coffee. I fell out of MS into doing 95% of my casual computing on a chromebook.
I have some decent enough hardware laying around. He will do no more than surf and wants something lightweight so it sails along nicely on modest hardware.

 

[crashtech]

Mint, Cinnamon if the hardware is decent, Xfce if it's not:

All versions - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

linuxmint.com

 

[mxnerd]

Also from Linux Mint.

LMDE 5 Debian Edition if you are familar with Debian. Fast, beautiful, runs on moderate hardware.

LMDE 5 “Elsie” released! – The Linux Mint Blog

blog.linuxmint.com

LMDE 5 "Elsie" - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

www.linuxmint.com

 

[skyking]

two votes for Mint.
I will build and tweak this as needed, and then not see it again for 6 months at a time. Will he, a non linux guy, be able to keep it updated?

 

[mxnerd]

How to Configure Linux Mint Updates Automatically

Automatic updates repair security gaps that have been identified to protect your system from hackers, virus attacks, correct or delete computer bugs that can slow down your system and improve the speed and system efficiency. This article is an all-inclusive guide on how to configure Linux Mint...

linuxhint.com

You can install TeamViewer after the Linux distro is done, in case you are willing to assist him remotely occasionally.

You will need a TeamViewer account to help others. The one getting assistance doesn't. He just have to give you his TeamViewer ID and password which will change for every new connection.

How To Install TeamViewer on Linux Mint 20 / Linux Mint 19 | ITzGeek

TeamViewer is the most widely used software for desktop sharing, online meetings, web conferencing, and file transfer between computers.

www.itzgeek.com

 

[mxnerd]

Or Clouready / Chrome OS Flex from Google.

ChromeOS Flex: unser cloudbasiertes Betriebssystem – ChromeOS

Sie können vorhandene PCs und Macs ganz einfach auf ChromeOS Flex upgraden, unser sicheres und einfach zu verwaltendes cloudbasiertes Betriebssystem.

www.neverware.com

ChromeOS Flex: unser cloudbasiertes Betriebssystem – ChromeOS

Sie können vorhandene PCs und Macs ganz einfach auf ChromeOS Flex upgraden, unser sicheres und einfach zu verwaltendes cloudbasiertes Betriebssystem.

chromeenterprise.google

 

[crashtech]

two votes for Mint.
I will build and tweak this as needed, and then not see it again for 6 months at a time. Will he, a non linux guy, be able to keep it updated?

Yes, unless non-standard packages are installed, in which case the automatic updater will occasionally break something. But if it's just a browsing machine it should be no problem.

 

[Ajay]

Mint Cinnamon was the easiest to adjust to, coming from windows, of the 8 or so distros I tried. I went with Kubuntu because I wanted KDE. So, yes, another vote for Mint - I was really on the fence over the two.

 

[skyking]

Thanks a bunch folks You made it easy!!

 

[Red Squirrel]

I use Mint myself, I find it's probably one of the more polished desktop OSes. Everything pretty much just works and it's a popular enough distro that you should find stuff if you do run into issues.

 

[Shamrock]

KDE Neon