Ask Lemmy

So like it says in the title. I'm looking to make a change. The only coding I ever did was like, some very light HTML on stuff like LiveJournal 20 years ago (because I'm ancient in internet years, haha) and even that I barely remember.

I've seen people talk about LinuxMint in other comment sections and how that one might be closest to something like Windows (in that a layman like myself can use it out of the box like buying a new laptop from Best Buy or whatever store). Is that actually a good one or is there something better for somebody like me?

I've seen enough people go 'NO UBUNTU!!!!' to steer me away from that one, but otherwise I have no clue what would actually be good for somebody in my shoes.

I have a laptop that still technically runs Windows 8 that I just use for downloads so I'd be trying it on there so that if something goes wonky I'm not fucked. After looking at the LinuxMint website, the specs on that laptop meet the requirements for it.

Thanks so much!

ETA: Because it's come up a few times and after the first time I didn't want to reply the same thing a over and over, I associate Linux with coding because everybody I've personally known that uses Linux is a programmer by trade, by hobby, or at least has a CompSci degree and understands this stuff on a level a million times higher than I do (even if they didn't end up in the field). Clearly I misunderstood something about what they were doing with Linux somewhere along the way. It looked like coding to a layperson at any rate so that's what stuck in my mind.