If your friend is using Linux first time, I would really recommend Mint as the first distro to dive in with Cinnamon desktop. It is Ubuntu/Debian based without snap hassle (although if you like it, that’s fine, and then basic Ubuntu is good choice though you can purge snap from there also) and is somewhat similar to Windows considering look and feel.
Of course if you really feel that EOS is something that your friend must have, then you should introduce him properly and give him a list of basic commands considering installing/uninstalling packages and updating system. Commands in Arch-based system are not that hard, but there can be situations where he needs to consult wiki or EOS Forums and sometimes it’s necessary to be able to combine info from forum and wiki to achieve wanted result.
That being said, it’s your and his choice which distro to hop on. My recommendation for completely new user on Linux field would be something like Mint but as I said before, EOS is not out of picture, but it’s certain that at some point he is going to need help and you must be able to give it then.
Anyway, your friend is welcome to join us in the purple side, if that’s what you guys end with.
You would be much better off TEACHING said friend how to install it themselves. If they have no clue as how to use A Terminal Centric Distro it could turn them off on Linux. As suggesting a more USER Centric OS would be a better start if you or your friend are afraid of the Command Line.
Well when they don’t know how to fix things because said package manager didn’t do something right then they will be in here asking for help, all because they refuse to learn the appropriate way to do things. They don’t seem to understand what a DYI system means.
Look just because you nay naysayers who don’t know about my friend should not judge myself or him. He has been using Linux for fifteen years. First was with Mint, then an Ubuntu version of KDE Linux. He just got tired of having to reload his OS every 5 years and wanted to try out Endeavor. While pacseek was something to tied him over until he got a handle on the terminal. He is learning the terminal and yes I did provide him with a list of terminal commands. Not everyone learns or understands the proper way of using the terminal right off the bat. Learning the terminal is like learning to drive a car. You don’t just get a license and start driving, it is something you have to be taught. Even then you gain experience as you start driving. So it goes with the terminal. As one gets more experience using the terminal the more confident they become using it. I don’t think there is one person using Linux that was so confident to use the terminal right off the bat as it took time to learn it as well.
My take - though I do like pamac GUI for browsing, I have a distinct aftertaste which lingers from the days I have had Discover installed.
Even using Neon, people have posted many times in the KDE forum saying that they get updates showing in Discover even after they did a full update…
So, GUI is nice for doing a quick search - I would vote for Pamac and Octopi for that, maybe find out that your favourite app is available via Flatpak/AUR/Repo - but don’t be going with packagekit because Arch just isn’t interested in it.
GUI is also fine to install your flatpak version if that’s your choice, but the terminal is just a quick keyboard stroke away… so easy to go with yay.
If your friend has been using Linux for 15 years they should know a little about the command Line. As someone who has been around that long on Linux back then doing the command line was more essential than it is today. NO WAY someone has been messing with Linux for 15 years and never been in the command line that whole time.
