I think Linux is desktop ready and I call it Cinnadeb 12!
That's Debian 12 with the Cinnamon desktop environment.
** In my day job I work with Linux in datacenter environments, it's good stuff! Every year or two I try out Linux on the desktop to see if it can replace my current daily driver laptop, which have been used Macs for the last few years. I give it a fair shot, but usually something doesnt work which is a deal breaker.
I tried Debian 12 with Cinnamon Desktop on an spare Dell Latitude 7490 laptop, an older MacBook Pro and iMac 5K (both 2014),. These are Intel i7 machines, 16 GB ram and 512 GB SSD each.
I quite enjoyed the it just works experience!
- Debian installer is easy to follow
- Most cases wifi just works
- LVM + full disk encryption can be setup easily
- System reboots into Cinnamon desktop
- Like Windows and Mac systems, everything generally just works
- Login and start using it after some quick tweaks in System Settings
- Features such as the display brightness keys all work properly is one example
- System performance is snappy on these "old things"
Features I have working include:
- Full disk encryption (LVM during install)
- Hardware support out of box, everything works:
- Wifi
- Trackpad
- Display drivers
- Sound
- Bluetooth
- Power Management
- The desktop experience is what I expect:
- Point and click setup of most things
- Command line setup where I like it (apt, vi etc)
- Easy to install software via apt, downloaded .deb package
- Built in software tool to find and install applications
- System updates via system tray notification
- Printers just work
- Thunderbird connected to my iCloud email and Contacts
- Libre Office feels polished and my documents just open
- and VS Code of course is my fav GUI editor, vim still gets plenty of use too
- Batteries Not Included:
- Documents and Desktop replication
- Appears to have built in support for Google and some others
- No iCloud of course :-)
- Was able to configure Unison to easily replicate Docs & Desk on my main iMac
- Everything else so far just works, I have "refreshed" two older Macs and a nice Dell Latitude laptop with modern software that works better than ever.
More details + specific setup steps for reference to come..