Where are Linux distributions going?

Question

linux

My acquaintance with Linux began in 2011, when Ubuntu 11.04 was relevant (the last release with GNOME 2 by default) and I quite liked it, a flexible environment, it works quickly, there are a lot of settings. However, after looking at 11.10 and 12.04, I was extremely unpleasantly surprised, I would forgive Unity its non-configurability (it’s still well thought out) if it worked as fast as GNOME 2, but it slowed down on my then computer (AMD Athlon 3200 + (one core 2 GHz), 2 GB of RAM, GeForce 7600), for the sake of justice, it should be noted that games such as GTA San Andreas or STALKER Call of Pripyat went well there on average (don't tell me that some kind of graphical shell needs more resources than a full-fledged 3D game), and after a month of updates, X stupidly stopped loading.
After that, I almost immediately migrated to Debian 6, which was still relevant then, I really liked it, again, gnome 2, everything is simply understandable and configurable, and unlike ubuntu, it still doesn’t fall from updates, after using Debian 7 with XFCE (including and on the laptop), I also liked it, but relative to GNOME 2 XFCE it seems somehow unfinished. I used this 7 debian until December 2014, then demolished it in favor of 7 (I wanted to play around with it).
And just a couple of months ago, I wanted to look at more modern distributions and DE, I did it on a laptop with AMD E2 1800+ with Radeon HD7340 and 6GB of RAM, and what I found, Unity brakes have not gone away, Dash opens with a freeze, the cooler is almost never turns off, that 1.7 GHz is not enough for DE?
I decided to look at Debian 7 with GNOME3, downloaded liveseed and thought, wow, a step back, in this new type of tablet-oriented interface, I did not even find how to connect to a hidden Wi-Fi hotspot through the GUI, no software is included in the kit except the most basic one.
Meanwhile in the Windows camp: even though Windows 8 had a controversial design, it runs much faster on the same laptop than Ubuntu with Unity.
Actually, the question is why everything has become so sad so abruptly, and which Linux distribution is better to install today on the laptop described above (now I use the latest Mint with MATE, I like everything except for doubts about stability, after all, the Ubuntu branch)?

Answer 1

Linux distributions are on the rise.

Answer 2

which distribution

Arch+xfce || tile WM

Answer 3

No matter where they go. Most of the Internet is still on Linux and is not going to move anywhere, everything is fine.
You're only thinking about DEs that develop in parallel with distributions, but do not depend on them. Also, choosing a DE is not the same as choosing a distribution. On the other hand, I cannot but agree that it is much more convenient to install it out of the box and without crap. Working with Windows, people are used to the fact that the appearance is determined by the system, in this context - by the distribution, but in Linux this is far from the case.
For example: if you want a classic DE - take Mate. Weak video card - Xfce, LXDE. Pretty things are needed - Gnom3, KDE. No money for poppy - Unity. Consider gnome2 convenient, but dull, and gnome3 dull and unfinished - take a closer look at Cinnamon. And I don’t really care what distribution kit will be used in this case.
Did you find a distribution with DE that suits you? Sit on it for as long as you can. You will still get bored and want something else.
Meanwhile, in Windows, there are tiles with a dull start button, the same terrible search for installed programs, and an under-tablet under-interface, which sometimes already infuriates.

Answer 4

Debian with the same Mate or for the freshness of packages - Arch. Well, Gentoo has not gone anywhere. And yes, if these are all the distros that you have tried, then the experience is small.

Answer 5

https://elementary.io/en/

Answer 6

I'm sitting on minced meat from 12.04+12.10 (upgraded from 8.04 through 10.04, emnip) with gnome classic
Puffing and happy, all actions on the screen are drawn instantly.
In extreme cases, there is slack.

Answer 7

In mastdayku they roll. Looks like Linux captcha is just around the corner.
So far, Genta and Slack are still somehow tossing and turning. But I have a suspicion that they will eventually die ☹
PS I have a genta at home, at work there is still a dying schoolboy (he still won't die to give way to the genta).

Answer 8

I don't know which one is better for you. But I am using Lubuntu new version. Same ubuntu but without the bulky features. There is a fast shell resembling windows xp (any shell can be installed from kubuntu desktop to ubuntu). I don't complain about work. GTA San Andres works fine through wine without a bug (samp).
Computer: 2 gigs of RAM (1.700 mb available)
Integrated video card (it's clear why so many RAMs are available)
2 cores.
New freshly updated lubuntu.
To optimize, I use the root of the application:
Cleaners:
Bleachbit
Ubuntu Tweak
Disabling autorun applications:
Bootup-Manager (for example, disable virtual box)
Well, perhaps that's it. My set :)

Answer 9

Shit code and shit ideas are ruining Linux. While Windows is a commercially optimized product (taking into account usability), in Linux, coders are still responsible for everything. And as you know ... nizya coders do nothing but their direct duties. And it turns out the opposite. And note that optimization is also not the strongest point of Linux. So this product is rolling quietly down the hill.

Answer 10

In Debian 8, you can explicitly select the desktop environment at the installation stage, added all the main ones: s28.postimg.org/yw5bch5tp/Debian_8_x32.png

Answer 11

I don’t know about you, but Ubuntu 14.04 + xfce works for me, it’s faster than Windows 7

Answer 12

As for the appearance, the example of the same IOS 7 clearly shows how it deteriorated due to the desire to "do it differently", not similar, but not better. And probably in the Linux world, this trend also manifests itself.

Answer 13

I started with bubunta 12 - where I didn’t like it, then I sat on lubuntu for a long time - it flies, I finished it a little, but because of the experiments, she fell ill.
Decided to try Linux Mint Cinnamon. And I realized - this is mine. I like where it goes with each new version, the most important thing is that on my laptop (Sony Vaio) everything worked out of the box. The computer does not heat up, it makes noise (unless, of course, you do not run games)
Yes, there is also Windows, but only for Dota 2, in Linux, although it is native, the FPS is 2 times less

Answer 14

1. A clean debian is installed without DE (I have 7)
2. Turnips are connected with mate (fork 2 gnomes)
3. Installed and works quickly and looks familiar