this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2024
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Hello, I'm looking for a new distro that aligns with my privacy preferences and offers a wide range of packages without requiring me to search for PPAs, similar to Manjaro. I've grown uneasy about Manjaro's decision to collect unique data like MAC addresses and disk serial numbers by default, even if it's for diagnostic purposes.

In light of this, I'd like to ask for your recommendations on a Linux distro that meets the following criteria:

  1. No opt-out telemetry: I'm looking for a distro that doesn't collect any unique data by default.
  2. Access to a wide range of packages: I prefer a distro that offers a vast repository of packages, so I don't have to search for PPAs or third-party repositories.
  3. User-friendly: I'm not a fan of complicated configurations or steep learning curves, so a distro with a user-friendly approach would be ideal.

I'm curious to hear any recommendations you might have. Thanks!

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[–] LavenderDay3544@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago

Hannah Montana Linux

[–] icogniito@lemmy.zip 13 points 11 hours ago

Well if you don’t want plain arch I’d go with cachyos or just endeavouros

[–] MyNameIsRichard@lemmy.ml 22 points 12 hours ago

Another vote for Endeavour OS here

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

Take the plunge into the Void.

[–] Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 hours ago

Let go your earthly tether Enter the Void empty, and become wind

[–] DieserTypMatthias@lemmy.ml 8 points 13 hours ago
[–] NewOldGuard@hexbear.net 10 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

I would point you towards EndeavourOS. It's pretty much just preconfigured Arch, so you get the same rolling release packages as Manjaro and retain access to the AUR. Its a solid project, IMO it does everything that Manjaro claims and fails to but properly

[–] Presi300@lemmy.world 44 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

EndeavorOS. It's like manjaro but not bad.

[–] Rogers@lemmy.ml 6 points 17 hours ago

Came here to say the same. Such a great distro, and it'll be an easy switch from manjaro.

I've been running it with btrfs and it has been rock solid stability wise. If you go btrfs I recommend grub btrfs for easy boot time snapshots and btrfs-assistant in the aur if you want a GUI to manage btrfs maintenance.

[–] jimmy90@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago
[–] eruchitanda@lemmy.world 26 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

If you're already used to Arch-based systems, and enjoy the convenience of the AUR, what about EndeavourOS?

It's basically Arch with GUI install scripts, and a different wallpaper.

[–] eruchitanda@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I saw one commenter suggested Arch itself. IMO it's even a better idea than EOS.

archinstall doesn't have GUI, but it has very nice TUI (like what you have when you use htop), and you could finish selecting the options in very few minutes.

[–] potentiallynotfelix@lemmy.fish 2 points 22 hours ago

Maybe I'm a dumbass and it's my fault, but I find that archinstall always has an issue when you run it. It's easier to install arch manually than run the and troubleshoot.

[–] secret300@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 15 hours ago

Is there any distro that automatically collect data? Every distro I've tried asked directly on install or at first boot

[–] Blxter@lemmy.zip 57 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I switched to EOS Endeavour OS. I don't think it has data collection

[–] lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network 32 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It doesn't, and offers an even friendlier experience than Manjaro IMO

[–] Classy@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 day ago

Endeavour has been an amazing distro for me, noob Linuxer. I started on Ubuntu Cinnamon, then tried Mint, and ended here on Endeavour and I love it.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 34 points 1 day ago

Use Arch Linux. There's a script called "archinstall" you can use after connecting to the internet, and it's basically a guided installer

[–] tomsh@lemmy.ml 3 points 17 hours ago

I think you are looking for a distribution with KDE and flatpak by default

[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 21 points 1 day ago (2 children)

EndeavourOS. I used Manjaro for 1.5 years before switching to EndeavourOS. (BTW before that I was also using Ubuntu for 13 years in row...) I couldn't be happier. It's closer to Archlinux and a bit more focused on terminal, but overall hassle free for me. Updates come quicker and not in batches like Manjaro did. Which means more often new versions of packages and no compatibility or other issues with AUR caused by Manjaro. What desktop environment did you use before? KDE is pretty good on EndeavourOS and what I would recommend.

  1. No opt-out or opt-in telemetry.
  2. Same package manager and repository from Archlinux.
  3. You have already experience with Manjaro and the Archlinux stuff, so going to a similar system like EndeavourOS makes sense. However its a bit more terminal oriented, with a few GUI related help.

Because of your prior experience with Manjaro, I think EndeavourOS is a good candidate you should have in mind.

[–] airikr@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 day ago

I second EndeavourOS. It's so good!

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is there something like an easy migration script, which would take packages and settings from my current install?

Ok, settings are mostly in my home anyway
Packages I can generate a list, and the manuals throw out the Manjaro stuff

Hmm...I'm having a laptop and a workstation running Manjaro and I really would like to make the switch, but can't tolerate much downtime, because both are machines for my work

So I'm looking for something to quickly setup everything as I had, without the need to remember everything and do it manually...

[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 2 points 16 hours ago

You wouldn't be first who asks this. There are attempts and instructions how to do this, step by step. But I'm not confident enough to recommend any of those. Maybe they are outdated or your machine requires some setup which is not covered. I do not recommend doing this, but if you have no time to setup a new OS from scratch, then at least make a backup before attempting any of this.

I would ask those on the official EndeavourOS forum, which is active and helpful: https://forum.endeavouros.com/

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 5 points 20 hours ago

Fedora/Nobara.

[–] banazir@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

openSUSE Tumbleweed has served me well for some time now. Maybe give it a look-see?

[–] FrostyPolicy@suppo.fi 4 points 1 day ago

Second this. Tumbleweed is a great distro. Nearly everything you'll need can be found in default repos. Then there are several endorsed (semi) official add-on repos, and if that fails there's always OBS (opi is your friend for searching those).

i found endeavor to be nicer than Manjaro but tbh I'm at the stage where i just recommend installing arch. it's gotten a lot easier. endeavor is also arch based though so I'd go with that if you want super easy install / extra stuff installed ootb

[–] prunerye@slrpnk.net 1 points 18 hours ago

Garuda. It's even easier than Manjaro. The theming can be a bit much, though.

[–] eco_game@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 1 day ago

I really like Pop!_OS, AFAIK it doesn't have any telemetry. It's basically a Ubuntu fork but without the stupid Ubuntu stuff, and they're currently even working on their own Desktop Environment.

[–] markstos@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

This coverage provides an example of what is sent, and it includes neither MACs nor HDD serial numbers.

https://ostechnix.com/manjaro-data-donor/

[–] furzegulo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

cachyos is user friendly and based on arch

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 day ago

It's not very stable though. It failed majorly in my case.

[–] Lawn_and_disorder@hexbear.net 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Peppermint OS, its what made me stop distrohopping . Debian based with extra on top, easy doesn't brake,

I don't understand the concept. It's Debian with xfce and a custom theme. Why is that a distribution. Seems like a meta package would be enough.

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com -4 points 18 hours ago (1 children)
[–] jaypatelani@lemmy.ml 3 points 16 hours ago (1 children)
[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 2 points 8 hours ago

LFS isn't a distribution. It's documentation only. (I know you were joking, but as an ex Reddit user I remembered my origin where I came from and got triggered hard.)

[–] dysprosium@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I think maybe Fedora but probably less software available

[–] LavenderDay3544@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

Not at all with RPMFusion.

[–] r3dw4re@hexbear.net 3 points 1 day ago

If your fedora is compatible with ELF64 (which it is) then you have 99% of total Linux compatible software available to you. Linux is Linux.

[–] ace_garp@lemmy.world 0 points 23 hours ago

Trisquel is a fully 'Free as in freedom' distro.

Zero telemetry now or in the future.

Ubuntu based, so large FLOSS package repository.

Mate UI, simple user friendly layout.

* You will need hardware that works with fully free hardware drivers (for printer, WiFi, GPU etc). Drivers with binary-blobs are not included, due to potential security risks or spyware.

Test your hardware with a bootable USB.

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 0 points 23 hours ago

Debian or Linux Mint

Arch would actually stand a chance.