Manjaro Linux talk for those about to switch from Windows.

If you're thinking about switching from Windows to Linux, this video is for you! Learn about the difference of using Manjaro over other Linux distributions. It's an easier, more user-friendly distro based on Arch Linux, so choose wisely. It may or may not be the right Linux distro for you, the average user. Join the conversation and discover if Manjaro Linux is for you!

[@drmikeallan]

Love your videos. They're perfect for me as I'm just learning Linux. Don't listen to the haters.

[@johnishappy]

Thanks, will do!

[@Maxume]

Wow, reading some of the comments here was the 2nd friendly reminder I've had today to never lose sight of the fact that Linux is just an OS; nothing more, nothing less.

[@johnishappy]

That's all it is. Some people get cranky about it and I don't know why.

[@Basserino84]

Kernel... and I think a lot of "the community" is just into trying to push people to be enthusiast beyond learning. It's silly after a while.

[@hlashflahflhsjfh]

Arch fan boys are just sensitive that everyone is jumping ship to new hard distro of choice NixOS

[@Maxume]

@@Basserino84 I can't tell whether you're joking or being serious about the kernel thing but I'm rooting for it being a joke.

[@Basserino84]

@Maxume history says that Linux is the kernel, BSD is a "complete" OS. The only reason any of these distributions stand out with names is someone thought it was a good idea to package the kernel with programs that complete the OS. Am I missing something here?

[@rgavel]

Love seeing you go down the Linux rabbit hole John. I tried installing Manjaro Cinnamon in a VM a couple months ago and it just would not install correctly. Then after watching this video I decided to give Manjaro another try on my updated Mint machine with a VM using the XFCE version. Whoo hoo, it worked fine on bootup, presenting me with the Welcome screen and the applications menu. However when I tried doing a full install my mouse went wonky, and then the installation aborted without any intervention on my part. I decided to retry and again the installation from the iso went great, but the full install automatically aborted again. I've installed nearly two dozen distros via VM, so I'm not sure if I'm missing some kind of magic chant I'm supposed to utter or what.

[@johnishappy]

I've often tried VM's with different distros and they never really work right. It doesn't matter what I do. I found that something always went south, so now doing these vids, it's always a real install. It's the only way they work IMHO.

[@rgavel]

I do have a secondary desktop I could retry a bunch of distros, but I'm a bit surprised at how few have given me problems in a VM.

[@centy64]

I used ZorinOS for 2 years after leaving windows and have been on Manjaro for a few months now and honestly I think Manjaro has been a far simpler experience for me, I've barely touched the terminal and most small issues were resolvable in a GUI. I'm not a developer I can't code and I understand just enough to be dangerous lol. I'd happily recommend Manjaro to a new user if they were vaguely tech savvy because if it's your first experience of linux then you have the same windows things to unlearn as you do with any version of linux.

[@johnishappy]

Manjaro is one of the best distros out there, really stable and I really should do a really good go round with it.

[@user-nj5ti7fe4f]

hey john great video buddy i love the cinaomen vierson of manjaro its almost like mint a little different but close love it

[@johnishappy]

I'm going to try that as well.

[@user-nj5ti7fe4f]

@@johnishappy it's almost identical to mint 21.3 and to me it seems a little faster with updated kernel

[@juanroldan4379]

Hi John! I haven’t used Manjaro yet. From what I understand there was some controversy last year involving their certificate. One may have to get a little more involved with this one but other than that, it looks like a fine distro. Would I use it as my daily driver? Well, even after retirement, I'm working more than before. So I need one of those install and forget distros. I do play with others like Linux Lite but I need something stable. I need one of those install and forget in the computers I use for online banking, online purchases and, research.

[@johnishappy]

I think for most people set it and forget it is the way to go. It is for me because that's productivity, that's why a person usea a PC in the first place!

[@juanroldan4379]

You are very correct. I don't mind tinkering with Linux but that's for learning and fun. I need stability when I have to balance the checkbook and pay my taxes online.

[@bkThund3r]

The free version of free office is missing some functionality of the full version. Although, I like that it looks like MS office. Excel is missing the data validation stuff which i use often to make lists. I use only office instead.

[@johnishappy]

I've used onlyoffice as well, didn't like it as much.

[@bkThund3r]

@@johnishappy that is fine. I fell like when I use libreoffice i need to look up how to do things that I used to do on MS office. With only office, the interface is so much similar and the tools are right there. God bless. PS. Did you happen to hear of what's new in Win 11 24H2 and their new hardware requirements?

[@AndreaBorman]

I have been using Linux Mint for over 18 months now after switching from Windows. I have also been trying out Ubuntu and now Debian. So I have just gotten used to them and how they work and it is serving me well. So I don't want to go on arch or Fedora or those based distros because they are different from the Debian based ones which all use Apt. Also from what I have seen on the videos on here Arch can only be installed by commands and there is no installer as there is for Ubuntu. I did try to install one Arch Based Linux 2 years ago when I first tried it. But it would not install at all. At that time I did not know that it was different to Ubuntu based Linux but I do now. If I were to switch to Arch I would have to go back to the beginning and start all over again. I don't want to do that since Linux Mint is working very well for me and I am not having any problems. So I will stick with what I know.

[@johnishappy]

Manjaro does have a graphical installer, but if you are happy with Linux mint, like me, I would never make a switch to an arch based Linux. You do have to do things differently and the community there I don't think is as strong when it comes to new users. I'll never go to anything arch-based because I like the Debian base stuff better for everyday use. There's no progression in all this. I personally don't think Arch is any better than Debian, but there are those out there that would argue that. As always, stick with what works for you and what you like. And for that and, I like the Ubuntu or Debian based distros hands down. I'm Linux mint all the way for my everyday needs.

[@AndreaBorman]

@@johnishappy Oh that helps but I think the one I tried to install was AntiX which did not have a graphical installer. Even so they say that Arch based Linux does not come with very much at all and you have to configure everything yourself. They also say that things break a lot on Arch because they use the newest and untested kernels and software. Where as Debian and Ubuntu based Linux uses only the stable versions. A new user coming from Windows is not going to be able to handle Arch. I don't think so.

[@abdulkarimbashirtermanini6330]

Mr. John, don't listen to this people. You are incredible

[@johnishappy]

Thanks for the encouragement.

[@BWGPEI]

I would suggest to the community that what works for any MS Windows user rather depends on what their background and hardware is. Unless you know what that is, you've no business telling them what they have to use from the GNU Linux world. Rather you ought to help them choose something suitable for THEIR needs. Sure that's more work, but are you trying to help or hinder?

[@johnishappy]

Trying to help, that's why I say it's probably not the one to use for an absolute new user.

[@BWGPEI]

Wasn't aimed at you - more at the people roasting you.@@johnishappy

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

Manjaro is THE best arch based distro you can get by far and stock arch sucks ass. Yes, I said it. I've been using Linux for over 15 years and this is just fact.

[@johnishappy]

You would know. Let's see if the arch purists can deal with that!

[@peterschmidt9942]

Personally I had nothing but issues with it. I spent more time fixing than using. But each to their own.

[@jimw7916]

I think free office is an "online" app, which is not good for privacy in my opinion. Sorry I could be wrong on that BUT ...its NOT open source.

[@johnishappy]

I didn't see anything about that, but I will check into it. Thanks for the heads up.

[@jimw7916]

@@johnishappy I could be wrong BUT ....its definitely NOT OPEN SOURCE.

[@user-nj5ti7fe4f]

to be honest manjaro has done me better than arch hell arch was quite buggy and slow and laggy im sorry it was so there you go just my 2 cents

[@johnishappy]

Thanks for your experience!

[@user-nj5ti7fe4f]

@@johnishappy yw john

[@bhargavjitbhuyan9394]

Manjaro. Desktop: Yes. Laptop: No. Performence: 9.6/10 Battery life: 0/10

[@johnishappy]

It is fast, but the battery life is bad huh? Did not know that.

[@garth56]

I have 5 DE's on Arch..The people who told you that re talking rubbish..When you talk about something make sure you have a clue!!!

[@johnishappy]

It was written in one of the community forums. I'm not trying to be misleading.

[@garth56]

DO NOT USE MANJARO.. IT'S nothing to do with Arch..So when you come back wouldn't it be better to do a video when you understand..You have no clue.. Go install Arch properly several times then talk..THIS IS RUBBISH thumbs down.. I can help

[@johnishappy]

So then why do they say that it's based on Arch on their website? This is what I don't understand. I get this every time I try to do something like this

[@chaussettes99]

@@johnishappy It is arch based, this guy is just off his rocker. They have their own repos but leverage arch to build their distro, so it is arch based. You can enable the ability to install software from the arch linux community repos but it has a chance to break manjaro. This guy is the worst kind of linux user and the reason why arch has got such a terrible reputation in recent years. The arch community is a toxic landfill.

[@johnishappy]

@@chaussettes99 I thought I was losing my mind again with this, that's why I prefaced all that in the video talk itself. I even looked it up from other FOSS sources and they all say that it's based on arch, so why do some arch guys say that it's not? And if it's not based on Arch, then what is it based on? They never say.

[@RetosSpace]

​@@johnishappyyup and that is one of the many reasons the so called Linux Community is a mess, and yes there are some decent folk out there that help and yes I Use Arch BTW

[@drakemallard6100]

​​​@@johnishappysome "btw I use arch people" love to hate Manjaro. It's an ideologic thing or so. Manjaro is not perfect but runs great even I personally would prefer Garuda (gnome) with its bootable snapshots out of the box.