[jneumann004]

I've been using Linux for years, so I've got my opinions about distros. Why should the distribution a new user pick matter that much? They can easily switch if they don't like the first one they pick.

[read_if_gay_]

GP probably conflated distro with DE, which is covered in the next paragraph in TFA, maybe shouldn't have stopped reading after all.

[throw7]

Well, IMO, a new user should pick a distribution that has different DE's available in it's repository. That makes switching and trying different DE's very easy. As opposed to some distros which are specifically tailored to only a specific or supported DE.

[zepto]

Easily switch? You mean by reinstalling from scratch, or is there another way?

I’d like to know because I am interested in trying different distros but don’t want to have to keep setting up machines.

[asciimov]

Stability of install.

New users probably shouldn't use a rolling release because updates can cause the install to be unbootable, leaving a bad impression of linux.

[wayneftw]

What happens then is that the new Linux user soon needs a newer version of some package and they have to add a third party repo to their stable system and after having done this a few times, soon an update from one of them will cause the install to be unbootable.

I've had a way better experience with desktop Linux when using a managed rolling release like Manjaro.