[dgeex]

Sorry for the downtime, it's fixed now.

Maybe some advanced users could start with Arch, but most of the people I know, will find it too difficult and give up on it. Yes, it's a great way to learn how stuff works, but it's just not for everyone. And in my opinion, beginners should start with something different. I'd never recommend my mom to try Arch for example.

[enoch_r]

I started with Arch too, and am still with it several years later (typing this comment on a Pixel 2 running Arch). I agree that Arch isn't for everyone, but I think a sufficiently curious and motivated beginner will be fine. Mostly because of Arch's incredible wiki.

[nextos]

Oh, can you report what works and what doesn't on a Pixel 2 hardware-wise?

[enoch_r]

Sure! On install, a few things didn't work: trackpad, keyboard backlight, touchscreen, and I think screen brightness. However, https://github.com/tsowell/linux-samus solved all these problems. There are a few details to iron out (as described in the README) but at this point it's fully functional for me.

[nextos]

Great, thanks! If you monitor hardware using powertop, do all devices enter into sleep modes when appropriate? Does the Pixel overheat?

[enoch_r]

No problems with overheating, so far it's never even gotten uncomfortably warm. Battery life is good enough relative to my old laptop that I haven't bothered checking power usage carefully yet, but here's powertop's output:

https://jds.objects.dreamhost.com/powertop.html

[nextos]

Thanks, very valuable info!

[agumonkey]

Arch's wiki + the lack of accidental complexity in their tools. Everything is very very tiny. It forces you to know the basic tools (grub,...) , and a few concepts (chroot, etc...). That said it took me years, even after CS college to be at ease with most things.

[anonbanker]

Girlfriend's first linux install was Arch. Made her install it herself, and now she has a full KDE desktop.

It was pretty much the sign she was a keeper. :)

[alexggordon]

Thanks for the article!

I will agree that my mom should not try and install Arch. However, if you work in the development community, want to learn more, and have an environment that encourages learning and experimenting, Arch is really an unparalleled option. I'm of the opinion that just because it's difficult, doesn't mean it shouldn't be recommended. I think even the ones that fail, might learn a ton from it, and having seen where the beginners that made it through an Arch installation ended up, I'm not sure what else I could recommend that would put a beginner in a better place.