Mint is the most popular linux distro. (distrowatch)
It's pretty and I presume it's easy to use.

Debian requires you to tweak your OS configuration to suit your hardware.
Debian requires you to use the command line at times. For example, to update the OS.

So if you want to hit the ground running so you can simply use the graphic design programs ASAP, then I would say Mint is the best option.

I think so.
But I think it also depends on the individual.
Debian is the most secure, it's respected and stable, it has the largest team supporting the OS.
But it requires a 'learning curve' (i.e. you'll need to learn more about how a PC and OS works).

If you have the time and patience, you could just start with Debian.

LQ is good for opening threads and getting help.
I found the Ubuntu web pages were also helpful for my Debian problems.

Yes, once you're set up (just a couple of weeks of frustration), then you are certainly 'there!'

Finally, Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) is not the best of both worlds.
It's Mint. It's not Debian.

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+1, +10 maybe. This guy definitely nailed it. Except for maybe the "Debian being the most secure" part. I use primarily Arch, OpenSUSE Tumbleweed, and RHEL... but I definitely agree with what he said. Once you get Debian set-up, you're going to have a super-stable system AND Debian is an awesome learning experience as well. You're also going to have access to an enormous amount of well-tested packages, and the Debian devs are really "on-the-ball" and get the updates you need quite fast. That's also one of the many things that's awesome about running an independent distribution - you're not having to rely on other development-teams to test & release content/patches/fixes for their own distros, before your own distro's devs can start working on incorporating those into their own (like you would be with Ubuntu & Mint). Linux Mint, on the other side, is one of the easier-to-install Linux distributions and geared for those new to Linux in use. Linux Mint Debian Edition, like the above commenter stated, is NOT the best of both worlds - though it does give you a little taste of both. I wouldn't advise you to use LMDE unless you know what you're doing... The Ubuntu/LM & Debian sites and forums can be a help from time-to-time, BUT you can experience problems above and beyond what you'd experience in either straight Debian or the Ubuntu-based Linux Mint. You just have to balance what you'd want more - ease of installation & use?, or improved stability & independence? And Debian definitely has some awesome tools for designing & editing. Yes, your stability & security will vary a little depending on what distribution you choose... but it also varies quite a bit depending on the user's knowledge & how he or she uses and/or modifies that operating system.

The choice is yours... I, for one, would rather go with Debian though. You have guides all over the place online. Google, DuckDuckGo, Youtube, social media, Ubuntu/Mint/Debian official & community forums, etc. - They are your friends... use them.

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OK..Debian sounds like the top choice for a new person. Thank you!

A question, though...'don't use LMDE unless you know what you're doing,' in contrast to the somewhat fiddlier Debian being a good choice for a new person..

Sounds confusing unless Mint is easy for a newbie, but LMDE is trickier even than Debian?

Thank you for the clarification!

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No problem. Not trickier, just might have a few more bugs on occasion that Debian (or regular L.Mint) doesn't have. Sorry... didn't mean to make it sound like it was way more complicated lol. Command-wise & as far as overall usage goes, it's not much different from Debian - other than the fact that it's Mint-dev supported instead of Debian-dev.

This should help you get an idea as well: https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

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I greatly appreciate you hanging in there with me as I sift through the ins and outs of this transition I'm making.

;-)

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NO! Mint is not managed by Debian. Mint takes the Debian distro and customizes it to make a new distro. Mint is a fork of Unbuntu, but Ubuntu is a fork of Debian. So, Mint is actually a fork of Debian.

The Debian online community are pretty experienced and knowledgeable users of Debian. But they're not very patient and/or kind like we are here at LQ. The Mint online community is totally separate from the Debian community.

I use both Mint & LMDE (on different PC's).

LMDE is definitely much more straightforward than any other Linux flavour (IMOH).
That may, be in part, due to LMDE being a rolling release...

Distrowatch has just reviewed the latest Debian:
http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=current#debian
Note the comments
Pretty much what I said earlier.

In my view, there is a difference between OS and GUI.
A lot of people enjoy the fact they can change their browser toolbar from grey to... aquamarine.
It's all about the GUI. Not the OS.

But Debian is not about 'customisation', 'corporate', 'convenience' and 'fashion'.
These are weak terms.
It's about 'security', 'libre', and 'open source'.
These are strong terms.

Our computer with all our private data and private browsing history should not be sold to companies just so we can change our toolbar colour from grey to aquamarine.

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