Now that I got home after 2 years I was using my old computer witht he old OS on it, ArchLinux. I updated it, it was working fine and Arch is a fine platform... But I missed the NixOS setup I had moved to (and still had on my laptop)... Lastnight i moved back over to NixOS and I really couldnt be happier... this is the best linux distro I ever used! I love how every time you upgrade it produces a "clean" system of dependencies like a new install!
Another cool feature is stylix. Its something that is only really easy to do on NixOS. Its a module you load as part of the package configuration and it styles your whole system for you. Sets the same background in all your windows managers, and sets the same color scheme across all your apps, and even the boot loader and console... its pretty sweet!
NixOS has a fairly large learning curve... So that alone its not for everyone. But it is absolutely worth that effort.
That said if you want a more traditional distro that is still well done Arch is not a bad choice.
@cunningstuff Debian and Ubuntu is going to be the easiest of the distros... Arch is one step more advanced, and its a noticable learning curve leap (but teaches you alot)... NixOS is a rather huge leap in learning curve over that, but also equally worth it.
@cunningstuff Yea those distros, as well as ubuntu and debian I'd say are all entry level distros... great place for a new linux convert to start.
@freemo Yeah I started with Corellinux years back, went to #knoppix, then #dsl and then to #puppy, as a desktop builder the hdd partitioners that was on those distros was invaluable to me. I have a basic grasp of how everything works, and have for years, but I am only slightly more skilled than a newbie.