For those coming to Linux, I would suggest Debian or an arch derivative. Ubuntu betrayed our trust in the past, I don't trust canonical, but make your own research. Here's when many lost the trust:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks
I find that Mint is a good enough distro to ween people off of Windows to begin with.
If it's the Debian based version less worse. But around 2years ago they didn't patch a kernel update to correct meltdown and specter and mint was vulnerable for more than 6 months. Debian with the prebuilt image is as easy to install, but most people can't find that iso:
https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/bt-hybrid/
I think the Ubuntu flavors are a god start for beginners. They are "easy" like #Ubuntu but cleaned from the "canoncial missteps". I am using #Xubuntu since decades, but to be honestly, I am thinking to switch to #EndeavourOS which is #Arch based, because Ubuntu based distributions are beginning to "feel" outdated on the desktop.
Just go for arch if you use Linux for years, Debian sid is a good rolling option too.
#Arch it self is not stable enough if you need a 9 to 5 stable machine to work with. That's the reason why my choice is on #EndeavourOS. Still rolling release but hopefully a little "slowed down".
Arch is very stable, if you update the machines at least once a week.
Sure, if just the OS is installed and not much more. But that's not the case for a developer machine ;-).
Install some IDE's, Databases, container engines, VPN's etc. and every update become's tightrope act.
Also Debian sid is called unstable, but very stable. You just need to know what to do and what to avoid, like not running a full-upgrade when there are kept back upgrades packages.
Been running some Arch servers since 2006 in Prod they have been quite stable. Basically never do partial upgrades that will likely cause chaos. Haven't had trouble with Ubuntu in AWS / Debian on Thinkpad.
