Do the current Linux distros have nice UI? Not looking to put windows on my custom node pc
What’s does everyone like - Ubuntu?
Discussion
Fedora is my go-to distro, with flatpacks where possible.
Gnome is not perfect but pretty good.
Pop OS is good. Not quite a GNOME desktop but a good distribution for modern hardware.
Fedora 39, the default spin, with gnome 45. Stable and beautiful. Kind of Mac on pc.
I like debian a lot. Current Daily driver is pop-os and debating swapping to kde plasma for a desktop envroment. Pop Has a decent default UI but is prolly not a good distribution for server if thats what you mean by "node pc"
Debian with XFCE4 , fast af
Debian w/ Gnome
Personally i would opt for Debian or Mint over Ubuntu. So many distros and flavours out there...
Mint would be an easier transition from Windows in my humble opinion.
Mint didn’t look great in 2022 video. Unless the UI changed recently I probably won’t like it
They did a major upgrade in 2023. Not sure what you would think now. Just put it on a thumb drive and take it for a spin.
This? 
I also find it ugly, I use Kubuntu on my main PC because I like the community and support around Ubuntu and love KDE Plasma desktop. I tried the real KDE distro, Neon, but I had too many issues with it, starting with how Full Disk Encryption is managed.
However for a node that run 24:7 and that you connect to only for maintenance and update, you don't care about the GUI. For the node management itself, like open/closing/rebalancing Lightning channel you use an app with a WebGUI (Thunderhub or RTL) or even Zeus on a secured enough mobile.
I'm also on the same boat. Running Umbrel on a Raspberry but sick of it freezing regularly and having delay on some app update. If I have time I will do a node on a miniPC (like an Optiplex Mini that are dirt cheap second hand). However I would love to migrate all my channel on it without closing/reopening but I'm not sure it's (easily) doable.
Let us know once you made it!
After many years with Ubuntu based distros, I have settled for Fedora it is quite stable for me and just works… but you need also to say what you intend to do on the machine… and what is your experience… for real noobs, Linux Mint or ZorinOS are better.
Definitely a Linux noob. Have used Ubuntu in the past.
Want for basic bitcoin related apps
If you want UI and polish I'd say Pop!_OS
Fedora is nice, it has all the flavors you could want.
Pop OS is cool too. It's based on Ubuntu I believe so anything you read that can be done on it can be done on Pop OS.
Linux mint. It is the most stable. I ran ubuntu and has a horrific crash after an os update. Ubuntu can be pretty buggy