I need a version which supports the HiDPI monitor my X1C has, so probably fractional scaling will be needed. I moved from MATE to Cinnamon after a decade as this really did not play well with my new X1C6.
I also need something with good graphics support for Intel. The reason Im considering a change from Mint is that in Cinnamon I get annoying video playback stuttering (in VLC/Kodi from my DLNA server) for which there seems not to be a solution
Apart from that there are no special Use Cases like gaming or dual monitors to worry about
TLDR:
Easier if you approach gurus in Linux Mint forum to resolve your issue, unless you are adventurous enough to take the learning curve.
Long version:
If you have been comfortable with Linux Mint, I’m not sure if you are willing to take the learning curve in Manjaro - just to resolve your playback issue.
In addition, you are also looking to change from Cinnamon to KDE - another learning curve.
I came from W10, and before I made the jump to penguin camp, I have tried almost 10 different distros.
Linux Mint was closest to my like, till I got quite fed up with their app update mechanism, and some shortcomings.
Then I jumped to Manjaro KDE.
Manjaro has many quality that I like, eg. Pamac.
And KDE is also quite powerful and suits my usage.
Manjaro is not perfect, and neither is KDE.
But without the presence of better distro than Manjaro, I will just stay.
About the issues you have raised, I have no comment as I have not encountered them.
True that - I’d think long and hard before switching from Mint to Manjaro as a casual user.
Resolve your issue in Mint - perhaps use another player.
Me personally - I avoid VLC wherever I can - which is practically everywhere - so:
I don’t use it.
Basic advice: read, read and read some more (Manjaro wiki, Manjaro tutorials, Arch wiki etc)
Always read Update Announcements in this Forum
Don’t take advice from you tube.
Grub Customizer is discouraged. Don’t do it!
If you are having an issue, use the search function of this forum. It is likely any issue that you may encounter or question you may have has been asked and answered already.
Boot up a live KDE ISO from USB, try KDE without any installation. Do the same for other flavors offered by Manjaro (but I would recommend KDE myself).
Wherever you go, good luck. I’ve been on Linux as my daily driver since the mid-90’s. I’ve used most of the major distros, except Arch. Manjaro was my intro to Arch based linux and I must admit I like it. Sometimes the large DL’s to keep the rolling release current are a pain, but… everything has advantages/disadvantages.
Manjaro can be a very dependable system, as long as maintenance is kept up!
I’ve seen far too many threads in which the sordid details, once (usually seemingly painfully) extracted from the OP, reveal ancient .pacnew files which haven’t been tended to since the Dinosaurs roamed the planet and the Community repo. still being shown in the Pacman output.
Keep it current, monitor the Announcements threads for whichever branch you’re on, and you might end up with a system which runs for as long as mine and quite a few others’.
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