installing linux

so I'm thinking about installing debian 12 on this computer. I'm a newbie to the linux desktop but I no some linux commands. is there anything that you guys recommend I do or install when I get linux installed?

Try it all in a vm first. Press s then enter when you hear the beep to enable the screen reader. Use the caps lock 5 and 6 to control speech rate, 1 and 2 to control the volume while still holding down caps lock, then there's flat review. Holding caps lock and pressing O goes to the next item, U to previous, then L words, M and period for characters. If you just don't want to hear it speaking when it is doing a lot, press windows enter, and it will shut up until you press a key. For desktop environemnts, I would go with matt, only because it is the easiest to navigate. Some commands to know for Debian are the sudo command which lets the current command to be ran as root, ls to list directories and files, nano as a text editor, control alt t to get to the terminal in mate, and alt f1 to get to the menu, which is almost like an alt menu in design on Windows. There's a lot more, but those are some of the things that I can think abou right now.

I'm doing it in a vm for testing, so is there a Speech historyfor orca, and I nead a version of ibm, I no most ssh commands because I like to use linux on my server, and what's hthe best vm softwear I nead to run windows in a vm for some thing

The closest thing to speech history for Orca is flat review, which can be used by changing the keyboard la=yout to laptop, then you can use the speakup flat review commands as stated in my last comment. I don't know how to do it with the desktop but it could be done. Forvm software, I would go with vmware workstation player 17 on windows, and I have no clue for other operating systems.

will qemu work with orca? if not, I can use mac and run a windows vm on there if I have to

I don't know anything about qemu. If you can find Nash, talk to him about that.

what's the best distro for newbies, I mean I know a little command line stuff because I have to use it on my server but

so, i'm having this issue on mac, when installing linux on vmware. the vm won't even start. i'm using accessible coconut because i've had a lot of trouble with ubuntu.

What do you mean by the vm will not start? Is it a blank screen? Do other vms work?

no, it just stops. it starts for a second, then reverts back to start. also, with UTM, it litterly can't even make it past the startup sound

I'm going to advocate for linux Mint, with the mate eddition. It's snappy, has a driver manager to help you get all your drivers and a very friendly forum should you need help. You can also install updates via the gui, if you want.

yeah that's what I'm testing in a vm and it seams to be working very well, but wear can I get the drivers to install it in 2020 intell mac?

They should either be in the kernel, or the driver manager should have them. I presume your talking about the normal mac, not the arm one.

nope. I'm talking about the intell maps

The drivers should be in the kernel already. Did you try run it on the mac?