Analysis of the top 10 Linux operating systems

Everyday Linux User ^ | 10 February 2014 | Gary Newell

[ShadowAce]

Introduction

The “Everyday Linux User” website is dedicated to the average, ordinary, everyday, computer user who has a basic working knowledge of computers and who uses their computer for common tasks such as listening to music, playing games, watching videos, writing documents and editing photos and video clips.

Quite a common question asked at sites such as Reddit and Yahoo answers is “Which distro should I use?” and it is usually followed up by a brief set of requirements and the names of distributions that the user has heard of.

Users are confused when they first come to Linux about which distribution they should be using and I have heard people say “I was thinking of Ubuntu or Arch” or “I was thinking about Gentoo and how hard is it to use Linux From Scratch”.

Quite often these same users are sent off to Distrowatch to check out the distributions listed on that site and I’m sure many of those users then look at the rankings down the right hand side.

The truth is though that out of the top 10 only a handful are really going to be useful for a beginner or everyday user.

This article lists the top 10 distributions according to Distrowatch for 2013 and gives a brief outline of the purpose of those distributions and whether they are the sort of operating systems a new user or average computer user should be using as their first port of call.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is clearly one of the distributions that the readers of this blog should be checking out.

The order of the day for Linux Mint is evolution over revolution and if you are looking for a traditional desktop  oriented operating system with taskbars, system trays and menus then Linux Mint is definitely worth a go.

Linux Mint is a  “straight out of the box” operating system and as soon as you install it you can easily do the sort of tasks you would normally do without having to install any extra software.

Setting up the internet is a breeze as is installing peripherals.

There are a number of different desktop environments available for Linux Mint including Cinnamon, MATE, XFCE and even KDE. Use the Cinnamon or KDE desktop environments on newer hardware and MATE, XFCE environments on older hardware.

Linux is really good at sticking to a theme and so it doesn’t matter which desktop environment you choose the general look and feel and behaviour of the operating system is the same.

Click here for a full review of Linux Mint

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the distribution that most people have heard of and consequently it is the first Linux based operating system that they try.

The fact that Ubuntu is number 2 in the rankings might actually be down to the fact that because most people have heard of Ubuntu they go straight to the downloads page rather than to Distrowatch. This is of course opinion and not necessarily fact.

I believe that Ubuntu is delivering everything that Microsoft wanted Windows 8 to achieve. The Unity desktop once you get used to it is a slick desktop environment and it is easy to see how it could work on desktops, laptops, tablets and phones.

Ubuntu isn’t for everyone though.  

The fine line between integration and intrusion is encroached upon by Ubuntu and if you aren’t comfortable with seeing adverts for products within your desktop experience then you might want to move on to another distribution or one of the other buntus such as Kubuntu, Lubuntu or Xubuntu.

Unlike Linux Mint the emphasis is about testing the boundaries. The desktop, although clearly not to some peoples tastes, is forward thinking and modern.

Add to the mix the integration of Steam for gaming and you have a really good operating system.

Ubuntu is definitely a Linux based operating system for the everyday user.

Click here for a review of Ubuntu

Debian

Debian has been around for what feels like forever and it provides the base for hundreds of other distributions including Ubuntu and Linux Mint.

Debian contains a set of repositories with an incredibly large number of applications available for users to install.

The versions of Debian available on their site only install free software and there are no third party or proprietary products included by default.

For new users, setting up Debian can be somewhat of a challenge compared to Ubuntu or Linux Mint.

The choice of which version of Debian to run is also quite tricky and depends on the person who will be using it. If you want the latest stuff today then you can install the unstable branch which has all the latest products but they may or may not work for you. At the other end of the scale you can choose the stable branch which has older versions of software that are pretty much guaranteed to work.

Debian is like Linux Lego. It is great for people who want to start from a base installation and build something from the ground up. It may not be suitable for people who have limited computer skills and it requires more of a learning curve than Linux Mint or Ubuntu.

I would suggest that Debian would be “The Next Step” when it comes to trying out Linux.

Click here for a review of Debian

Mageia

10 years ago the Linux landscape looked a lot different to how it looks today. Ubuntu was still in development.

At that time there were other Linux operating systems leading the way including Mandrake (Mandriva), openSUSE and PCLinuxOS. Mageia was originally a fork of the Mandriva codebase and it is a community driven distribution targeting the same sort of users as Ubuntu and Mint.

Mageia in theory is another operating system that new users to Linux should try out. 

Mageia is released for all the major desktop environments including Gnome, KDE, XFCE and LXDE. 

My advice is to definitely give it a try because there are people out there who swear by this operating system and think it is the best there is. What I would say though is that if you don’t like it, don’t dismiss Linux based on your experience with Mageia.

Click here for a full review of Mageia

Fedora

At the beginning of the article I mentioned that people often mention distributions that they have heard of whilst asking for advice on which one to use. Fedora’s name quite often comes up.

Fedora is cutting edge. There is less reliance on stability and more reliance on trying out new things. If you want the latest stuff now then Fedora is definitely the way to go.

For new users though the installer itself is a bit of a tricky customer and you may find the odd issue as you go along.

You should also be aware that Fedora, along with Debian, only ships with free software and you have to jump through a couple of extra hoops to install proprietary software and drivers.

As with Debian, I would say that Fedora is “The Next Step”.

Click here for a review of Fedora

openSUSE

openSUSE is a community distribution with big backing.

As with Mageia and Mint there are a number of desktop environments to choose from including Gnome, KDE, XFCE and LXDE.

openSUSE should definitely be tried by new users and users looking for an alternative to Mint, Mageia and Ubuntu.

The operating system is stable and it is relatively easy to set up and use.

openSUSE has been around for a long time as well so there is little danger of it disappearing in the near to medium term future.

Click here for a review of openSUSE

PCLinuxOS

A definite must try for new users to Linux. It always surprises me that PCLinuxOS languishes lower down in the top 10 rather than sitting up in 2^nd or 3^rd.

For new and inexperienced users, PCLinuxOS provides the closest experience to what they are probably used to than any of the aforementioned distributions (with the possible exception of Linux Mint).

There is great support and a great monthly magazine and the community is very friendly and supportive.

PCLinuxOS has the KDE, MATE and LXDE desktop environments available and therefore it caters to modern and older computers.

PCLinuxOS has a rolling release model which means that once you install it you will never have to upgrade.

Click here for a review of PCLinuxOS

Manjaro

The rise of Manjaro has been nothing short of amazing. Based on Arch Linux, Manjaro provides an instant entry point into the world of Arch Linux.

The setup of Manjaro is fairly straight forward and it performances very well on older and modern hardware.

The learning curve for Manjaro is potentially a little bit steeper than the likes of Mint, Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS.

This is not necessarily therefore a distribution that should be considered a first choice for the average computer user.

Click here for a review of Manjaro

Arch

It scares me the number of people who have never tried Linux before that ask the question “Should I try Ubuntu or Arch first?”

If you are new to Linux and your computer skills are limited then Arch is definitely not your first port of call.

Even if you are an experienced Linux user, Arch may not be your next port of call.

There is no doubt that Arch will provide you a great base to build and tailor your operating system the way you want it to be but to get there you have to want to invest time and you have to be willing to learn on your feet (sounds like a job specification, must be a self-starter).

If you can read and follow instructions and think about what you are doing as you are doing it then there is definitely merit in trying Arch out. Ultimately if you succeed then you will feel great satisfaction knowing that you have a stable, secure, reliable and highly responsive operating system.

The documentation for Arch is excellent. The support from the forums can be a little bit hit and miss depending on whether the questions you ask show that you have put in the effort to try and solve your issues first. For instance saying that you can’t do basic things without having followed the beginners guide will be answered in the standard way. Read the manual.

If you are an average user then Arch may not be for you.

Click here for a look at Arch

Puppy

Puppy is designed to run from a USB pen drive or from DVD. It is not designed to be installed to the hard drive although it can be.

The approach taken by Puppy is about minimalism where functionality trumps pretty graphics.

All the usual favourites can be installed including FireFox and VLC but there are a host of lightweight alternatives installed by default.

Puppy isn’t really an operating system therefore that I would advise inexperienced users to use as their main operating system but I can’t stress enough that you should give it a go by running it from a USB drive.

You can have great fun playing around with Puppy Linux and if you always carry a USB drive with you then you have a bootable version of Linux available wherever you go.

Click here for a series of reviews about different versions of Puppy

Summary

Hopefully this guide has shed some light on the operating systems currently occupying the top slots at Distrowatch.

You should now be able to choose from the distributions that are most relevant to your situation.

For the everyday Linux user I recommend one of Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Mageia, openSUSE and PCLinuxOS with the addition of Puppy on a pen drive.

[Bikkuri]

**correction: VirtualBox **

sorry for typo :p

P.S. You can even install it on your WinBlows to run Linux inside it too.

[clee1]

Thanks for the help. I’ve been looking at DE’s since the first posting and I’ve already decided on KDE. I am a former AIX/HP-UX/BSD administrator, so no problem with the occasional complexity. I just don’t want to HAVE to constantly tweak every little thing.

I’m a nurse now.... got out of IT for a reason. ;-)

[Bikkuri]

Also, I do still have duel boot... maybe once a month (or 2) I want to play a game that I haven’t been able to play yet on Linux.. But, I have Win totally cut off from net.

[Texas Fossil]

No, I have not tried Mint. There are quite a few who swear by it.

It is XFCE based from what I have heard.

The issue is the underlying assumptions as to OS. It is not necessary for function to have all the “stuff” that is in the Ubuntu and Debian OS.

Remove the stuff that is required by Gnome desktop and by Unity and it is a lot more efficient. Some of that is probably necessary, but not all of it.

I have thought about trying Mint. The only thing I don’t like about Xubuntu is the upgrade process. I tried to use it long ago and had a crash and had to really work to get it recovered. That is why I am probably going to re-install soon.

[Texas Fossil]

Oh, yes. I have a lot of those old Linux discs. Actually some of those were pretty darn good. Especially the early Mandrake systems.

[Bikkuri]

I’m a nurse now.... got out of IT for a reason. ;-)

I totally understand.. I got my first "PC" back in 1980.. was addicted to them up until I went to Uni to be a programmer.. finished half of my BBA before I realized that the darn addiction to PCs changed my attitude (no patience at all :p).. Changed to Business and took a 6 month break (painful :p) and my friends and family saw a change quickly. Since then, I have kept it a hobby (although, if I would have stuck with it, I would probably be rich now ;)). Only small regret I didn't stick with it.. friends and family are most important (to me at least). (Still kicking myself in the butt that I didn't at least keep up with the ever-changing programming and technology :/ .. last GOOD programs I wrote were in Pascal :p).

[Bikkuri]

I will tell you same as I have told others (with at least a little experience... try KDE.. not a resource hog like Unity (Cinn is as bad as Unity, btw)...

Mint Mate is very clean from bloatware.. and if there is something you don’t like, easy to get rid of (not sure I can remember any bloatware, except for the audio player, which I didn’t like (man, I miss WinAmp :p)..

Give Mint Mate a try.. and for more flexibility in control of your computer, go KDE. A little more resource heavy, but many layers lower than many, if not most others. XfCE is hard to match, and both XF and KDE have been around for 2+ decades.

[clee1]

Yup. That is my plan too. Cut the Win partition off and do may basics with Linux.

I was never much of a programmer.... although I can do a lot with ksh scripts and sql calls ;-). I was more of a hardware/os/network type.

I’ve tried to keep relatively current, as a hobbiest, but I don’t really have time to babysit a buggy or unstable OS. I get downright ILL when winblows screws me over, as it has of late. I really need to wipe/reinstall my win7 system, but think I’d rather leave it alone and just go to Linux.

[Bikkuri]

BTW.. something I didn’t mention... Mint is one of the easiest to install.. (there is a newer Distro called SolyD.. made from and around Mint.. but it doesn’t have encryption options yet, and is based purely on Debian rolling)..

I recommend that you format your partitions/HDs and pre set them up. (I made about 8 separate partions, including SWAP) before you run the installer. On the LiveCD, sometimes it is a race against time to finish the ‘fixing’ of the HD partitions to start the actual install.

It took me 3 tries last time (it would kick back to the LiveCD desktop) before I was able to get it to start the actual install.. Frustrating, but well worth it once the install gets going.

(BTW, I am still using Ext2 on everything except root)..

[Texas Fossil]

I agree about XFCE, have been using it since Redhat 8.0 came out. (Release date was Sep 2002)

It has been my preference since then.

Will look at the other. Thanks.

[Bikkuri]

Ah.. the Hardware hobbiest :D

Likewise.. haven’t ‘bought’ a PC since about 1991... Saved more than half on the costs back then.. but, times changed :p
Seems it costs more to buy the parts now to build the system than to buy one (of course, the systems you buy will have crappy peripherals now, so, maybe it would be the same. Haven’t used Intel since about 2001, been AMD all the way... but those times be be changing now too :(

Considering changing over (especially now that AMD is now ATI too.. I hate ATI as much as, if not more than, WinBlows :p I have owned about 6 ATI cards.. every freaking one of them were blown in less than a month.
Also, I recommend nVid if you are going Linux... Has much better support.

[Cato in PA]

OpenSUSE is about as middle-of-the-road as it gets. It’s a great distribution for someone who has outgrown Ubuntu but doesn’t want to do absolutely everything on the command line the way you would with Debian and Fedora. Its development cycle is 9 months, which puts it between *Buntu/Fedora (new version every 6 months) and Debian/Centos (new version every several years). Its packages are new, but not so new that they’re bleeding edge. I quite like it.

YaST, the OpenSUSE’s control center, helps you accomplish tasks that a power user might want to do - like setting up a Samba file server - that you’d have to do manually otherwise.

And if you do decide you want more modern packages, there’s a whole selection of third-party repositories in the Open Build Service.

[Bikkuri]

Lol.. that reminded me.. I remember when FTP(WAY before net) first came out... I would sit at my PC for hours typing in random addresses.. sometimes, I was able to get some good games ;)

[Bikkuri]

Biggest problem about XFCE.. not user friendly, the lazy b*st*rds need to learn console/terminal commands.. NOT “User Friendly.... Other than that, I think it is the BEST lightweight there is (if the lazy ones don’t mind NOT having ‘eye-candy’).

BTW, for a server, it is perfect!!

[Bikkuri]

I mentioned CentOS earlier.. You have any idea what happened to it?

[clee1]

ROFL! Are you reading my mind?

I’ve never bought a packaged PC (except a android tablet). And up to this point I have been AMD/NVidia as well. Can’t tolerate ATI and have already decided my next cpu will be the latest Intel offering.

You ever heard that “The true test of another’s intelligence is how closely their opinion is to yours”?
:-D

[clee1]

Thanks FRiend!

Good to have some reinforcement! I have linuxMint and openSUSE downloading now. I’ll look at both.

I have NO interest in a mostly commandline OS.... but I do want that option. I want to look at the newest “newbie” Linux as well as an established “power users” version. I’ll then make a choice on what works best for me.

I’ll be really happy if the “newbie” type will do everything I want....

[clee1]

You’re apparent just a little older than me.

I have used ftp from a unix command line but the internet as we know it now was still in it’s infancy. I got started shortly before http was an available protocol.

[ShadowAce]

What URL did you try? CentOS works for me.

[Bikkuri]

BTW, you mentioned "Buggiest"..

In the Mint Update Manager, I recommend ONLY setting updates to lvl 1 & 2... those are both tested.

Lvl 3+ are not tested. Lvl 3 is also set as default along with LVL 1 & 2. Disable LVL 3.




Apologies about it looking strange.. I have 4 monitors and the overlaps happened when I accidentally put my pointer on the wrong area when I took the screencap :p

P.S. The Mint LiveCD recognized ALL od my monitors on boot... just had to change the positions..