The 5 easiest to use modern Linux distributions

Everyday Linux User ^ | 13 August 2014 | Gary Newell

[ShadowAce]

Introduction

This is part 2 of a series looking to help people find the best Linux distribution for them.

In the first part of the series, I looked at some of the best Linux Desktop Environments so that you could eliminate distributions which only use desktops that won't work for you and your setup.

The title of this post says it all really. Here are the 5 distributions I would turn to if I wanted to use Linux and I didn't want to be too hassled setting things up and they just work.

Notice that the title includes the word "modern". The reason for this is that the next article is going to be the "5 easiest to use Linux distributions for older computers". This one is all about the modern desktops, the whizzy effects and the shiny interfaces.

Before I start, here is the criteria that I think is important when deciding on the easiest to use distros.

1. How easy are they to install
2. How much work is it to setup the distribution
3. How intuitive is the desktop environment
4. How much useful software is installed by default
5. How much support is available

1. Linux Mint 

Linux Mint is number 1 on this list and in the Distrowatch rankings for a very good reason.

Linux Mint uses the same installer as Ubuntu and therefore it is very easy to install. If you can follow simple instructions such as being able to choose your language, where you want to install Linux Mint and where you are located on the map then you will be up and running within about 10 to 15 minutes.

Linux Mint is ahead of Ubuntu in this list for two reasons. In the first instance the Cinnamon desktop is likely to be more familiar to more people than Unity and secondly because Linux Mint has the ability to play Flash and MP3s straight away.

For general purpose use, the desktop works the way you would expect it to with system icons in the bottom right, a menu in the bottom left and quick launch icons available to open a browser and file manager.

The software available in Linux Mint is perfect for the average user with the LibreOffice suite, GIMP image editor, Banshee audio player and VLC video player.

The main thing that is missing is STEAM but this can be installed via the package manager. The Mint Software Centre behaves more intuitively than the Ubuntu Software Centre as well.

Click here for a review of Linux Mint 17

2. Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the Linux distribution that is most well known amongst people outside the Linux community.

Due to the Unity interface, Ubuntu has something of the Marmite effect whereby you either love it or hate it.

Installing Ubuntu is easy and the tool used is far better than the Windows equivalent (but then again ordinary users never have to install Windows).

The desktop is actually incredibly easy to use. If you can type the name of the program you want to run then you are 90% of the way to understanding Unity.

Ubuntu has a great set of software repositories and provides a stable base for many other Linux distributions.

Setup wise you have to install the restricted extras package to get Flash, MP3s and fonts (although there is an option during the installation which aims to achieve this with limited success).

Support for Ubuntu is very easy to find with support forums and IRC chat rooms available.

The software centre is still a little bit of a let down.

Click here for a full review of Ubuntu 14.04

3. PCLinuxOS

PCLinuxOS is the only non Debian based Linux distribution on this list.

PCLinuxOS is available for a number of different desktop environments but the way it utilises KDE is excellent.

The installer is incredibly straight forward and as with Linux Mint, the desktop will be familiar to most users with the panel, menu and icon layout.

PCLinuxOS has more applications than Linux Mint and Ubuntu with games, graphics applications, the LibreOffice office suite and audio applications. Dropbox is also included.

The graphical package manager for PCLinuxOS is Synaptic and whilst it might not be as pretty as the "Software Centre" it is much easier to find what you are looking for.

Click here for a full review of PCLinuxOS

4. Zorin OS

There is no easier transition for Windows users to Linux than Zorin OS, that is the intention anyway.

Zorin OS looks and behaves in many ways just like Windows and you can choose which Windows version you want it to look like, whether that is Windows XP or Windows 7.

The installer for Zorin is the same as the Ubuntu installer and so it is very easy to install and it comes with all multimedia codecs pre-installed.

Zorin OS comes with a good selection of software including the LibreOffice office suite, VLC media player, Banshee audio player and the GIMP image editor.

PlayOnLinux is installed which makes it possible to run Windows software (although not every application works).

Zorin has a look and theme changer and also has some fairly nice desktop effects.

Zorin is number 4 on this list because there are a few glitches, it uses the software centre and there isn't as much support for Zorin as there is for Ubuntu, Linux Mint and PCLinuxOS.

Click here for a full review of Zorin OS 9

5. Netrunner

Number 5 on this list was difficult to choose because it meant leaving other distributions out.

I went for Netrunner because having recently used it I found it to be very intuitive and easy to use.

Netrunner takes a Kubuntu base and subtly improves it by including the multimedia codecs and some useful software that Kubuntu doesn't have by default.

The installer is the same as the Kubuntu installer. The Kubuntu installer is a little bit better than the Ubuntu one because it lists all the stages down the left hand side making it more linear and you can see how many steps you have left before the installation is complete.

Netrunner has a really good selection of software and it includes games, video editors and screencasting tools on top of the usual office suites and internet tools. Skype is also included.

The package manager for Netrunner is called MUON and it is much better than the Ubuntu Software Centre.

Click here for a full review of Netrunner

Summary

These are the 5 Linux distributions that I would recommend to new Linux users and to people who just want to use their computer as a computer and who aren't that interested in getting too deep and dirty with their operating system.

This list could easily have been the 10 easiest to use Linux distributions but 5 is a good number because it shows new users just where to begin yet still provides a limited amount of choice.

As I mentioned in the introduction these Linux distributions work better when installed on modern computers. If you have an older computer there is another list coming shortly. 

[GeronL]

That was frustrating. Almost nothing about Linux-hearing aids, or Linux-Bluetooth-compilot-hearing aids came up in a DuckDuckGo (not Google) search.

I did see links about troubleshooting and resetting the hearing aids - they have software?

[GeronL]

interestingly they were having similar problems with certain headset and headphone setups way back in the olden days, 2009 and 2010

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/327284

[GeronL]

Have you posted a question on the Mint forums? do they have Mint forums?

I’ll see if anyone on the Ubuntu forums has a clue although I might not have enough info.

[Varmint Al]

I like Linux Mint 17 the KDE version. Works great.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[Big Giant Head]

Haven’t used Linux lately, but I was always a big fan of PCLinuxOS. I spent $3 on a pile of Linux is disks, and methodically plowed through them attempting installation. PCLOS was the ONLY one that went flawlessly, required. Zero CL use to use, and was fully functional including wireless setup and printer installation.

Just sad it never get the headlines like Ubunto.

[AppyPappy]

Agree with Mint

[ShadowAce]

I like that strip.

[tbw2]

How difficult is it to migrate from Windows to Mint?

[BCW]

You need to ask the original author ...at the moment, I’m using Kali Linus for penetration testing - using the command line...but when I do use it as a desktop - it’s fast and yields webpages flawlessly...

I have a Windows XP desktop sitting in my office that is about top be wiped and have Mint installed so I can continue to use that platform for in house testing...

Linux is straight forward - take a month and learn it - and you won’t turn back to Windows...I have to use Windows because of work...but, having a Linux setup is FAR superior to Windows....just wait - you’ll find out...

You could dual boot - Linux doesn’t take up alot of space...depending on which one you use...but, with everything free - it’s really the smartest choice out there...and you can bounce back and forth MS Office products as well...

[GeronL]

if you don’t pay a lot of games moving to Linux should be easy but you need to ave every picture and doc file on a USB or something.

You can even put Linux on a USB or a DVD and some will fit on a CD and run them without installing to check them out

[GeronL]

I liked PCLinuxOS pretty good. I had an older version. I just liked Ubuntu a little more for some reason.

[ducttape45]

As much as I would like to be able to use Linux on a daily basis, there simply aren't enough programs to take the place of the Windows applications I use now.

Also, extra programming doesn't install as seamlessly as it does in a Windows OS.

It simply does not work as easily as Windows does. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating an "all-Windows" computing experience, but when Linux can work as easily as Windows does then I'll get it.