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]

Grr.. just got about 350+ error messages on my Beethoven music folder :p

[Bikkuri]

Just got rid of Aud.. guess it’s not KDE friendly.. will install Clementine.. skips, but at least I get no errors.. although, it still skips ::/

[GeronL]

BTW, can someone explain to me how this website thinks people would pay this much for a USB stick? You can walk into some Walgreens and get more memory for $10 these days.

http://store.usbwatches.net/by-memory-size—1gb.html

[ShadowAce]

weird

[ShadowAce]

Did you install the plugins packages as well? Without those, it won’t play mp3s

[Bikkuri]

having serious issues.. may have to do with permissions.. no idea why NOW though.. just lost about 1 terra of music :/

[Bikkuri]

Here in Japan, prices are usually inflated... but WOW, that is for stupid peeps.. just bought 64 gig USB for roughly $8..

[Bikkuri]

not sure what the prob is.. think I will have to find my external DVD writer and RE-do my music.. almost all is shot.. all getting errors now (with exception to a couple of Journey songs)..

:/

Haven’t had to use DVD for 4+ years.. hmm..

[GeronL]

That is an awesome price for 64 gig

[Darth Reardon]

If you’re using Fedora or RHEL or something based off of it, try http://atrpms.net/.

[Bikkuri]

Not quite good enough for Fedora yet :/ (K)ubunta atm :/ ..lol.. haven’t had to use ‘wget’ for a couple of years.. am moving back in that direction though.. Thank you anyway :D

[Bikkuri]

for some reason, all but the 2 Journey song folders are all empty.. even using hidden/sudo... too many HDs (teansfers).. something bad obviously happened in the transfer :/

wiping all music directories now... (btw, I DO have my original Music folder.. but it is on an encrypted that I have NOT been able to get back since upgrade from Mint 15 - 16 :p (and it has music that is NOT around anymore.. is/was a collection since about when I started saving music back in the 80’s :/)

[ShadowAce]

Did you have a HDD crash and have to reboot? May have had a corrupted inode somewhere.

[Bikkuri]

Yes.. had a power outage about a month ago..and I know that is what screwed it all up.. still trying to figure out how to get encrypted back.. may have to do with the MTB... but scared to mess with that.

btw, doing good on getting some music back.. torrents coming in about 2-5 albums a minute.. not the way I want it to happen, but without a cd/dvd drive, not much choice :p

also, can’t remember all of the stuff I had with all of the music groups between 1950-1988 (or so.. :/))...

[Bikkuri]

btw.. running 12 HDs atm :/

[Bikkuri]

all new downloads to torrent directoy are coming through 5x5... no errors..

This is 1 time I respect WinBlows :p

[PieterCasparzen]

Perhaps the one with the most desktop users.

I personally need stability, since I’m developing stuff, so I go with CentOS.

But the trade off is in things like browser. There are only certain versions of Firefox that CentOS is certified with.

Now with HTML5 rolling out, my Firefox is looking a bit long in the tooth (they crank out new versions like mad).

There are basic plugins, mostly the one you care about is watching videos, and I’m running out of time with my Firefox version. But I can only upgrade to a Firefox version that is certified to work with my CentOS 5.

And checking it all out takes time, so I don’t bother for long stretches (years). Then finally I’ll go and poke around and find out what the latest things are and plan and execute an upgrade.

I can’t be without a browser completely, of course, and I hate to lose functionality that I have. If one just jumps in and starts upgrading willy nilly one can get into a bad position where functionality is lost, since frequently things get broken by new development. Then one has to either go through trying to get back to the old working versions of things, or wait until developers get around to fixing the broken functionality.

CentOS 6 is just coming out, so I’m not too crazy on going to that yet, it’s too new.

All this actually effects every distro. It’s be over a decade since I used suse; I don’t know any details of other distros. But even so I’d hesitate to call any distro - or any operating system, for that matter - “simple”, to the point of just slap it in and go start connecting to the world without exploring the whole installation and knowing what I’ve got running and how it’s configured.

Users who are concerned about fast video performance to the point where they want to actually use the video chip in their computer... need to do some digging to find out if their chip is supported and then verify that it is being used. Otherwise, like me and my Dell, graphics display will all be done in software, i.e., only use the CPU insteading of gaining performance by offloading graphics processing to the video acceleration hardware. Mine works fast enough for me, i.e., I can see videos, I just don’t crank up the resolution because I don’t want my CPU running at more than 20% for extended periods of time. I’m more concerned with making my PC last, i.e., avoiding overheating.

I always start from the “top down”, i.e., I make a list of what I (or the user) wants to actually do. From this I get what applications then are needed, from there keep working down to the details, i.e., lower layers of software, hardware, etc.

Just general browsing, email, office, an off the shelf PC has plenty of power, it’s just the security that is the big concern.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nmap

is a key tool; it supports various platforms.

Regardless of one’s linux distro, there will be services/daemons running; to be secure one must avoid leaving service “doors” open, in addition to practicing safe browsing and safe email use. Safe/paranoid admin practices are far preferable to installing any kind of anti-virus software (which people then typically implicitly trust to handle everything and stop thinking about security).

[PieterCasparzen]

Any idea what’s up with CentOS?

Wanted to test it out, but it seems to be gone now :/

http://wiki.centos.org/Download

IMHO, v6 just came out, too new for me, but if it's just for fun, of course, that'd be the thing to do.

[JoeProBono]

[PieterCasparzen]

Red Hat and CentOS are both considered to be server OSes. This list is really about the desktop.

And yes--I do know that you can ue RH and Cent as your desktop. :D

I have CentOS on my dell netbook, 1G ram, tiny dual core Atom processor. Works fine, it's just small screen. Great for when you're out and about. It's actually a laptop not a dinky stupid phone, but it's way lighter than a normal laptop. Cell modem works fine with it, connectivity wherever your phone works.