Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Best Linux Distros For Newcomers
Datamation ^ | 11 January 2016 | Matt Hartley

Posted on 01/13/2016 3:50:54 AM PST by ShadowAce

Most of the top Linux distributions are of the "easier to use" variety. Some observers might dispute this, but the fact is that most people not working in IT or software development will gravitate toward the easiest experience when it comes to Linux.

In this article, I'll share my top picks for best Linux distro for newcomers. These selections are chosen based on their ease of use, not their potential for "learning Linux." I hope to put to bed once and for all that myth that all who use Linux need to have a strong familiarity with how Linux works. After many years of casual usage, I can say for certain that this will tend to itself over time.

Ubuntu MATE -- Full disclosure, Ubuntu MATE is a project that I personally support and have even made minor contributions to. Putting that fact aside, I also have found that it's a great distribution for Linux newcomers.

I've found that locating applications and settings is straightforward, regardless of Linux familiarity, thanks to the MATE desktop. But Ubuntu MATE also has additional niceties behind the scenes as well. These include tweaks made under the hood that most people may not be aware of, yet ensure a great experience. One example that comes to mind is a properly working touchpad disable while typing feature. Another benefit is TLP for power management provided right out of the box.

I also enjoy the MATE Tweak tool that is provided with the MATE desktop. I really like being able to utilize different panel layouts with a simple pull down menus.

Features for newcomers: Folks coming to Ubuntu MATE will likely enjoy its straightforward layout, easy customizations and the fact it just works. The biggest benefit is perhaps the Welcome feature. This provides users with immediate access to help, software suggestions and a tour of what Ubuntu MATE has to offer. On a personal level, I know the founder cares deeply about providing a great project. This makes introducing Ubuntu MATE to newcomers a natural fit in my book.

PCLinuxOS -- PCLinuxOS doesn't receive as much press as it once did. This is a shame, since I believe they provide the best task-centric distro for newbies I've ever seen. Even though they also offer other desktops, I'm focusing on the FullMonty release in this case.

FullMonty provides multiple desktops designed for different tasks. For someone new coming to Linux, PCLinuxOS does a fantastic job showcasing software options and the categories they'd fall into. It's a great option for people interested in exploring software without knowing where to start.

Features for newcomers: PCLinuxOS' implementation of the KDE control center is very easy to use. Changing settings, adjusting appearance and so forth is very user friendly. I also like the setup wizard provided. Bundling this together with the functionality of a rolling release translates into a distro you install once and never have to reinstall a second time.

Linux Mint -- I have friends who swear by Linux Mint and its Cinnamon desktop environment. It's attractive, logically laid out and works really well. For someone coming from Windows, much of this (like with MATE) will feel quite natural.

Linux Mint offers many of the same benefits as its Ubuntu base, with the added polish of its "mintTools." These tools include a streamlined update manager, software manager, desktop applets, and the other relevant aspects of the Cinnamon desktop.

One common belief is that all Ubuntu Deb packages and PPAs are compatible with Linux Mint. This isn't completely accurate. While it's true that most PPAs will work with Linux Mint, there are some known compatibility issues that could create headaches. Therefore it's advised that you use PPAs designed for Ubuntu 14.04 with care.

Linux Mint is about striking a balance between simple and elegant. Updates are numbered, so users can better understand which updates make the biggest impact on the system. Another benefit with the Linux Mint updater is its ability to detect non-updated mirrors, apt issues and the option to choose a local mirror.

Features for newcomers: A strong update manager, logical desktop layout (citing Cinnamon) and their amazing desktop applets. Being able to get the battery reading on your wireless mouse is pretty impressive. It's clean, easy to use and based on an Ubuntu long term release.

Linux Distros not suited for newbies

Now I want to touch on some popular Linux distributions that I don't recommend for brand new users and why.

Ubuntu (Unity) -- Ubuntu (proper) has a great base, but the fact of the matter is Unity is NOT even remotely newbie friendly. I've tested it out with a number of casual folks and all of them found it to be vexing, especially when trying to browse applications. This doesn't mean Ubuntu proper isn't a good distro, it simply means it's not a good distro for anyone seeking a traditional desktop layout. That means most people won't like it. This isn't a poke at Ubuntu per se, rather me sharing my experiences with most newer users. To be completely clear -- Ubuntu base is great, yet Ubuntu with Unity leads to frustrated newbies based on my tests.

Manjaro -- It's a perfectly fine distribution for intermediate users and those who like the kernel installer or other features it provides. Unfortunately, it's unclear where the Manjaro advantage is for the newcomer. The packages are newer than with most distros, yet are held back longer than with an Arch proper installation. I'm not really seeing the value with that -- if something is going to break, it's going to break even if it's held onto for an extra week. This is a cutting edge rolling distribution. This means it may be offering packages at a greater pace than most newer users really need. Their security track record is not perfect, so that along with my above mentioned concerns make me hesitant.

Fedora -- Never could wrap my head around how Fedora could be a good option for newcomers. Fedora makes sense if you're in IT and want a solid, no bloat desktop. It especially makes life easier for those working in Red Hat and CentOS environments. But I promise you anyone coming from OS X or Windows isn't going to have a good time with Fedora. The distro is best for experienced users, this isn't even a debate.

Arch -- Unlike the above two example of distros to avoid, Arch Linux is a mixed bag. If you want to "learn Linux" and completely understand that you're basically building your own custom distribution from scratch, it's a great distro. Their documentation and software availability is second to none and unlike Manjaro, the packages are always fresh.

All of that said, asking a newcomer to build their own desktop is reaching a bit. Remember, most newcomers are gravitating to easy to install and use. That's not Arch nor is it the Arch way. Recommending Arch to a newcomer only makes sense if they are looking for an education, not an install and forget it distribution of Linux. Don't get me wrong, I've installed Arch numerous times and currently run Antergos (yes, it is indeed Arch Linux with an extra repo) along side my Ubuntu MATE installation. But it's not a good suggestion for newbies.

What say you? Perhaps you believe your neighbor down the street is a perfect for candidate for Arch? Maybe you believe Fedora is a great distro for you, the casual user? Agree, disagree with my suggestions? Hit the Comments and share your ideas with me.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: linux
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-51 last
To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten

The biggest thing for me for a distro is to solve the dependency closure problem - I don’t want to have to figure out which glibc I need or which libssl will work with all my other software. The reason we have distros is that we can just install - say GIMP and everything will play well with everything else because they’re all in the same dependency closure.

As long as the dependency graph doesn’t break and as long as the repos “have a lot of stuff in them” and as long as things are relatively new or recent - then one distro should be about as good as another.

Unless you want to go crazy and do something like Arch Linux where you build everything from source. No thanks, I don’t have that much time or patience.


41 posted on 01/13/2016 9:00:23 AM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Varmint Al

I’m already using Linux Mint 17.3 “Rosa” Cinnamon for over 6 months.


42 posted on 01/13/2016 9:36:47 AM PST by r_barton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
That gives me the UI I'm used to ...

Yeah--I just cannot get used to Gnome. I can use KDE fairly easily, but I prefer Xfce.

43 posted on 01/13/2016 10:36:29 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

I started using PCLinuxos - KDE in 2009 have it on a laptop, netbook and a 64bit quad core desktop... just works out of the box


44 posted on 01/13/2016 11:10:03 AM PST by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

That’s the beauty of Linux - to each his own! Vive la difference!


45 posted on 01/13/2016 11:36:24 AM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten

Indeed. While I like Ubuntu, with Unity, my friend prefers Linux Mint. With some research, users can find a flavor they prefer.

Zorin and Zorin Lite are also nice distros for the Linux beginner as I have installed for a few looking to change. Zorin Lite is good for older computers that are lighter on hardware but still able to be used for basic computing, web browsing. I’ve tried many different distros and there are many good ones out there and it just comes down to personal preference.

CGato


46 posted on 01/13/2016 12:53:12 PM PST by Conservative Gato
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

.


47 posted on 01/13/2016 4:58:25 PM PST by sauropod (I am His and He is mine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markman46

+1 for PCLinuxOS (KDE and LXDE).

For kicks, I installed Arch on an old laptop that struggled with XP (750 MB RAM). Wow, that thing is super fast now!


48 posted on 01/13/2016 5:23:06 PM PST by kevao (Biblical Jesus: Give your money to the poor. Socialist Jesus: Give your neighbor's money to the poor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Conservative Gato

My bias is that there are probably more similarities than differences. At the end of the day you’re down to a linux kernel, a GUI environment (KDE, Gnome, XFCE), a collection of software that all works together, a package manager (Yum/DNF and RPM or the Debian equivalents) and some glue scripts that bring the system up and down. To my way of thinking there are only so many basic ways you can mix or match all of things.

When I’m working on Fedora or working on Ubuntu with Gnome3 shell it feels pretty much the same to me except that I do dnf install on one box and apt-get install on another.

That’s how it feels to me anyway.


49 posted on 01/14/2016 2:15:24 PM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten

Oh and there’s one more thing - that is the support community. Whether you go looking for answers on Fedoraforums or AskUbuntu etc. etc. At that point it’s down to preference - what community you feel more at home with. That’s a bit like if you like FreeRepublic or some other political board.


50 posted on 01/14/2016 2:17:16 PM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten; ShadowAce
I’m with those that don’t like Unity.

Me too - But I have to confess that I think I am going Unity on my TVs... Easier to use across the room, maybe.

51 posted on 01/14/2016 2:27:54 PM PST by roamer_1 (Globalism is just Socialism in a business suit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-51 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson