5 Best Linux Distros for Beginners

Linux Stans ^ | 25 December 2020 | Valentino Bocchetti

[ShadowAce]

Are you tired of Windows problems?

Have you heard about this magic place called Linux and you want to try it out?

Here are the 5 best distros for beginners.

They are all Debian-based distros, so they all use the apt package manager by default. This kind of distro is easy to learn and to install.

Ubuntu

How can we not start with Ubuntu? This is one of the most famous distros out there. After the login, we throw into a friendly desktop, similar or not to Windows style. The force of Linux is the chance to have only the thing that we like (all pieces are in fact interchangeable). Following this line, Ubuntu gives us many desktop environments (called also flavor) to pick for all kinds of PC performance or tastes. The difference between those is about the consumption and the look and feel (so you are not limited to a single desktop environment and its features). Its default flavor is Gnome, but as just mentioned you can choose another flavor by installing one of Ubuntu’s derivate.  So based on your target of use I suggest you:

• Lubuntu and Xubuntu if you want a low consuming distro.
• Kubuntu, if your target is high personalization.
•  Gnome (and its fork Mate) if you want a Windows-like view.

Ubuntu offers to the users two types of version:

• The latest version (20.10)
• LTS (long-term support) version (20.04)

The difference is about guaranteed support.

If you have any problem you can count on its giant community, which helps you to learn and practice. So in a very tiny time, you can efficiently learn all you need.

Mint

You love Windows-style, but not Windows? Linux Mint is the distro for you! This distro is focused on easy use, cleary immediately. After the boot, you will feel like home, due to its 3 different version: cinnamon, mate, xfce (plasma is no more officially supported), that makes Mint easy to learn and manage. As just said the look and feel are similar to the habits of a Windows user, with a panel that displays all the information that you need, so a plus feature. It also offers a very useful community, for all your doubts.

WARNING: By default, version 20 (Ulyana) doesn’t allow snap package, but you can enable it following this command on terminal:

1. sudo rm /etc/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref
2. sudo apt update
3. sudo apt install snapd

Here we go!

MX Linux

MX Linux deserves special attention for well-made offline documentation, that guides the user to learn about how this system works step by step, a very friendly community, and a lot of tools out the box helpful to manage the system. By default, it is shipped with KDE and XFCE flavors.

In the installation live we can also install programs, which will be transferred to the final system (a very useful feature, if you make some changes, that you want to preserve after the installation).

Deserve a mention the presence of tools out the box helpful to manage the system:

• Nvidia driver installer;
• Codecs installer;
• User manager;
• Tools for the maintenance;
• iDevice Mounter (for iPhone users);
• Live tools for updates.

Elementary OS

If you are a lover of Mac OS style, Elementary OS is the distro that best suits you. It is shipped with Gnome too, so you won’t have problems with the position of all the screen elements. The home screen present:

• a status bar on the top (with all the toggles that you need) very similar to Mac-OS style;
• a bottom bar easily customizable (like the Mac-OS dock).

Helpful additions are:

• The key bindings for keyboard shortcut callable with pressure on Super key (the windows key);
• The screen time & limits (you can find it in the setting) that allow you to set a limit to the use of screen and internet (to avoid some contents for your kids)
• A very well-made “app-store”.

So if you like this kind of style you will feel at home.

SPOILER: if you want to install free Elementary OS you can set 0 on the payment offer

Zorin

Zorin OS is a distro for those who want to have a clean and futuristic design. It is derivate by Ubuntu, and like it is shipped with Gnome by default; there is also a version with xfce desktop environment for old PC. This distro present 4 edition:

• Ultimate, which has a cost of 39 $ (this price is to help them to develop the distro);
• Core;
• Lite;
• Education.

	ULTIMATE	CORE	LITE	EDUCATION
Libre office suite	✔	✔	✔	✔
Advanced desktop (Gnome 3)	✔	✔		✔
Lightweight desktop (XFCE 4)	✔		✔	✔
Zorin Connect	✔	✔		✔
Standard desktop layouts	✔	✔	✔	✔
Premium desktop layout	✔
Educational apps & games				✔
Business & media apps	✔
20 games preinstalled	✔
Zorin installation support	✔

These difference are minimal, because all of the pluses of the Ultimate version, can be installed also on the other version

INSTALLATION

All these distros are installable with a graphical installer, which is intuitive (you are not exposed to command-line). In the installation you can also choose the type of installation:

• lightweight installation (if you want to install other programs instead of the default programs)
• full installation (it includes all the updates and the basic programs)

The installation program presents you three choices:

• Automatic partition
• Manual partition
• Installing the distro alongside another OS (the dual-boot mode)

FIRST CHANGES

You don’t like the default theme? Don’t worry:  all these distros present a lot of themes besides the classic light and dark theme.

I suggest some of them:

• If you are a dark user:
  • Arc theme;
  • Adapta theme;
  • Darcula theme;
  • Material Theme;
• If you are a light user:
  • Numix theme;
  • Ultimate maia theme.

You would like to change also the icon theme, so here to you my favorite:

• Papirus icon theme;
• Numix Circle;
• OS Catalina (if you like Mac-OS style);
• Vimix;
• Breeze.

WHAT I NEED TO START

Mint

linux mint

You love Windows-style, but not Windows? Linux Mint is the distro for you! This distro is focused on easy use, cleary immediately. After the boot, you will feel like home, due to its 3 different version: cinnamon, mate, xfce (plasma is no more officially supported), that makes Mint easy to learn and manage. As just said the look and feel are similar to the habits of a Windows user, with a panel that displays all the information that you need, so a plus feature. It also offers a very useful community, for all your doubts.

WARNING: By default, version 20 (Ulyana) doesn’t allow snap package, but you can enable it following this command on terminal:

sudo rm /etc/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref sudo apt update sudo apt install snapd

Here we go! MX Linux

mx linux

MX Linux deserves special attention for well-made offline documentation, that guides the user to learn about how this system works step by step, a very friendly community, and a lot of tools out the box helpful to manage the system. By default, it is shipped with KDE and XFCE flavors.

In the installation live we can also install programs, which will be transferred to the final system (a very useful feature, if you make some changes, that you want to preserve after the installation).

Deserve a mention the presence of tools out the box helpful to manage the system:

Nvidia driver installer; Codecs installer; User manager; Tools for the maintenance; iDevice Mounter (for iPhone users); Live tools for updates.

Elementary OS

If you are a lover of Mac OS style, Elementary OS is the distro that best suits you. It is shipped with Gnome too, so you won’t have problems with the position of all the screen elements. The home screen present:

a status bar on the top (with all the toggles that you need) very similar to Mac-OS style; a bottom bar easily customizable (like the Mac-OS dock).

Helpful additions are:

The key bindings for keyboard shortcut callable with pressure on Super key (the windows key); The screen time & limits (you can find it in the setting) that allow you to set a limit to the use of screen and internet (to avoid some contents for your kids) A very well-made “app-store”.

So if you like this kind of style you will feel at home.

SPOILER: if you want to install free Elementary OS you can set 0 on the payment offer Zorin

Zorin OS is a distro for those who want to have a clean and futuristic design. It is derivate by Ubuntu, and like it is shipped with Gnome by default; there is also a version with xfce desktop environment for old PC. This distro present 4 edition:

Ultimate, which has a cost of 39 $ (this price is to help them to develop the distro); Core; Lite; Education.

ULTIMATE CORE LITE EDUCATION Libre office suite ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Advanced desktop (Gnome 3) ✔ ✔ ✔ Lightweight desktop (XFCE 4) ✔ ✔ ✔ Zorin Connect ✔ ✔ ✔ Standard desktop layouts ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Premium desktop layout ✔ Educational apps & games ✔ Business & media apps ✔ 20 games preinstalled ✔ Zorin installation support ✔

These difference are minimal, because all of the pluses of the Ultimate version, can be installed also on the other version INSTALLATION

All these distros are installable with a graphical installer, which is intuitive (you are not exposed to command-line). In the installation you can also choose the type of installation:

lightweight installation (if you want to install other programs instead of the default programs) full installation (it includes all the updates and the basic programs)

The installation program presents you three choices:

Automatic partition Manual partition Installing the distro alongside another OS (the dual-boot mode)

FIRST CHANGES

You don’t like the default theme? Don’t worry: all these distros present a lot of themes besides the classic light and dark theme.

I suggest some of them:

If you are a dark user: Arc theme; Adapta theme; Darcula theme; Material Theme; If you are a light user: Numix theme; Ultimate maia theme.

You would like to change also the icon theme, so here to you my favorite:

Papirus icon theme; Numix Circle; OS Catalina (if you like Mac-OS style); Vimix; Breeze.

WHAT I NEED TO START

In order to give a chance to Linux you need:

An ISO (image it as a complete copy of everything stored on a physical disc) of the distro chosen; A pen drive or a CD; A burn-iso program, such as Rufus or Balena-etcher (more friendly in my opinion);

And there is it. Now turn off the PC, connect the disc, and boot into it.

Enjoy it!

In order to give a chance to Linux you need:

1. An ISO (image it as a complete copy of everything stored on a physical disc) of the distro chosen;
2. A pen drive or a CD;
3. A burn-iso program, such as Rufus or Balena-etcher (more friendly in my opinion);

And there is it. Now turn off the PC, connect the disc, and boot into it.

Enjoy it!

[wombatsrule]

Thank you very much

[Bob434]

I had troubles with that, can’t remember what now, but I went. Back to mint because of the issues. I wanted to keep the Ubuntu, but something happened or it wouldn’t allow me to do things I like in mint vereion.

I used to do a lot of distro hopping looking for the “u.timate distro”, but then ran across an article exp.aini g how they are a.. basically just very simi.ar, and to just find one that you are comfortable with and go with it. After exploring many destroy, I found that yep, they are all basical,basically, similar, with just really some differences in look, style, perhaps some allow different software, or something. But joint has everything I need, so I’ll just stick with it, but did wish I July have made ubu to cinnamon work just because Ubuntu has a better repository I guess

[Bob434]

Have you tried other video viewers? I don’t know if vcl will work with Linux, I think it does. But there might be other viewers available

[Bob434]

Sorry meant vlc, and it does work with linux, just looked it up. Remembering back, I had to use it because the standard viewer kept opening videos in small window, I wanted larger window, so switched to vlc media player

[BipolarBob]

Thanks, I may give that a try.

[Darth Mall]

Bump for later

[wombatsrule]

Am looking at getting the roku enhanced soon, then set up another NAS, will see how the budget goes as most our data is manuals on various topics as well as history and inventions.

Blessings

[daniel1212]

I think you are underestimating people's ability to pick up on things. No: one can find out easy enough: as I often tell people who call and ask me how to open a PDF or something, Google it, but even when I answer Windows questions online I try to explain how to quickly access something, as I did in providing the (usual?) Linux shortcut key for terminal (which I had forgotten)

I could be wrong. I've been doing this for so long now, I literally cannot remember ever not knowing these things (Started in 1976).

I certainly can! but thus I learned to search for answers.

BTW, can you access http://puppylinux.com/? Firefox, Waterfox, Basilisk, Vivaldi, Edge, Chrome all say "Forbidden You don't have permission to access this resource. Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. " Brave says NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID This server could not prove that it is www.puppylinux.com; its security certificate is from mail.puppylinux.com. This may be caused by a misconfiguration or an attacker intercepting your connection.

[daniel1212]

My mother does not know those things, and she’s used Windows in some form since 3.1. She used a DOS 2.0 transportable Compaq, before that. Unbelievably, she’s a “computer expert” to relatives in assisted living. She gets them to buy Dell and get Dell’s onsite and other support. She didn’t know what a “URL” was until a couple years ago, because she just always came to Bing and clicked on search results. Finding and understanding File Explorer is beyond her, but she knows how to find her photos. She only knows that her Word files are available by first double-clicking on Word, then choosing “Open.” She has thousands of files in the default folder for Word and did not know how to attach any file to an email without using the creating program’s “Send” option. I found this latter thing out two months ago. It does not matter how patient you are with your time to teach her, because she has a complete mental block and you can’t tell her anything because she’s her own “expert.”

Most all I know was by searching the Internet, thank God, but you can be the phone for hours with some who have a hard time with basic PC issues.

[Bikkuri]

"Back to mint because of the issues. I wanted to keep the Ubuntu, but something happened or it wouldn’t allow me to do things I like in mint version."

I think you meant "MATE Version".. ;-)

They discontinued KDE (Mint), so I am using Cinnamon until I can find a suitable replacement with KDE.

[ShadowAce]

BTW, can you access http://puppylinux.com/?

Yes, I have no problems with it.

[Bikkuri]

Using Brave

[Bikkuri]

I've gotta get this!


Hollywood hacking terminal

[Paal Gulli]

Most people don't fancy paying for support for their Linux, which is why -- especially for the noobs -- the most important element is the size of their support group. And that necessarily means using the most popular distros because -- all else being equal -- the forums for those distros will have the largest pool of expertise to offer advice and dispense hard-won expertise.

And for several years Ubuntu and Mint have been 1&2 (or 2&1) for most widely-used distros.

------------------------------------------------------------ 08:41:51
$> cd /pub
$> more beer

------------------------------------------------------------ 08:41:54
$> man woman
$> Segmentation fault (dumped core)

[Bob434]

no i meant linux mint cinnamon- back to that- not back to ubuntu mint- sorry for hte confusion

[Bob434]

i had been using ubuntu cinnamon- not mint- i messed up what i was trying to say-

[Bikkuri]

You must be using a 68 foot wide monitor ;^)

[Mr. K]

I’ve been writing software for over 30 years. LINUX is clearly technically superior to windows bloatware. And I have programmed for both of them.

But after 30 years of watching Linux fail to take over the market I am convinced they do not understand computer users.

They talk as if everyone is a computer literate person. For example this article doesn’t even explain what a ‘distro’ is, or how one would get it on your computer.

Until grandma can put in a cd and walk away and then come back to watch pictures Of their grandchildren online, Linux will NEVER take over the market.

And Linux users will continue to fail to understand why.

[Bikkuri]

:^)

[Bob434]

you can get it right in the software manager- if you don’t like it, it’s easily uninstalled- if you do like it i think there is a place to make it the default video viewer