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!

[daniel1212]

Thanks, but you meant to post https://i.ibb.co/mCKWMkD/Internal-Error.png, not https://ibb.co/cc9n70g

[daniel1212]

And thank God we have options and enhanced functionality, versus default:

(composite)

[daniel1212]

burn it to cd

CD? USB is much faster.

[daniel1212]

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.

"Distro" is not hard to figure out, versus "run sudo" this or that. But I would say the main problem is actually that of too many "flavors" (hundreds) whereas Ubuntu and then Mint showed the viability of focusing on one distro. If I could code and wanted to sacrifice even more time to customization I might work at providing a better Desktop with enhanced quick functionality, but the fact that most people choose Chrome for a browser and use mobile devices for Internet use more than any thing else, indicates few want such a expanded quick functionality. For me, I still use Firefox ESR for forums and researching products, having hundreds of tab open on multiple browsers, and use up-to-date ones as well. And I really like such freeware like,

over 200 tweaks available in in Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 for Windows 10 From the Windows club.

Add to this Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker

Then there is Right-Click Extender (add items to many right click menus) , and T-Clock Redux and Classic Shell, now called Open Shell (https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/archive/master.zip)

[usconservative]

That's a decent write-up on Linux Stans.

I know Linux Mint has a huge following here on FR. Many like it because of it's Windows XP like interface that feels very familiar and there's much to be said for that for those that are making the jump from Windows to Linux.

I happen to be a huge Ubuntu Desktop & Server fan myself. On Ubuntu Desktop I put the latest version of Gnome on it, the Gnome Shell Extension and then download all the Mac Catalina OS icons and theme for it to make it look like a Mac. I dumped Windows in my house well over a year ago now (I've always used both Windows and Linux until then) and converted everything to Ubuntu.

my 9+ year old AMD FX-8350 with 32Gb of memory and an SSD RAID absolutely SCREAMS on Ubuntu 20.10 with Linux Kernel 5.10.0

My main machine (daily driver) is an AMD 2700x w/32Gb and an SSD RAID. My Home Theater PC is (you guessed it) also Linux on an Intel i3 4350 and you'd never guess it's that old because it runs fast. I even run a NAS Server on Ubuntu on another i3 4350 with dual Gb NIC's and you'd never know that machine is over 10 years old it runs that well on Ubuntu.

So for those of you who have older PC's and Windows is a dog on it, consider installing Linux Desktop (Ubuntu or Mint) and watch it come back to life.

[daniel1212]

I find this reviewer refreshing frank as unlike most he actually finds some faults in Linux reviews. And as relates to your subject: https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/linux-year-of-dissatisfaction.html

[Poser]

Hint: If you are installing Linux on a machine with WiFi, make sure you are hard-wired to Ethernet while doing the installation. Most distributions don’t install the WiFi adapter drivers. In some cases, you will be in hell trying to get the WiFi to work. I’m still trying to get Debian to install the driver for my Dell Inspiron 6400 adapter. I have about 20 hours into it so far. The forums show lots of ways to do it and so far, none of them have worked.

[Paleo Pete]

I know, I’m way behind the curve, still have to figure out the usb method. Also waiting till I manage to get a few good games installed, so I can do a good custom install, on usb.

Upside is, usb should be easy to reuse if I screw it up.

Till I can get it sorted out, cd works for now.

[Varmint Al]

Sorry, I should have resized the image. I did want people to see what free software I was using and where to get it. The monitor is a 43 in ACER in 4K. You are right, it is big.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[daniel1212]

I know, I’m way behind the curve, still have to figure out the usb method. Also waiting till I manage to get a few good games installed, so I can do a good custom install, on usb.

I have no use for games. I waste too much time already!

[Bikkuri]

THank you for fixing it ;^)

[Bikkuri]

Lol.. no worries from me :) (big pic)

[Openurmind]

It is Linux and you can change anything you like. Turn it off or replace it...

menu/system settings/sound/sounds

Toggle off.

And if you double click the login sound file there it will open the folder where you want to go root and replace the default sound with an .oga or a .ogg file of your own. :)

[Openurmind]

I just recently installed both “Wine” and “Play on Linux” in a Mint 20 cinnamon system. They work together and this set up worked great for Windows games a friend could not live without.

It sets up each game install into it’s own individual Windows Virtual Machine environment and adds a desk top Icon for you. It boots the VM and switches the hardware over for you to play that Windows game.

Each game requires it’s own install from source medium, the Play on Linux makes this much easier for you while using Wine as the base.

[Openurmind]

Yes, The default “Video Player” is garbage. VLC works pretty good and the new Mint 20 comes packaged with “Celluloid” a decent Video player. While VLC will let you copy stuff the Celluloid will not but it seems to be a good stable player.

Celluloid can probably be downloaded and installed to any linux version and it can be found in both the Software Manager and synaptic with a search. I would not get the (flathub) version.

The only thing I noticed about the Celluloid player is that the first time I used it the resolution did not quite fit my screen correctly. But the next time I booted my system it had somehow fixed it’s self. Linux does little cool self fixes like that. :)

[Paleo Pete]

Never fooled with Wine, even though it’s been available for ages. 15 years ago it didn’t get good reviews, these days I’m hearing they’ve worked the bugs out.

What I’m interested in are a few small linux based arcade games, like Frozen Bubble that was installed (by choice) with Mandrake, I’d love to have the Methane Bros clone of Mario Bros, and a couple others like that. The Xtris clone of Tetris, can’t think of the others. I did get one of the solitaire games working.

Downloaded a few installation files a while back, got Xtris to work, one or two others, don’t think Frozen Bubble will judging by info I looked up, or methane bros.

Very little in the way of windows games is needed, the win7 laptop runs Deus Ex and Wolfenstein well, yeah I’m way behind...really don’t need windows games, just a few mostly arcade style linux based games, haven’t figured out how to get them installed and working.

One particular file type is supposed to just install exactly the same as windows does, double click the file, it seems to run but if the icon shows up, it does nothing. No idea why, I don’t know much about how Linux works, the exact opposite of windows, I built and repaired windows systems since win 95 was in use and 98 hadn’t been released yet. Got out of it when windows 10 showed up, that monstrosity was/is just a mess.

Which leaves me in a dilemma, if I buy a new machine, they force windows 10 on you, I’d have to format it the very same day and put linux on. Then I won’t know diddly about my OS...

I’ll probably look for a good used one and fix it up. Half the price and half the headaches. Since I’m not putting it online, windows updates can be turned off, no forced win 10 install...that’s probably what damaged the eMachines I bought at a yard sale, $3. Runs great, but windows is practically useless. Someone rebooted halfway through a win 10 “upgrade”, which is now forced. eMachines website says they no longer have the restore cd for that machine so I can’t just run the restore cd. The one it creates is a clone of the damaged system.

Which is why I downloaded Mint, if I can try it on cd or usb, it might just get installed completely but I don’t like to install with no idea what it looks or performs like, one of ghe best things about the live cd linux versions - puppy, damn small, feather, knoppix etc. Running puppy o it now, never have installed it. Create a small log file, it remembers my settings, including anything I install that works.

I would like to get back the KDE ability to use 4 separate desktops, each with its own background...puppy uses 4, but all share the same background picture.

Side note - I tried to bog down Linux a few years ago. Not hard to do with windows. I put Mandrake 9 on a 266MHz P-II laptop. Opened everything I could find that would keep actively running, like system monitors. Then opened Frozen Bubble, one of the most graphics intensive games in Mandrake. Still took near 30 minutes playing Frozen Bubble before it finally locked up. Ran the Mandrake 9 desktop for 4 years nonstop, couldn’t tell any change in performance. Reinstalled XP twice because it was bogging down. Identical machines I built myself.

[Openurmind]

I got my start with Linux Mint Cinnamon 18.3 about 4 years ago. I installed it next to my Win 7 on the same machine. Within a month I realized I would never need my Win 7 again for anything at all. So I reloaded it strictly Linux. Since I have loaded many different versions. The Mint Cinnamon package is the best yet. The 18.3 and the newest 20.x versions are rock solid. Stay clear of the 19.x series, you will not be happy with the hardware bugs.The 18.3 I actually prefer and they also have a 32 bit version for older machines. The 20.x is strictly 64 bit for newer machines.

I understand your concern with wanting to take a look at it before you do it. But I can tell you that you will be pleasantly surprised with the Mint Cinnamon 18.3 or the 20.x. Right off the bat I realized it functions just like Windows 7. Everything in Linux can be customized to how you like it. And with just a couple clicks in “themes” you can even make it look like Win XP if you want. :)

https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/themes/view/Mint-XP

That Cinnamon “spices” site has tons of themes you can customize your desktop with. And they can all be auto-installed right though your default system settings and options panel with a few clicks. I just dug into my available games and Frozen Bubble is available directly from the repository for auto-install, There are about 20 different Tetris games. “MariO” is a Super Mario clone that can be downloaded and installed from Github, and with “Wine” and “Play on linux” installed you can play your Deus Ex and Wolfenstein on a Linux system if you have the installation disks for windows. The wine is the base, and the POL is the graphical interface that makes wine easier to use.

The key is getting the full Mint Cinnamon package. fully loaded it is still only 2 gigs compared to Win 10 at 18 gigs. It comes with two different software “auto-installers” included. You can search and find what you are looking for and with just a few clicks it not only installs the program, but in the same operation it will self check to see if you need any additional dependencies for that program and go grab them and install them at the same time for you also. Pretty slick... :)

[Bob434]

You definitely can put it to a cd or 📀, give it a try, I think you will like it. Linux has several. Tux games that are kinda a lot like Mario cart. Easy to I stay. And run. You c a n even try them out in the cd without installing mint yet, and see if they Wil, be what you like. There are a number of games to try out. All different genres

Probably your best bet is buy a really cheap laptop if you can afford one right now, format, throw jnux on it while keeping your old windows computer for now. You can also dual boot too, which is what I do. If you decide you don’t like Linux at all, no worries, just reclaim the space and expand you windows partition back to what it was for a single boot computer again.

You’ll have to look up how to do partitions though if you aren’t sure. It’s a little involved, but not too bad. Linux cd will have a utility you can install to do just that while in a virtual environmmet..

Another option, cheap one, if you are comfortable with switching out hard drives,, is buy an old used hard drive, format it, and install Linux to that. You’ll need a Linux cd to format it,or a windows cd. I have several old hard drives as backups with windows and Linux on them. My computer is set up for dual hard drives, so I simply unplug my main drive and plug another in. Works well

[Mr. K]

you said: "Distro" is not hard to figure out, versus "run sudo" this or that. But I would say the main problem is actually that of too many "flavors" (hundreds) whereas Ubuntu and then Mint showed the viability of focusing on one distro."

Thereby proving my entire point.

Say that same sentence to your grandma and tell us what she says.

I am not knocking Linux or its users- just the fanatics who think "Linux Uber Alles" and look down on those lesser-humans who debase themselves with Windows.

I don't get the impression you are one of those, just a fan of Linux- and I am too- I just made a TON of money programming for Windows.

[Paleo Pete]

I downloaded Mint full version a few days ago. Not able to do much right now, still recovering from ice storm. Think I have an extra hard drive I can use in 2nd laptop, not hard to swap, if not I can get one with little trouble.

For now it’s on hold till everything else is back to semi normal. I’m still flushing toilet with a 2 gallon jug and it’s too wet today to work on outside pump shed. Have water, but it’s in jugs. Made a 50 mile roundtrip for parts yesterday, under 2 bucks. But not available closer, still a 20 mile round trip. Got back it was raining, still drizzling till an hour ago.

Did take a few minutes to re-zero my 22 rifle, it fell a few days ago, scope was an inch high, 3/4 to the right. Just put 15 shots inside a 2 inch circle, 30 yards, including 1st 2 an inch off each way (one high, one low). I overdid it 1st adjustment. Other 13 shots you can cover with a nickel. Not sure how it happened, butt plate just slid across the floor and it fell, must have bumped it.

Anyway I digress.

I’ll take some time later to tinker with Mint on 2nd laptop, win 7 is screwed anyway, once I get it operational I might just do a full install. atill yhen, I still have the working Puppy cd, might delete the save file and let it “forget” yhe games I installed and start over.

Damn...raindrops gotta scoot