Linux for Starters: Your Guide to Linux – Choose a Distro

Linux Links ^ | 7 May 2021 | Steve Emms

[ShadowAce]

This is a series that offers a gentle introduction to Linux for newcomers.

You’ve decided that you want to try Linux but are unsure how to proceed. You are confused by the many hundreds of Linux distributions (distros) available. Which distro should you try?

There is no ‘perfect distribution’ and there isn’t a magical answer to the question. It’s a decision which will depend on your requirements and personal preferences. The best way we can help is to focus on a few key considerations.

Your Hardware

Your hardware is an important factor when choosing a distro.

• Feature rich distros. Their recommended minimum system requirements are around a 2 GHz dual core processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 25GB of hard drive space.
• Lightweight distros uses lower memory and/or has less processor-speed requirements than a more “feature-rich” distro. Even machines with very limited amount of RAM (256MB or 512MB) can still offer a capable desktop environment.
• Niche distros for specialised hardware such as single-board computers (like the Raspberry Pi).

Beginner Friendly

We’re assuming that you have little or no experience of Linux. On this premise, we recommend that you choose a distro that’s beginner friendly. By beginner friendly, we mean distros that help with the following:

• User-friendly custom utilities which reduce the complexity of basic tasks. Things like an intuitive package manager (to install and uninstall software), simple backup and simple security measures are important.
• Provide software that fulfils the requirements of a typical user.
• Offer a simple desktop environment.
• Adopts a “point release” distribution model rather than a “rolling release”. We explain what these terms mean and the advantages of each distribution model on this page.
• Offer good quality official documentation and manuals.
• Has a large user support community. When using anything new, you may need some help. Having a well established community support on web forums or chat channels is an advantage.

Our Recommendations

Assuming you want a feature rich distro we recommend Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and elementary OS for beginners. They are “point release” distros.

Ubuntu is arguably the most popular distro with an official support line and a huge community. Its default desktop is GNOME, renowned for being efficient, stable, and reliable while remaining incredibly user-friendly.

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. It’s also very easy to use and takes a conservative approach to software updates.

elementary OS offers a gentle learning curve. Its Pantheon desktop environment is superb and wonderfully elegant. Being based on GNOME it pares down complexity without losing functionality.

Editions

Some distros offer different editions (sometimes known as spins and remixes some of which may be unofficial). These editions have different uses such as:

• Desktop – run a graphical desktop environment and software such as a web browser, office suite, email client and more.
• Server – for serving up websites, file shares, and containers.
• Other uses such as cloud computing and Internet of Things.

Point Release Distro v Rolling Release Distro

A point release distro puts out installation images under a regular schedule. Often this can be every 6 or 9 months. Each release is given a unique name. Between these major releases only security patches and updates are released, although specific applications may get more frequent updates such as Firefox, Chrome, and LibreOffice.

Pros of a Point Release Distro:

Stability – this distribution model has the opportunity for more end user testing of each release. Each release uses older, better tested software.

Compatibility – most hardware is supported. It’s fairly uncommon for new hardware not to be supported by the latest distro point release, although there can be issues with specific types of hardware found in laptops.

Convenience – you want to minimise disturbance from updates with less maintenance required. This may be an important factor depending on your skill set.

Upgrades – many point release distros offer an upgrade path from one point release to another without having to wipe the system and reinstall.

Possibility for Long Term Support (LTS) offering a greater period of support for a release. Efforts are made to stabilise the release early by significantly limiting the amount of new features, and avoiding structural changes as far as possible.

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A rolling release distro is continuously updated in all areas, including the kernel, and all software applications such as the desktop environment, multimedia, utilities, and development tools. The distribution of installation images serves only as a starting point for a new system.

Pros of a Rolling Release Distro:

Latest hardware support – this may be an important factor if you have a new computer (particularly laptops) that has specific hardware (such as touchpads, wireless network adapters and graphic display controllers) which are not recognized with older versions of the Linux kernel.

Software – offers the possibility of the most current versions of software. This may include programs which are generally not included in the periodic updates of a “point distro”. The latest versions may offer essential new features you need, fix bugs, improve security, and more.

Upgrade – often this process is painless and incremental although there’s the possibility of more maintenance required given that updates are more frequent.

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In the next article, we will walk you through installing a distro.

[R1b]

>“Grandma” is not the target audience

Who is the target audience?

[Linux Rules]

XFCE looks old and dated.

I would use Cinnamon if you can. MATE is nice, but it too is a little long in the tooth.

[ShadowAce]

People who know they want to move to Linux, and the various possibilities that are out there.

The "Grandma" referenced by Mr. K only wants to look at pictures and read e-mail and doesn't know Windows from artichokes.

Don't get me wrong. I know plenty of older people who would jump at this sort of thing. But that is not who he was referencing in his post.

[PreciousLiberty]

“Never trust anything said by an Apple fanboi. It’s like letting a commie sit down in your poker game. All they talk about is the dilalectic and how socialism can work if they just do it right. Totally ruins the game. :)”

As a technologist, I use the best technology for a given task, based strictly on the merits of the technology.

The politics of both Apple and Microsoft aren’t great, and most Linux development is done by liberal firms and individuals as well.

If politics is your litmus test for technology use, I suggest you stick to pencil and paper. ;-)

(BTW there’s a reason Apple is the biggest company on the stock market right now. Its technology is, in fact, easiest for “Grandma”.)