Posted on 10/27/2021 10:46:49 AM PDT by ShadowAce
Unlike Windows and macOS, there is a world of Linux versions, known as distributions, for users to experience. However, those switching to Linux on the desktop usually get pointed in the direction of Ubuntu due to its popularity and large community.
That’s a fair suggestion since Ubuntu is frequently updated and supports a lot of hardware. But when there are so many other Linux distros out there, users may be curious about what else might work for them. Fortunately, there is a quick guide...
Ubuntu is based on Debian Linux and uses the GNOME desktop environment. A desktop environment can make or break the user experience, but there are other versions of Ubuntu with different environments, so you can pick one that's right for you. Kubuntu uses KDE, Lubuntu uses LXQt, Ubuntu MATE uses the older Gnome 2 interface, and Xubuntu which uses Xfce. Ubuntu also offers versions that are ideal for use in a server setting.
However, there are other Ubuntu-based experiences available, each offering a unique take on Linux...
Pop!_OS, elementary OS, and Zorin are closely related to Ubuntu and Debian. They differ through their selection of software, desktop environment, and overall theme. Some of these distros use proprietary or closed-source software, which some Linux enthusiasts feel is against the open-source philosophy of the operating system.
Zorin and Pop!_OS are ideal for users interested in gaming or transitioning from Windows operating systems. This is due to their overall design, hardware support, and built-in tools for emulation of apps typically used with the Microsoft operating system.
elementary OS features a striking design that many have likened to macOS. It features a gorgeous dock and simply named apps like Web (for the browser) and Code (for the text editor), which helps strengthen that connection to Apple's OS. elementary also packs its own desktop environment known as Pantheon.
If you want to get away from Ubuntu entirely, there are a few more options that stand out:
The emergence of Manjaro has been a pleasant surprise in the Linux community as it’s closely related to Arch, which is a bleeding-edge distro with tons of new features but can be cumbersome to use, especially for Linux newcomers. It has an easy-to-use interface and is available with a wide variety of desktop environments including Xfce, KDE, and Gnome. Manjaro also offers a version for Arm systems like the Raspberry Pi, Odroid, and Pine products.
Fedora is the upstream source of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and has been around since 2003, gaining a ton of popularity over the years, including the creator of the Linux kernel, Linus Torvalds. It’s available with a wide selection of desktop environments and uses the RPM and DNF package managers.
Users can easily install new and different repositories if they want other software, though you may not need that as Fedora comes with plenty of familiar software like Firefox and LibreOffice. Many say Fedora is as bleeding edge as Arch Linux, but as stable and user friendly as Debian and Ubuntu. There are even Fedora distros designed for server use Fedora Server and Fedora CoreOS.
Those seeking a bit more of a modular experience may be interested in openSUSE. It's available with plenty of desktop environments including Gnome, KDE, Cinnamon, MATE, LXQt, and Xfce. Better yet, it's pretty stable with all of them, which is uncommon.
openSUSE also has a dedicated community, and the developers engage with them regularly, seeking and taking feedback from their users. One of the best parts of openSUSE is YaST, which is a fantastic system control panel, providing access to basic and advanced settings. One more important detail: openSUSE can also be installed as a server operating system which is super handy.
Solus is another choice for users seeking a user-friendly Linux experience. Its gorgeous Budgie desktop environment is sure to turn heads. Users have also experienced short boot times and impressive stability with Solus, making it a worthwhile alternative to the established players. While this doesn’t have many software packages, it offers full support for Snap and Flatpak packages, which improve app availability.
While most of the above distros are fit for everyday desktop computing, others meet more specific purposes. For example, those with home theatre PCs may want to check out LibreELEC, a purpose-built Linux distribution revolving around Kodi and consuming media. It supports x86 PCs, in addition to single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi.
Linux can also serve as the base for several retro-gaming-oriented operating systems. Lakka and Batocera are two Linux distributions that turn your PC into a gaming console.
Batocera can be installed and booted up from a USB drive, which is pretty convenient. It supports all the recognized gaming systems including NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, Sega Dreamcast, Playstation 1, Playstation 2, and Playstation 3, assuming your hardware can handle it.
Lakka incorporates LibreELEC and RetroArch and requires users to install it to their hard drive to work. It features support for a similar set of retro systems.
Scientists and engineers may find CAELinux appealing, as it features many tools to help with mathematical modeling, computer-aided design, prototyping, 3D printing, electronic PCB design, and microcontroller programming. It can even be operated off an 8GB pen drive for extra convenience.
Some users may want a distribution that’s a bit more streamlined. Clear Linux is an Intel project that's ideal for developers and researchers. Its speed and efficiency have been noted by both Intel and AMD. Users have also pointed out that Clear Linux has a low memory footprint upon booting, and offers plenty of applications and tools for power users.
Some other distributions are known to be lightweight and help revive older machines.
For example, Puppy Linux works wonders on older hardware, even though it’s roughly based on an older Ubuntu version. It’s small at just about 400 MB but supports a wide list of popular applications.
Looking for something even more barebones?
Consider Tiny Core Linux, which is available in three versions: Core, TinyCore, and CorePlus. Core weighs in at 16 MB, while TinyCore is 21. CorePlus is a whopping 163 MB. Each provides the barest of operating systems, as the Core version lacks a GUI, so you better be familiar with the command line. TinyCore and CorePlus land with more hardware support but little else. You’ll have to do all the extra legwork of installing and configuring the system yourself, which may appeal to some DIYers.
There are various Linux distros that are perfect for those concerned about security and privacy as well. Tails (which stands for “The Amnesiac Incognito Live System”) is the official choice for the Tor project and is a well-recognized security-based distro. It can run from a DVD or USB, which means nothing will be stored locally. All network activity is routed through Tor, which conceals the user's location and activity. All of the applications included are also hyper-focused on security and privacy.
Alternatively, there's Kali Linux, which specializes in security penetration. Its popularity skyrocketed thanks to the TV Show Mr. Robot, but it's a great distribution for those in digital forensics. It comes with over 600 tools to test a systems security including nmap (a port scanner), Wireshark (a packet analyzer), John the Ripper (a password cracker), Aircrack-ng (penetration-testing wireless LANs), Burp suite and OWASP ZAP (both web application security scanners). It can be run from a USB or DVD, too.
So now you know, Linux means more than just Ubuntu. From server operations to computer-aided design, to lightweight OS's and even gaming, there are a whole bunch of distributions out there that may be perfect for your needs.
Still stuck in the crap MSverse. No engineering software is ported to linux or mac. After the last forced updates by M$ wiping out my machines I hate M$even more.
I’ve played a lot with Linux in the the past and I liked it ok. But there are a few Windows programs I am just too heavily invested in that have no Linux presence. Hence I stay here.
Which distro has the best support base? When I was on ubuntu, a couple of problems reared their head but the community was pretty good about addressing it.
Also, I no longer use computers with DVD/CD drives, so the install would need to be across a USB stick.
Just about all distros can be installed via USB. I cannot think of any that require a CD/DVD.
PCLinuxOS (PCLOS) has excellent support and a monthly magazine.
I have been using it since 2007. Started in KDE, switched to XFCE for a while, back to KDE (plasma), currently on Trinity (KDE 4) but am building a new box with the latest PCLOS KDE version.
I have my Quickbooks and AutoCAD running in a virtualbox with Windoze. Everything else is Linux.
My Win7 desktop died a couple of months ago, so I replaced it with a Win10 — which apparently doesn’t support the Win11 requirements.
I also have been using Linux Mint 20.2 some.
During the transition, I ran across LinuxFX which basically has Win10 appearance and WindowsFX which basically has Win11 appearance. They use the .wine emulation for Windows programs, so they are not fully Windows capable. However, for home users and novices, they narrow the gap between the Linux environment and the Windows environment.
Windows11 seems to have significantly more cosmetic utilities. One can even get back actual buttons, etc., by doing a lot of tweaking.
But it seems they are just offering functionality that you can get with any Linux distro out there. At work, I run over 1000 Linux servers in an Active Directory environment. Doesn't cost us anything to do so. Also, wine is available across the board.
How do I manipulate Linux to make the screen fit my monitors screen? On Windows, I RT click on a blank portion. On Linux??? How to conform it?
I’m not sure I understand your issue. Is the workspace not the same size as your monitor? Are you talking about the resolution?
Also, I’d need to know which desktop environment you are using—KDE? Gnome? Xfce?
The major tax software is not supported in Linux.
Ubuntu has a very good support base and generally on their forums you get good answers when you have a problem.
Pretty much any distro can be installed by USB stick. The really nice thing is that you can try any distro running it off the USB to see how it functions on your computer.
Very good article, thanks for sharing.
I have been using Ubuntu/Kubuntu on my machines for years. I got a PineBook Pro about 2 years ago and have been running Manjaro with KDE and really like it. It was very difficult getting used to using pacman for the package manager in place of apt like in Ubuntu and all the Debian based OS’s. I tried ARCH Linux, and think that I would only use that if I hated my life, lol because it was difficult to configure and use. Manjaro makes ARCH easy to use.
I liked Kali, and while it is a solid Debian build, you have to be real careful using it because it was always running as root.
I’ve got this useless HP Stream device. It came with a ton of previously installed programs that it does not allow me to get rid of. I’m running out of memory and I only use a couple of programs.
Device name DESKTOP-40M5RVH
Processor AMD A4-9120e RADEON R3, 4 COMPUTE CORES 2C+2G 1.50 GHz
Installed RAM 4.00 GB (3.86 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display
Where is Mint? Mint is taking the market. That is why you do not see it in the list. These are all small fry compared to Mint. Mint is Debian/Ubuntu with Gnome also.
Ubuntu is popular because of the two click software repository and Mint uses the same Ubuntu software repository. But it kicks on Ubuntu for many other features Ubuntu does not have.
After trying ALL these I went back to Mint... No need to shop anymore... Even my young Grandkids got on Mint and right away flew with it like Linux pros. :)
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