What is the best Linux distro?

Question

What Linux distro would you recommend for a beginner. The ones that seem the most popular are Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Linux Mint, and openSUSE. If there are any other distros that I did not mention, but you think would be easy for a beginner to use, then please suggest any.

Answer 1

I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 11. Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 11 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=81



Linux Mint 11 Release Notes/Installation Guide/User Guide

http://linuxmint.com/rel_katya.php



Also worth considering is Linux Mint Debian Edition



Linux Mint Debian Edition Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=88



Manual partitioning guide for Linux Mint Debian Edition

http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2010/12/28/manual-disk-partitioning-guide-for-linux-mint-debian-edition/



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 11 or Linux Mint Debian Edition then you need to create a Bootable LiveDVD

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto



Linux Mint 11 and Linux Mint Debian Edition can also be run straight from the LiveDVD without touching your Hard Drive





LUg.

Answer 2

If a new Linux user has a up to date computer with 2gb or more ram then Ubuntu or Mint or Pinguy. With Pinguy being the most complete. I would NOT suggest Fedora or Debian or OpenSuse to a new Linux user. Puppy is fun and easy to use however. Distros like Zorin and PCOS Linux are also easy to use with Zorin having a Windows like GUI. A user with a less up to date computer with less ram or a lesser video card might look at Lubuntu which is a wonderful lightweight version of Ubuntu using LXDE. It only requires 128mg of ram.



Yes, Xubuntu is also 'lighter' but ram usage is at times higher then Ubuntu. The nice thing about the major distros is the community support. I want to add that all of the above distros will work fine with 1gb of ram. A new user can of course try most Linux distros out as a live CD or USB stick. Download the distro and use programs like Unetbootin to create a USB stick with the OS or burn a ISO to a CD or DVD and boot with it.

Answer 3

Definatly start with a mainstream one like ubuntu, because you'll be able to get more help from people online. Mandriva is a good distro too, i don't use it very much though

Answer 4

You know what? Maybe Linux would be more popular if they weren't confuse users with a bazillion distros.

Answer 5

I would suggest Ubuntu.

I use kfreeBSD, it is Debian/BSD ported together, still a work in progress so not really stable or for the beginner.

PC-BSD is a very clean one also.

On the Additional Comment:

We/They did. We/They still do, that is why it is called Free Open Source Software.

GNU/FSF/DFSG

Look them up please.