Linux - NewbieThis Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question?
If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
Welcome to the forums! The article you link to is misleading; there is no one Linux distribution that is "the best." You might find that distrowatch.com is a more complete and objective source for comparing distros. I particularly like their analysis of the top 10 "major" distros: http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
Most Linux distros are available as a Live CD, which means you can try it with no change to your computer. I would recommend trying several until you find one that you like.
Ubuntu, Mint, and Puppy (if you have older hardware) are probably the most popular choices for beginning users.
As a wise LQ user (forgot which one since there are so many) once said:
Quote:
Try as many as you can using LiveCD/DVD and the one you stick with at last is the one that's for you.
Distilling from this: it just comes down to choices, you'll have to choose and in order to be able to choose, just try as many as you can. Booting from LiveCD/DVD doesn't alter what's on your harddisk and you cannot break anything.
As other members suggested you need to try them out yourself to see which one is 'best for you'. It all boils down to personal preferences. Try a few of them an you'll
see which one you feel most comfortable with. It's all fun
Will this distro work on my machine? Check out that distro's hardware compatibility list to make sure it'll run on your computer! If everything works using the LiveCD, chances are better than even that it'll work when installed.
What will I use my computer for? You may not need a one-size-fits-all kinda distro, but just something for basic stuff like browsing, email, writing letters. Lots of bells and whistles are pretty, but it's like Scotty told Dr McCoy once: "The more turns there are in the pipe, the easier it is to clog up the drain."
One more li'l thing: If you decide to use Ubuntu (Kubuntu, Xubuntu) or any derivative of Ubuntu, don't use the current version. Use the previous one. The current "stable" version, especially when newly released, is bound to be buggy and problematic. It always takes the folks at Ubuntu at least six months to make a release stable enough for ordinary use. Stay at least one release behind the current one.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.
Which Distribution Should I Choose?
