Which Linux distribution should a beginner choose? What are Linux distributions and which one should you choose? Preview using Live CD

When a person does not want to shell out money for an operating system, he looks for a free one. There are actually a lot of such OSs. They are Free Software ( Open Source) and for the most part they are really given away for free. However, the choice is not easy to make, which is why a site like DistroWatch.com is needed. Well, since it is in English, we will help you understand its contents.

Latest Distributions

Let's go to the resource under discussion. Scroll down the page a little and in the left column we see the “Latest Distributions” block, which means “the latest distributions”. There are presented:

The so-called release candidates (Release Candidate, abbreviated RC). It’s as if they are no longer beta versions, but something more finished, but catching glitches has not yet been completed.
Ready operating systems. For example, at the time of writing, the BSD-based DragonFly 3.0.1, GNU/Linux distributions PCLinuxOS 2012 02 and ConnochaetOS 0.9.1 are still being announced there.

Latest Packages

Just below is a block with information about the latest software. Naturally, also Open Source. It’s called “Latest Packages”, that is, “the latest packages”. The information is provided mainly for those who cannot imagine their life without the latest software, which is something of a mania for many Free Software supporters.

Other blocks on the left side home page They offer to connect to podcasts and subscribe to the newsletter, but, alas, all this is provided in English. Therefore, we look at the right column.

Page Hit Ranking

It is here, in the right column, that is the reason for the sleepless nights of developers eager for attention to their creations, the reason for holy wars on the forums and the headache for advertising managers of commercial distributions.

Yes, this is a rating. As you have already noticed, today’s life is impossible without ratings. They are everywhere, on almost any forum, in any social network. Even where they are completely useless. The population likes medals, even virtual ones.

Now, if you were the owner of a site dedicated to Open Source and free OS, how would you organize the rating calculation?

Rating of the best Linux distributions: which is better

Probably, with the help of publishing the data that the server sees, they would show the world the number and percentage of operating systems of visitors. Or they would arrange a permanent survey, as they do on an innumerable number of sites. You can combine both criteria into a single visual graph - and there you have the rating.

But no, for some reason DistroWatch.com decided that it was better to count the number of clicks on sections with OS descriptions!

That is, if Canonical advertised its Ubuntu (a terribly buggy and slow GNU/Linux distribution for hamsters), then the population, naturally, will click on the description of this product in order to read what kind of product it is.

When thousands of people became disillusioned with Ubuntu because of the Unity shell imposed on users, they began to be advised on the forums Linux Mint. So this distribution came out on top, since not everyone knew the address of the official website of the developers and went to the usual DistroWatch.com.

No, of course, the demand and interest of visitors is also a criterion by which something can be judged. However, such information is not enough for an objective rating.

conclusions

The popularity rating of free operating systems on DistroWatch.com should not be taken too personally. This is just the number of requests for pages with descriptions of operating systems. But certainly not the systems themselves.

Well, and a convenient catalog of links to official sites, among other things. Perhaps someone didn’t even suspect the existence of some OS, but DistroWatch.com immediately shows a whole hundred in the list, no need to rummage through search engines for a long time.

One way or another, supporters of Free Software focus on the above “Top 100”, in the absence of any other ratings. Apparently, very few people can live without them.

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Last edit: 2012-03-05 04:00:22

Tags of material: com, rating, OS, distrowatch, popularity, popularity, distrowatch.com, popularity rating, free, free OS, most popular free programs, free software portals, best software, operating system, open source software, online services, distributions

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Which Linux should I choose?

The first step is to decide what you will use Linux for.

Before installing the system on HDD you can try to run it in an emulator (virtualbox, qemu or any other) or burn it to an optical disk/usb flash drive and boot from cd/dvd-rom/usb.

If you are a beginner and have never dealt with Linux, then it makes sense to install the distribution kit that a familiar Linux user has.

Now I will try to go over the most popular distributions and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Time-tested, old-school pieces

Knoppix

One of the most famous LiveCD distributions. Based on Debian. Lots of hardware supported. Like any other liveCD/liveUSB distribution, it can be suitable for getting acquainted with Linux or for performing any tasks (for example, data recovery, bootloader recovery, network access) without installing the distribution on your hard drive and setting it up. You can read more at http://www.knoppix.org/

Debian

Very good and convenient distribution. Suitable for both server and desktop. Huge development team, many packages available. Debian has a very convenient APT package management system and is quite flexible in configuration. When accessing the Internet, you can choose one of five branches in the main directory tree - "oldstable" (previous stable), "stable" (stable), "testing" (testing), "unstable" (unstable, also known as "sid" ) and "experimental", which is not a full-fledged branch - it contains packages that require careful testing or that will entail major changes in the distribution.
Among the shortcomings, it can be noted that the stable version does not contain the newest versions of programs (who would have thought?).
http://www.debian.org/ - official website.

Gentoo

Source-based distribution.

Top 10 most popular Linux distributions

The distribution has a convenient package and dependency management system, which cannot be said about binary distributions.

One of the disadvantages is the tedious process of compiling large packages and the non-zero probability of a system breakdown after the next update with insufficient knowledge of this system.
Another drawback is the need to connect to the Internet to download updates (I think this can be neglected these days).

The advantages are a huge amount of documentation, latest versions software, good hardware support, incredible flexibility in configuration.

I recommend this distribution as a home distribution, provided that your hardware is not very weak. Also used on servers or as a distribution for embedded systems (thanks to the customization flexibility I mentioned above). In the case of low-power hardware, packages are compiled (cross-compiled) on the host system and then simply installed on the target system.

http://www.gentoo.org/ - official website.

Slackware

The oldest distribution that has survived to this day, the choice of Russian physicists (meme from lore). Its main differences are the complete absence of any unnecessary embellishments and graphical settings, a simple text installer. All settings are made by editing text configuration files. This is one of those distributions that has maintained a strict adherence to UNIX principles. Try it if you're not afraid command line and prefer manual editing of configs to graphical utilities.

For a long time it was only available for x86 architecture, but now a version is available for x86_64

http://www.slackware.com/ - official website.

Arch Linux

Lightweight, simple and flexible distribution. Optimized for i686 and x64, using the latest stable versions of packages.
This is a binary distribution, but it is possible to build packages from sources.

Very similar to Slackware, but has a much more powerful package management system (pacman) and is more liberal with new package versions.

Among the disadvantages: the number of packages is smaller than in Debian and Gentu, the lack of such powerful configuration tools as, for example, YaST in Suse.

As an advantage, you can add a more relaxed attitude towards non-free packages than, for example, in Debian.

This is a distribution general purpose. Successfully used on both workstations and servers. But, like any other distribution, you need to get used to it.

http://www.archlinux.org/
http://archlinux.org.ru/

Red-Hat/CentOS

A well-tested distribution that is more suitable for a server than a desktop.
CentOS differs from Red Hat only in the lack of support.

http://www.redhat.com/
http://www.centos.org/

More popular

Ubuntu Linux

http://ubuntu.ru/

Probably the most popular Linux distribution in existence. Ubuntu is based on Debian Sid (unstable branch) but with more modern packages including latest version GNOME.

One of the most interesting features is the fact that Account"root" is disabled by default; The first registered user after installation receives superuser rights using the "sudo" command.
Pros: large community of developers and users, fixed release schedule and support period, 'user friendliness' in the form of additional graphical customization tools, excellent work out of the box.
Cons: often unstable versions of software are used in stable releases of the distribution. Also disliked by some experienced users due to its obvious focus on housewives.

OpenSuse

http://ru.opensuse.org/

Advantages: Professional attention to detail, easy to use YAST installation and configuration system.
Disadvantages: Like other distros developed in the US, media support out of the box is limited.

Fedora

http://www.fedoralinux.ru/

The distribution was formed as a Red Hat-sponsored and community-oriented distribution. It contains the newest versions of packages. And since a significant part of the Linux world’s technologies is born in the depths of RedHat, the first thing they naturally end up in is Fedora.

Pros: extremely innovative, latest software versions, good localization.

Cons: Unstable versions of the software result in a number of bugs (redhat testbed).

ALT Linux

http://www.altlinux.ru/

This distribution is developed in Russia and is traditionally considered to be focused on excellent support for the Russian language. In addition, it has a FSTEC certificate, if this is important to anyone.

The server versions of the distribution place great emphasis on security network services. Pros: excellent Russian language support, good community support.

Cons: Not always the latest software.

Other

Solaris

A distribution developed in the depths of the company sun microsystems http://www.sun.com/, which gave the world such free products like mysql, virtualbox, java. In 2010, Oracle bought Sun and “went its own way.”

Better suited for desktop opensolaris- open version (the project was closed).

Advantages include zfs, dtrace, good hardware support, convenient service management (Solaris SMF) and volume management (Solaris Volume Manager)

*BSD Family

http://www.freebsd.org/ - the most popular among the BSD family.
http://www.openbsd.ru/ - safety comes first.
http://www.netbsd.org/ru/ - will run even on a toaster.

freebsd, openbsd, netbsd are “amateur” systems, more suitable for a server than for a desktop, although there are some attempts to adapt these systems to the desktop:
http://www.pcbsd.ru/
http://www.desktopbsd.net/
http://www.dragonflybsd.org/

Exotic

These operating systems are used mostly for educational purposes or as a hobby.

Plan9

http://plan9.bell-labs.com/plan9/

An operating system developed by Bell Labs to overcome fundamental design flaws in UNIX. All resources are represented as files and are available in a hierarchical file system.

xLFS

Allows you to build your Linux distribution step by step from the very beginning. After installing it, you can really say that you know how Linux works.
Ingoda, it’s just useful to read the instructions for assembling LFS, for general development.

conclusions

This is not a complete list of Linux distributions. Detailed description each distribution can be found on the website http://distrowatch.com/ or even on Wikipedia

But you should still choose a distribution based on personal preferences, and not based on its rating on some site or popularity.

There are many types of operating rooms Linux systems. Almost all of them are free to use.

Although Linux may not become the most popular platform, free and open source operating systems source code are an excellent chance to gain complete control over own computer, and also breathe life into old iron. After a week's test drive, I have selected four of the best Linux distributions, which in my humble opinion are optimal choice at the beginning of summer 2013.

Ubuntu 13.04

Today it is the most famous Linux distribution. Ubuntu is designed with beginners in mind and ease of use in mind. It is easy to install. The kit comes with a good set of necessary utilities and applications. Here we see a clear and pleasant Unity interface, thanks to which program windows are placed in the most optimal way on the screen.

Linux Mint 15

The Linux Mint code is based on Ubuntu, so these distributions support an identical set of hardware and programs.

But we find more applications in the original Linux Mint bundle than in Ubuntu. The idea of the developers is that immediately after installation the user will have at their disposal a system that is completely ready for work and entertainment, without the need to download additional packages from the Internet.

The key difference between Mint and Ubuntu is also the interface. Mint gives us the opportunity to choose between two types of desktops. But whichever one you choose, you'll end up with a system that looks more like Windows than Ubuntu. Therefore, Mint may appeal to those who are tired of the Unity interface.

In addition, this distribution does not need to be updated as often as Ubuntu. People who value stability will be pleased with this decision.

Fedora

Fedora offers us a fancy interface that emphasizes free space.

Which Linux to choose?

The application launcher and search interface are hidden by default. They only appear when you move the mouse to one of the corners of the screen or click on the icons. This seems quite interesting and helps to focus on the work at hand.

The range of programs here is not the largest of all Linux distributions, but the applications are easy to install and are compatible with each other. Overall, Fedora should be the choice for people seeking minimalism.

openSUSE

openSUSE, like Linux Mint, offers two desktop options to choose from.

Classic KDE and Gnome are available here. There is also a wonderful program called YaST (Yet another Setup Tool). With it you can configure the smallest details in the operation of the system. Another nice thing is the presence of thematic collections software. In a few clicks we can install a set of programs designed to solve a specific range of problems.

openSUSE is both a stable and flexible Linux distribution. If you have certain skills in working with hardware and software, then in the person of this operating system you will receive a powerful tool.

The Best Linux Distributions for a Newbie

Which Linux to choose?

Those who are just starting to use Linux always face a difficult choice: which Linux to choose? After all, there are hundreds of different modifications and assemblies! And every Linux has its ardent fans and supporters. And every sandpiper praises its swamp. How can we figure this out and which Linux is better?

I have already tried dozens of them over the years and now I have settled on some of the most optimal on my part, and simple for beginners. Although now for me the computer is just a tool for working on the Internet. And this is what I can advise you.

Yes, and I highly recommend purchasing a separate one for tests with Linux. THIS IS THE MINI COMPUTER so as not to harm your main system. And this way you can experiment painlessly on this baby :) It is absolutely silent, since there are no fans in it. (I wrote an article about such a mini computer here)

Of course, a lot depends on the goals you are pursuing. If you decide to learn how to compile a kernel, then you need to look towards Gentoo. If you want stability, then install Debian. If you want something very light for your old hardware, then download Puppy. If you are a patriot and love everything Russian, then install Alt Linux.

Well, if you just want to keep up with the times, then download Ubuntu. This list can probably be continued indefinitely, but you, like me, just need Linux for home. Which better than Linux choose a beginner for everyday tasks?

1. Which Linux to choose, maybe Linux Mint?

I used Linux Mint for many years and really liked it. There is no doubt that it is the most popular Linux OS in the world today.
And for a Russian user, the best choice would be its Russian clone - Dewdrop Linux.

Unfortunately, in recent years Rosinka has stopped developing, so the most the best option for newcomers to this moment is Linux Mint. But if you have a very old laptop, then you can put an old dewdrop - it will fly!

The Linux Mint interface is made as if specifically to lure Windows users to your camp. And they succeed quite successfully. The green color itself is very attractive, but this is certainly not the most important thing.

Linux Mint has its own repository, which contains many interesting programs and utilities. But I think you need to try installing Linux Mint yourself to appreciate its beauty and power.

But unfortunately, my friendship with Linux Mint has not worked out lately; it stubbornly did not want to be friends with my hardware. (No longer relevant, the friendship has been renewed :) And besides, they abandoned the classic Gnome that I was so used to.

Popular Linux distributions

But to my joy, I found a wonderful alternative - Ubuntu 12.04 OEM from ualinux.com

2. My Linux today - Ubuntu OEM Pack

Ubuntu OEM is a build based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, but has additional ones (its own repositories) and, most importantly, classic Gnome.

Here are the main changes in the OEM Pack compared to the original distribution.

Everything is integrated official updates as of January 2013;
full support for Russian, Ukrainian and English languages;
full multimedia support (audio-video files various formats, such as: avi, divX, mp4, mkv, amr, aac, Adobe Flash and many others), as well as Bluray;
a full set of Libre Office components including support for importing MS Visio files;
3D effects control panel (including desktop 3D cube support);
applet for convenient removal of USB drives;
support for additional archive types (RAR, ACE, ARJ and others);
full support for Windows network and a convenient tool for setting it up;
expanded support for NTFS and BTRFS partitions;
support for multimedia keyboards;
comfortable graphics system Firewall management;
Java is present;
additional drivers for printers;
video device management system including web cameras.
(Ubuntu only) in addition to the standard Unity interface, also added Gnome Shell And Classic, the default desktop is Gnome Classic.

Personally, Ubuntu OEM Pack works fine for me on all three of my computers and everything is just like in good old Ubuntu. As they say, I use it myself and recommend it to you.

I think now it won’t be difficult for you to choose Linux to start your journey into the world of free OS...

3. And yet Linux Mint...

I eventually switched back to Linux Mint because the disadvantages of moving to new desktops disappeared and the system became stable. Personally, I chose Linux Mint Cinnamon. Mate is also a good desktop, but the names of some applications confuse me - Caja instead of Nemo and so on.

Cinnamon looks great and has been running consistently lately.

I recently reviewed Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon, described everything I like and what I don’t, you can read it. So far it's the best choice, in my opinion, I advise you to install this Linux, you won’t regret it :)

What other Linux can I choose?

But these are my preferences, which can change at any time. You have the opportunity to choose your Linux. You can download a new one every day and try it for “taste and color.”

The easiest way would be to install Linux first on virtual machine, and if you really liked it, you can install Linux on a flash drive and run it live.

But where can you find the Linux you need? There is a wonderful site that presents almost all Linux options, and even has a rating of their popularity. Remember this site - Distrowatch.com

If you want to choose Linux according to some parameters, then you can visit this page Distrowatch.com and according to the search conditions, select your option:

I set out to regularly download new distributions and run them on my computer, and then describe my feelings. If you are interested, then subscribe to my blog to receive the latest articles.

For now I have switched to pure Ubuntu with classic Gnome2 installed. In this article, I wrote in detail about how to install Ubuntu and then configure it in the best possible way.

The Linux.com website offered readers its version of the best distributions of the current year. However, for now this is not a statement of fact, but only a forecast based on a noticeable increase in the popularity of open solutions in both the corporate and consumer sectors.

1 Best Comeback: OpenSUSE

SUSE is one of the oldest developers of the Linux system. The company was founded a year after Linus Torvalds announced creating Linux. In fact, SUSE is even older than Red Hat.

Last year, the distribution developers made the most important decision for the development of the product - to bring openSUSE as close as possible to SUSE Linux Enterprise. Thus, openSUSE Leap is directly based on the SLE SP 1 codebase.

As a result of this step, openSUSE has become much more interesting for a potential user of a corporate system, since it will simplify the transition to it. But that is not all. The release of a special Tumbleweed distribution with continuous updates will allow you to stay up to date with the latest software.

Thus, the openSUSE user has the option of either running the stable version or installing the always up-to-date Tumbleweed. Thus, the solution has become truly universal.

2 Most Customizable Distro: Arch Linux

Arch Linux continues to outperform all other distributions in many ways. Therefore, it remains the choice of many experienced users.

It is an ideal choice for those who want to learn Linux. Since almost everything there is done manually, the user recognizes the structure of each operating system file.

Arch Linux is the most customizable distribution. It does not have “its own” desktop and default software set. After installation, the user receives only the “base” of the system, and does everything else independently. The result is a work environment that has everything you need and nothing you don't.

Arch Linux is the best of the releases with a continuous update cycle. The user can be sure that his system has the most current versions application software.

This distribution is also known for its excellent documentation. ArchWiki is one of the best sites for learning the Linux system.

In addition, Arch Linux is the richest repository. If the program runs on Linux, then it will almost certainly be found in the Arch User Repository.

3 The most beautiful distribution: Elementary OS

Different distributions are created for different purposes. Most often these are some technical features of the solution. The appearance of the desktop is a secondary matter.

The Elementary OS developers decided to try a different approach. The design has vital importance, and the reason for this is quite obvious - the system is created by designers. However, this concept has led to the fact that they choose for the system only applications that fit into the design of the original desktop. But you have to come to terms with this - the distribution is designed to be the most beautiful, not the most functional.

4 Best Debut: Solus

The distribution cannot complain about the lack of attention from users. Moreover, the attention is well deserved.

The system was created from scratch - not a derivative of Debian or Ubuntu. It's based on the Budgie desktop and features the same minimalism as Google Chrome OS.

Although, strictly speaking, this is not a new project at all. However, it was last year that it was revived under this name.

5 Best Cloud OS: Chrome OS

Chrome OS is not your typical Linux distribution. It is simply a browser based on the Linux operating system.

The solution is very convenient for daily use. It does not require maintenance, and the software is updated automatically without user intervention, since it is located on the server. A good choice for those who only need a computer for surfing the Internet.

6 Best Laptop OS: Ubuntu MATE

Most laptops are not particularly tall technical characteristics. Therefore, “heavy” desktop environments are contraindicated for such devices - they not only consume a lot of system resources, but also quickly drain battery power.

A good choice for a laptop is Ubuntu MATE. It's a lightweight desktop, but it has all the bells and whistles you need for a pleasant work experience. System resources are spent on application programs, and not on supporting the graphical environment itself.

7 Best distro for older hardware: Lubuntu

If you have an old laptop or PC, then don't throw it away. Perhaps the Lubuntu system will breathe new life into it.

For now, this distribution uses the LXDE desktop, but future versions plan to use LXQt, a project resulting from the merger of LXDE and Razor Qt. Thus, Lubuntu is the best choice for legacy hardware.

8 Best Distro for IoT: Snappy Ubuntu Core

Snappy Ubuntu Core

This solution is the best Linux system for the Internet of Things. It will make it possible to turn almost all the equipment around us into smart devices: routers, coffee makers, unmanned aerial vehicles...

What makes the distribution attractive is its efficient update management and the ability to use containers to improve security. Last feature is extremely relevant, since the very concept of IoT implies special attention to countering information threats.

9 Best Desktop Distro: Linux Mint Cinnamon

Linux Mint Cinnamon

Linux Mint Cinnamon is a universal system, perfect for both desktop computers, and for powerful laptops. It is often called Mac OS X in the Linux world.

For quite a long time, the use of Linux Mint was associated with certain problems due to the instability of the Cinnamon working environment. But everything changed as soon as the decision was made to use Ubuntu LTS as the basis and focus exclusively on developing the graphical interface itself.

10 Best distribution for games: Steam OS

Games have always been the weak point of the Linux desktop. A significant portion of users decided to save to Windows computer solely to be able to play.

Valve Software has decided to change this state of affairs. The Steam OS system allows you to run games on various platforms. The solution was brought to market at the end of last year.

11 Best Distro for Privacy: Tails

Observations of user actions are a real scourge of modern life. Privacy is slowly becoming a myth. Which led to the need for a system that ensures the confidentiality of information.

The best solution for this purpose: Tails. The distribution is based on Debian and offers the user tools to provide complete anonymity online. This solution is so effective that the NSA considers it a serious threat to their mission.

12 Best Multimedia Distro: Ubuntu Studio

Along with games, support for multimedia content is a weak point of Linux. Almost all applications aimed at professional users run on either Windows or Mac OS X.

However, there are also plenty of decent programs for similar purposes for Linux. And they are all collected in Ubuntu system Studio. The system uses lightweight Xfce as a desktop, which allows you to direct maximum computer resources to support work application programs.

13 Best Enterprise Distro: SLE/RHEL

Debian 8 with Numix icon theme

If you want to deploy a server but can't afford to pay for SLE or RHEL, then there is nothing better than Debian or CentOS. Essentially, these systems are the gold standard of a community-built server.

The systems are supported long enough that users do not have to worry about upgrading the software. This additional advantage makes the systems attractive not only for home users, but also for small businesses.

15 Best Mobile System: Plasma Mobile

Despite the fact that the main mobile OS today is Android, some users would like to have mobile device a traditional Linux system with a familiar set of applications. Moreover, they believe that the distribution should be developed not by a company, but by an independent community.

A suitable solution for them is KDE Plasma Mobile. A corresponding solution is being prepared within the Kubuntu project.

16 Best Distro for ARM: Arch Linux ARM

Arch Linux ARM on Raspberry PI

Success mobile system Android has given rise to a wide range of ARM devices, from the Raspberry Pi to the Chromebook to the Nvidia Shield. There are also specialized distributions for ARM, but they are designed for specific hardware. Like, for example, Raspbian for Raspberry Pi.

And only Arch Linux ARM is a universal system that can be installed on any ARM device. And thanks to the Arch User Repository, many applications are available that are not available in other distributions.

UPD. If you are a beginner and don’t know which distribution to choose, then we recently published especially for you new material: .

I have long wanted to figure out which one is the best best linux. I've tried a lot of them, but I can't quite decide yet. To be honest, I haven’t written articles on the topic of Linux operating systems for a long time. And this topic is very interesting for me. I would like to assume that many of you have heard about Linux at least once, and some have even installed it on your computer. Good afternoon, dear readers!
I, too, was previously among those who had only heard about him. However, one day back in 2009, one of my friends showed me the distribution kit Ubuntu and I was pleasantly amazed by the beauty of this operating system, as well as how it is designed and works. This was my first acquaintance with the world of Linux.
In this article I will try to describe the Linux distributions that I have encountered and talk about their advantages and disadvantages.

A little educational program on Linux

The Linux family is, of course, completely different operating systems. And it is worth noting one very important point - almost all Linux distributions are free and are developed and supported by enthusiasts. I think many of you noticed when you bought a laptop that a laptop with Linux on board costs an order of magnitude cheaper than the same one with Windows. However, this does not mean at all that Linux distributions belong to grade 2 operating systems. Not at all like that. Over the years, the development of operating systems based on the Linux kernel has made great progress, and now you can switch from Windows to Linux almost painlessly and not feel uncomfortable.

You can also look at this article Viber or viber? How to pronounce

For the average person, the absence of such an application as microsoft office, as well as unpopularity on these systems antivirus programs. Instead of Microsoft Office, Linux has a number of analogues, and one of the most famous is libre office. As for antiviruses, it is widely believed that very few viruses are written for Linux and, accordingly, the advisability of using an antivirus is questionable. This is very important for weak computers for which their resources are very important. I myself never installed antivirus software on the Linux systems I used and did not experience any problems in this regard.

The best linux. What is he like?

For me, the best Linux is most likely a distribution called Linux Mint, since it turned out to be the easiest to learn and get used to after Windows. But still, in the article I want to draw your attention to other popular distributions, namely:

Ubuntu
Linux Mint
Elementary OS

Ubuntu

As I already mentioned, the first operating system of the Linux family that I started using was Ubuntu. Back in 2009, the interface of this operating system was completely different and, to be honest, I liked it better. At least it was clearer. But in 2011, ubuntu developers decided to radically change the system interface and the unity graphical shell was introduced, which was more suitable for use on tablets and other touch screens. But on the screen regular computer This shell looked, to put it mildly, unusual and not very comfortable. This move turned away from Ubuntu some users and they went to other distributions. However, some users fell in love with the new shell and now simply cannot live without it, it turned out to be so convenient.

I liked it right away Ubuntu that it has its own application manager. I didn’t have to search all over the Internet for the program I needed; all I had to do was use this application manager to install the program I needed. I understand that everything is divided into categories and each program has comments and descriptions. Quite convenient, unlike Windows. Remember where you had to look for programs and games before.
Installation Ubuntu Unlike Windows, it happens quickly and without any problems. After installation, the system itself will prompt you to update components and drivers. There is no need to download them separately anywhere - everything happens centrally.

Linux Mint

WITH Linux Mint I met after Ubuntu added the unity shell instead of gnome 2. Mint took from Ubuntu the best and has been slightly modified.

The main advantage Linux Mint can be considered two graphical shells, namely mate and cinanmon.
I mentioned above that after the unity graphical shell appeared in Ubuntu many went to other distributions and just many went to Linux Mint, since this system suits them appearance was more common. Also, these shells are more familiar to those who have just switched from Windows and are just taking their first steps in the wonderful world of Linux.

Knoppix

I learned about this Linux even later. Oh, I even wrote once. Knopix is designed for so-called live flash drives. That is, it is completely installed and functions from a flash drive. Of course, it also provides the ability to deploy the system to a hard drive if desired. Knopix has a lot of programs for all occasions - system, multimedia and Internet. And most importantly, there are several analogues to choose from - several video players, several browsers. And so on. For every taste. It's such a nice system. Perfect for demonstrating the capabilities of Linux to uninitiated Windows fans.

Elementary OS

It would not be amiss to mention a fairly popular Linux distribution called Elementary OS. The developers position this system as:

Fast and open Windows replacement and macOS

Elementary OS is a simple, beautiful and convenient system. It seems like you're working in paid system. The product turned out to be so successful.

In terms of applications, the system has everything you need for comfortable work:

Pantheon Files is a file manager that supports multiple tabs
Midori is a very lightweight and cost-effective browser whose functionality can be expanded with add-ons
Scratch - a notepad for working with text files with autosave function
Shotwell - photo manager
Noise is an audio player with an emphasis on convenient management of large music catalogs
Empathy is a well-known instant messaging program from other distributions.
Geary Mail is very convenient and simple program for working with email
Maya - calendar, planner, task list
Plank - panel quick launch, located at the bottom of the desktop

And what is not available out of the box can be installed quickly and easily from the application center. Drivers can also be found without much difficulty in a couple of clicks. Elementary OS turned out to be very friendly and this is evidenced by her high place in the distrowatch rating.

Why choose Linux

Well if for home use then the main argument can still be considered the almost complete absence of viruses and, as a consequence, the refusal to use unnecessary antivirus. For enterprises or various organizations, the free nature of Linux and its wide variety may be a good argument. Almost everyone will find something to their liking. I like both of these points and I never tire of recommending to my friends to use Linux. This is almost an ideal option for many people for whom gaming is not their first priority.

Among the common disadvantages of all Linux systems, it can be noted that office documents made in Microsoft Office are not always displayed correctly on Linux. But this usually applies to complexly structured tables and other complex documents; usually, in most cases, problems do not arise.

And games. If you are an avid gamer, then Linux is definitely not for you. Only relatively recently has the problem with games on Linux begun to be solved, largely thanks to Valve and their brainchild Steam. Nowadays you can play many games on Linux that were simply unavailable for it just a couple of years ago. But still, most games have not yet been ported to Linux and this is a problem. So for whom it is critical, it is worth thinking about it and making the right decision for yourself.

Have you used Linux? How do you like it? Which distribution did you like best? Vote and write in the comments .

I hope that now you have decided for yourself which is the best Linux. And if you still haven’t decided :) then at least evaluate the statistics. That's all for today. All the best!

Linux is a thing that has always been interesting to me, from the moment I first learned about the existence of this OS. Even interest in Android appeared precisely because Linux. At that time, Android itself did not yet exist, there was only talk that Google was preparing its own mobile OS and Google Phone. But I got carried away, started tracking it, a little later I bought myself an HTC Hero, and a little later a site appeared, which at that time turned out to be the first site about Android in RuNet.

Let me make a reservation right away - much of what is written here will be very subjective. What is good for me is not a fact that it will suit you, but at the same time, I think that for many it will also be relevant and fair.

A long time ago

In general, I started trying Linux a long time ago, while still buying distributions on Gorbushka and Savelovsky. Right now Mandrake, Red Hat, Debian, then Ubuntu immediately come to mind. But it didn’t catch on; at that time the system was not for people, or rather not for the mass average user, but exclusively for geeks, and quite advanced ones at that. I wanted to play games and surf the Internet, which I couldn’t do with Linux. Those were still dial-up times, and then ADSL life with Stream. It was not possible to install drivers for my modem, and delving into the new complex OS without the help of the Internet seemed unrealistic, so I stayed on Windows.

Trying with Linux Mint

Now, with the release Microsoft Windows 10, I once again thought that it was time to change the main operating system, because I was no longer happy with Windows in its current form. I tried the Mac again, preparing to buy this toy, but once again I concluded that it was not for me. This system is even less convenient and less pleasant for me than Windows. But there are also different builds of Linux. It was decided to try Linux Mint, which at that time was externally designed to look like Windows 7. But again it didn’t catch on, I dabbled for a few days, configured what was required, but in the end the software shortage took its toll, and I couldn’t bring myself to get used to the new software , a long-term habit has won. However, Linux Mint, a slightly later version, took root on my mother's PC. True, now I didn’t like the appearance.

No matter how much I searched for GTK themes or icon packs, everything turned out somehow different. As a result, the search had to be continued. And the software package that comes with Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa seemed bloated. I wanted to find something even lighter in the sense that the kit would contain only very basic things and nothing more. But after Mint I realized that today Linux is already usable and suitable for me for most tasks.

Minimalism and beauty of Elementary OS

Having scoured the Internet, I came across Elementary OS Freya 0.3.2, in which this text is now being typed. Yes, this is something that I can safely recommend to beginners and those looking for something new.

Elementary OS is a minimalistic Linux distribution, minimalism can be seen in literally everything. Elementary OS, like Linux Mint, is based on Ubuntu 14.04. But, if it always seemed to me that Linux has a bad design of the OS itself, then Elementary OS made me fall in love with its appearance. I don’t want to go back to Windows, and I never liked the Mac design. Although, it is worth recognizing that it is noticeable that the Elementary designers were clearly inspired by the brainchild of Apple. But for my taste, in many aspects it turned out better than the original. Although there are also shortcomings, a decent number, but not critical.

The visual scheme has been carefully worked out, the icons are drawn in the same style, there is even a package of applications in the Elementary style so that they do not stand out. All sorts of photo viewers, calculator, calendar, audio player, video player, notepad, explorer and other essential programs for the average user are here out of the box, just in the style of the system. For many this will be enough. However, someone is unlikely to be able to live without installing third-party software. And these applications will already be highlighted in the system.

I would also like to say thank you to the developers for the animations. For almost every action we see something smooth and beautiful. Plus, Elemenatry OS itself turns out to be very fast. First, the download, which only takes a few seconds. Secondly, download all applications. If on Windows Chrome browser with a couple of dozen bookmarks it opens in a few seconds, but in Elementary OS it loads in a second. Likewise, for example, Opera or Vivaldi. Yes, here all applications open as if you maximized the window, taking out the program from random access memory, rather than downloading it from scratch. This is also very captivating and I don’t want to go back to Windows 10, which previously seemed fast.

Some conveniences of Linux and Elementary OS

In addition, after installation of the system, which takes less than ten minutes, the system is immediately ready for use. I didn’t have to download any drivers - everything works. This is definitely true if you install Elemenatary OS on an Asus Zenbook.

The console or terminal or, so to speak, the command line is one of strengths Linux. Still, it is often much faster and easier to do something by typing a command or several commands than by remembering where the desired setting or button is located or a program in which you need to click here or there with the mouse. What does it cost to update? installed applications via terminal. We typed “sudo apt-get update”, and then “sudo apt-get dist-upgrade”, the system updated the cache, polled the servers for new versions of all installed software, and then pulled up and installed the latest versions. You don't have to worry about package dependencies. You don’t need to download any additional frameworks to find out which libraries were missing and that the application didn’t start, as often happens in Windows. Here everything will happen without bothering the user. This is a system for geeks - it will understand and do everything itself.

Or, for example, if you need to install some kind of program, you tell the system almost in human language: “install program XXX,” and it does it. you need to delete - again the command in the terminal, the system will clean everything up itself, at least with the configuration files, at least leaving them.

Downloading and trying out themes, without reboots and other things. In general, reboots are required quite rarely.

I'm not talking about tools for developers. Everything here has been known for a long time.

Sometimes the lack of a desktop in the usual sense is confusing. It is here only for beauty. If desired, of course, it can be activated “fully”, but this is the philosophy of Elementary - asceticism and beauty.

Disadvantages of Elementary OS and Linux in particular

Of the minuses, of course, there is a shortage of software. It’s impossible to find a worthy alternative in Linux for every tool or product you used on Windows. Alas, until now. There is a replacement for almost everything, but it can be so poor that it will simply be impossible to use something analogous. For example, the same Dropbox client is deprived of most of its capabilities. Exactly those that make work faster, more productive and more convenient. Although it was even more difficult before, some progress and development are still visible.

The first step is to decide what you will use Linux for.

Before installing the system on your hard drive, you can try to run it in an emulator (virtualbox, qemu or any other) or write it to an optical disk/usb flash drive and boot from cd/dvd-rom/usb.

If you are a beginner and have never dealt with Linux, then it makes sense to install the distribution kit that a familiar Linux user has.

Now I will try to go over the most popular distributions and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Time-tested, old-school pieces

Knoppix

Debian

Gentoo

Source-based distribution. The distribution has a convenient package and dependency management system, which cannot be said about binary distributions.

The advantages are a huge amount of documentation, latest software versions, good hardware support, incredible flexibility in configuration.

http://www.gentoo.org/ - official website.

Slackware

The oldest distribution that has survived to this day, the choice of Russian physicists (meme from lore). Its main differences are the complete absence of any unnecessary embellishments and graphical settings, a simple text installer. All settings are made by editing text configuration files. This is one of those distributions that has maintained a strict adherence to UNIX principles. Try it if you are not afraid of the command line and prefer manual editing of configs to graphical utilities.

For a long time it was only available for x86 architecture, but now a version is available for x86_64

http://www.slackware.com/ - official website.

Arch Linux

Very similar to Slackware, but has a much more powerful package management system (pacman) and is more liberal with new package versions.

Among the disadvantages: the number of packages is smaller than in Debian and Gentu, the lack of such powerful configuration tools as, for example, YaST in Suse.

As an advantage, you can add a more relaxed attitude towards non-free packages than, for example, in Debian.

This is a general purpose distribution. Successfully used on both workstations and servers. But, like any other distribution, you need to get used to it.

Red-Hat/CentOS

A well-tested distribution that is more suitable for a server than a desktop.
CentOS differs from Red Hat only in the lack of support.

More popular

Ubuntu Linux

Probably the most popular Linux distribution in existence. Ubuntu is based on Debian Sid (unstable branch), but with more modern packages, including the latest version of GNOME.

One of the most interesting features is the fact that the "root" account is disabled by default; The first registered user after installation receives superuser rights using the "sudo" command.
Pros: large community of developers and users, fixed release schedule and support period, 'user friendliness' in the form of additional graphical customization tools, excellent work out of the box.
Cons: often unstable versions of software are used in stable releases of the distribution. Also disliked by some experienced users due to its obvious focus on housewives.

OpenSuse

Advantages: Professional attention to detail, easy to use YAST installation and configuration system.
Disadvantages: Like other distros developed in the US, media support out of the box is limited.

Fedora

Pros: extremely innovative, latest software versions, good localization.

Cons: Unstable versions of the software result in a number of bugs (redhat testbed).

ALT Linux

The server versions of the distribution place great emphasis on the security of network services. Pros: excellent Russian language support, good community support.

Cons: Not always the latest software.

Other

Solaris

A distribution developed in the depths of the company sun microsystems http://www.sun.com/, which gave the world such free products as mysql, virtualbox, java. In 2010, Oracle bought Sun and “went its own way.”

Better suited for desktop opensolaris - open version (the project was closed).

An operating system developed by Bell Labs to overcome fundamental design flaws in UNIX. All resources are represented as files and are available in a hierarchical file system.

xLFS

conclusions

This is not a complete list of Linux distributions. A detailed description of each distribution can be found on the website http://distrowatch.com/ or even on Wikipedia

But you should still choose a distribution based on personal preferences, and not based on its rating on some site or popularity.

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