What is the best Linux distribution for newbies?

Question

Ok. I want to install linux on my second computer. What is the best free linux distribution in terms of:

- Relatively low system requirements
- Ease of use
- Support
- Security
- Compatability with windows programs

Thanks guys

Answer 1

Ubuntu is probably the best for beginners; however, Fedora Core is also easy to learn.

I'm not sure what Windows programs you plan on running but bear in mind you can't install stuff like MSOffice on a Linux box. You can get similar products for Linux, for example, Open Office, which work just as well.

Answer 2

So you don't know linux at all and you want to install it? Bad idea. Why don't you do something save and download a live version of linux - Ubuntu "workstation/deskop" edition, Knoppix, or Suse Live are the most popular distributions. You can then boot your system with the CD in the drive and go right into linux - NOTHING to install. When you are ready, and used to one of these, they have installers that will just copy over linux making the install easy.

Now, to answer some of your points

- Relatively low system requirements
Compared to Windows, they are all relatively low system requirements.

- Ease of use
Depends on perspective and what you start with. With Windows, you have Explorer which provides your start menu. In XWindows (Linux's version of Windows) you have KDE and Gnome as the most popular shells, but there are others. Gnome is generally considered the easiest. I prefer KDE as it's got more to it.

- Support
None. None have support. Unless you buy it. Otherwise, your support is limited to asking questions of people on the internet, preferrably in internet newsgroups and other (FAR BETTER) tech support sites than this one.

- Security
Is a relative term. How exactly do you want to secure it? The most secure distribution is going to be one running Security Enhanced Linux (SE Linux, sponsored by a US Government agency). Otherwise, they are all relatively secure if you keep them patched, same as windows. They are more secure then windows in that they don't have the same vulnerabilities that Windows does and don't run the same software.

- Compatability with windows programs
You're asking to run linux. Linux is NOT windows. This is like expecting your freezer to cook dinner for you - they both are used with food, but they do things radically different.

That said, you can install things like Wine which allows SOME windows programs to run, but NOT ALL - NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ALL. If you truly must have Windows apps, then you need to get yourself a copy of VMWare and run a virtual machine where you can install windows and run Windows and linux side by side. In fact, if you still want to install linux (as opposed to using the live CD), then you should consider getting Virtual PC or VMWare and creating a virtual machine to run linux in - that way you can run them both at the same time.

Answer 3

There are different platforms besides Ubuntu (although i ought to characterize it). you ought to inspect Debian, Fedora, Knoppix, pink Had, Slackware, Slax, Linux XP (no longer loose), purely to call some. For an at perfect informative and at worst tedious journey, you could inspect a a lot less-polished yet extra customizable and optimizable distributions like (at an severe) Gentoo. they're more durable to commence on and benefit skillability, yet they're strong for the person who codes classes besides as makes use of them.

Answer 4

Hi there.I am also a linux newbie so i use ubuntu linux.In my opinion it is the best distribution because you don't have to download it but you can order it for FREE via their website and they will send it worldwide free of charge via post office to your home and becuase it also supports 64 bit cpu

Answer 5

ubuntu is probably the best Linux to start off with.

Answer 6

Mandriva, for sure!