The Linux operating system is becoming more and more popular every year. Its undoubted advantages include high operational reliability and lack of licensing. Having decided to try working with Linux, the user is faced with a difficult choice - which distribution to use?
Instructions
Step 1
Unlike the Windows operating system, which has very few variations, Linux offers a wide range of distributions. They differ in about the same way as passenger cars of the same class differ from each other. In Linux, the user can try several distributions and choose the one that he likes.
Step 2
The list of distributions is very long, the most popular are: Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, OpenSUSE, Gentoo, ALTLinux, ASPLinux, Mandriva. All of them have their own merits and demerits, with the system friendliness coming to the fore for the novice Linux user. The operating system should easily and quickly install on the computer, "see" all the hardware and start working without additional settings.
Step 3
One of the most beginner-friendly distributions is Ubuntu. Supported by a large community of users, this Linux variant is easy to install and does not have a tricky start when working with it. In particular, the OS correctly detects disks, including those with the NTFS file system. This means that you will have access to all the files that you worked with in Windows XP and Windows 7. It is Ubuntu that can be recommended for the first acquaintance with Linux.
Step 4
When choosing a Linux distribution, carefully read its description, look at the screenshots. Pay attention to what desktops are present in the distribution. The desktop is a graphical shell that determines the appearance of the OS, its menus and part of the programs used. For Linux, the main graphical shells are Gnome and KDE. Windows users will be more familiar with the KDE desktop. Compared to Gnome, it has more customization options.
Step 5
Since version 11.10, the aforementioned Ubuntu distribution has a new Unity graphical shell instead of Gnome. Despite many interesting solutions, it is very peculiar and not everyone will like it. The KDE desktop version of Ubuntu is called Kubuntu. One of the great things about Ubuntu and Kubuntu is that you can try these operating systems by running them directly from the installation disc. The distributions themselves are available for free download:
Step 6
The undoubted advantage of Linux is that this system is open source and can be customized as the user needs. The Gentoo distribution has the maximum customization options. Its main feature is that the user builds his own distribution, optimized for specific equipment. This provides a performance boost, which is why Gentoo can rightfully be called the fastest Linux distribution. But for a beginner, it is difficult to master, so it is better to look for other options to get acquainted with Linux.
Step 7
OpenSUSE is a very good Linux distribution. This OS was developed in Germany, therefore it is distinguished by true German quality, high reliability of work. Has a large number of fans all over the world. The Debian distribution is no less popular. Its releases come out quite rarely, but they are highly stable.
Step 8
There are also Russian Linux distributions - for example, ASPLinux and ALTLinux. After proper configuration, they work quite normally, the installation process is a lot like a lottery - for someone everything is installed and works perfectly, someone has to "conjure" after installation, achieving normal system operation. Therefore, it is still better to opt for distributions used all over the world.
