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What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner - Programming - Nairaland

Nairaland ForumScience/TechnologyProgrammingWhat Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner (1251 Views)

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What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by kokoBoii(op):
I have never used Linux in my life before and I don't know anything about Linux....I want to start using Linux as my default OS and getting familiar with it...What distro would you suggest for a bloody noob like me? I don't want anything that looks like windows or reminds me of windows in anyway please..
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by qtguru(m): 8:03pm On Jul 19, 2023
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Jahzrockballer(m): 9:51pm On Jul 19, 2023
Pop OS
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by airsaylongcome: 2:46am On Jul 20, 2023
I'd say Debian
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by truthCoder: 5:59am On Jul 20, 2023
The tribal distro war of Linux warlords is loading.

I sell popcorn.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by emoboy4u: 7:17am On Jul 20, 2023
My pick would be Jumanji
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by silento(m): 7:53am On Jul 20, 2023
Debian or Ubuntu
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Purvan(m): 8:40am On Jul 20, 2023
Open suse
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by airsaylongcome: 10:34am On Jul 20, 2023
truthCoder:
The tribal distro war of Linux warlords is loading.

I sell popcorn.
Anyone going to this kind of war is not wise. E no dey put food for table. I have a strong preference for Debian and Ubuntu with Redhat and it's clones as second option. I'm mostly ssh'd into them anyway so no real value of one over another in terms of optics. With Redhat killing off other Enterprise, I'm kind of vindicated going with Debian as my preference
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Nobody: 10:47am On Jul 20, 2023
Fedora or Linux Mint
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Deicide: 8:21pm On Jul 21, 2023
I personally started with Ubuntu, the system I used it with back then wasn't compatible so I got so many issues especially with playing video files and lagging. Then I moved to 🦜 ParrotOs, not the Home version but the Hacking version 😅 Full package. For the 4 years I used that OS I could say I didn't do one hacking with it 😂 though I really enjoyed it and most things I know in Linux I learnt using the Os. Currently am using Arch Linux 🎩 and am enjoying it so far. It's been so long I touched a window system I wonder how things are there these days 🤔.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by qtguru(m): 8:56pm On Jul 21, 2023
Deicide:
I personally started with Ubuntu, the system I used it with back then wasn't compatible so I got so many issues especially with playing video files and lagging. Then I moved to 🦜 ParrotOs, not the Home version but the Hacking version 😅 Full package. For the 4 years I used that OS I could say I didn't do one hacking with it 😂 though I really enjoyed it and most things I know in Linux I learnt using the Os. Currently am using Arch Linux 🎩 and am enjoying it so far. It's been so long I touched a window system I wonder how things are there these days 🤔.
Is Arch Linux really that tough to configure ? I like my sanity, but I hear Arch has better performance and stability
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Deicide:
qtguru:
Is Arch Linux really that tough to configure ? I like my sanity, but I hear Arch has better performance and stability
It's not hard to setup if you follow the arch Wiki guide. Hell I setup my own while attending a morning lecture back then in School. These days arch ISO comes with an arch installer. So if you don't wanna do it manually you could follow that route.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by tollyboy5(m): 11:31pm On Jul 21, 2023
CentoS is always my favorite grin grin grin
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Adeoye11(m): 7:55pm On Jul 23, 2023
Infact I'm in that stage too now as the@ op
Please I would like to ask first:
When coming to Linux which distro is best?
I want to opt for either Debian or Ubuntu, but from videos have watched they advised that Ubuntu is better for a Linux beginner.
Second which is the most important in my question and it has been giving my headache please I would like to ask how should I download the Linux?
Should I download a virtual machine first before downloading the type of distro I prefer or I should just download a complete package of either Ubuntu or debian?
If am to download straight without first downloading the virtual machine won't I encounter problem while installing?
And finally what are the advantages of downloading the virtual machine and also what are the advantage of downloading directly without virtual machine.

I earnestly await the experts in the house.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by kokoBoii(op): 11:39pm On Jul 23, 2023
Adeoye11:
Infact I'm in that stage too now as the@ op
Please I would like to ask first:
When coming to Linux which distro is best?
I want to opt for either Debian or Ubuntu, but from videos have watched they advised that Ubuntu is better for a Linux beginner.
Second which is the most important in my question and it has been giving my headache please I would like to ask how should I download the Linux?
Should I download a virtual machine first before downloading the type of distro I prefer or I should just download a complete package of either Ubuntu or debian?
If am to download straight without first downloading the virtual machine won't I encounter problem while installing?
And finally what are the advantages of downloading the virtual machine and also what are the advantage of downloading directly without virtual machine.

I earnestly await the experts in the house.
I'm going with Ubuntu too... I'm planning on running it on an external hard drive....
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by KrazyDave16(m): 12:35am On Jul 24, 2023
Adeoye11:
Infact I'm in that stage too now
Not an expert per se, but here ya go.

When coming to Linux which distro is best?
No "best" distro, each got their own specific use.

I want to opt for either Debian or Ubuntu, but from videos have watched they advised that Ubuntu is better for a Linux beginner.
Ubuntu for beginners. There are other derivatives based on different desktop environments like K(DE)ubuntu and L(XDE)ubuntu.
Leave Debian for now. It's not the distro you want to start with as a beginner, given your skepticism.

Second which is the most important in my question and it has been giving my headache please I would like to ask how should I download the Linux?
Get a USB stick, flash it with Ventoy or Rufus (I prefer Ventoy). Boot into UEFI or BIOS, change the boot sequence to start with USB, guides already covers this.

Should I download a virtual machine first before downloading the type of distro I prefer or I should just download a complete package of either Ubuntu or debian?
Yes and yes if it's Ubuntu, else use a VM for any other distro like Debian. But still, let Debian be for now.

If am to download straight without first downloading the virtual machine won't I encounter problem while installing?
Some distro (emphasis on some) have this feature, where you either "test" it without doing the full installation to see what works or just install without testing. Ubuntu guides will have them installing without testing, quite normal.

And finally what are the advantages of downloading the virtual machine and also what are the advantage of downloading directly without virtual machine.
Both have its perks, though I prefer to have it on my main system.
With VM, you can experiment without nuking your system, amongst other reasons, though it has its drawbacks if you're using an average PC or worse, a potato.

For me, I keep a VM to test new things out for different distros and learning purposes, plus I can kamikaze the distro configs without worrying about nuking my system.

Since you're skeptical, best you do everything in a VM first before installing on your main system.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by truthCoder: 6:19am On Jul 24, 2023
KrazyDave16:
Not an expert per se, but here ya go.


No "best" distro, each got their own specific use.


Ubuntu for beginners. There are other derivatives based on different desktop environments like K(DE)ubuntu and L(XDE)ubuntu.
Leave Debian for now. It's not the distro you want to start with as a beginner, given your skepticism.


Get a USB stick, flash it with Ventoy or Rufus (I prefer Ventoy). Boot into UEFI or BIOS, change the boot sequence to start with USB, guides already covers this.


Yes and yes if it's Ubuntu, else use a VM for any other distro like Debian. But still, let Debian be for now.


Some distro (emphasis on some) have this feature, where you either "test" it without doing the full installation to see what works or just install without testing. Ubuntu guides will have them installing without testing, quite normal.


Both have its perks, though I prefer to have it on my main system.
With VM, you can experiment without nuking your system, amongst other reasons, though it has its drawbacks if you're using an average PC or worse, a potato.

For me, I keep a VM to test new things out for different distros and learning purposes, plus I can kamikaze the distro configs without worrying about nuking my system.

Since you're skeptical, best you do everything in a VM first before installing on your main system.
Great comment.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Adeoye11(m): 3:43pm On Jul 24, 2023
KrazyDave16:
Not an expert per se, but here ya go.


No "best" distro, each got their own specific use.


Ubuntu for beginners. There are other derivatives based on different desktop environments like K(DE)ubuntu and L(XDE)ubuntu.



I appreciate this !
I will download a VM before going for Ubuntu.
Although I use a dell vostro 5550 core i5.
Leave Debian for now. It's not the distro you want to start with as a beginner, given your skepticism.


Get a USB stick, flash it with Ventoy or Rufus (I prefer Ventoy). Boot into UEFI or BIOS, change the boot sequence to start with USB, guides already covers this.


Yes and yes if it's Ubuntu, else use a VM for any other distro like Debian. But still, let Debian be for now.


Some distro (emphasis on some) have this feature, where you either "test" it without doing the full installation to see what works or just install without testing. Ubuntu guides will have them installing without testing, quite normal.


Both have its perks, though I prefer to have it on my main system.
With VM, you can experiment without nuking your system, amongst other reasons, though it has its drawbacks if you're using an average PC or worse, a potato.

For me, I keep a VM to test new things out for different distros and learning purposes, plus I can kamikaze the distro configs without worrying about nuking my system.

Since you're skeptical, best you do everything in a VM first before installing on your main system.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by WombBreaker: 12:47pm On Jan 17, 2024
Install Gentoo
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by Kepukepu: 3:13pm On Jan 17, 2024
Ubuntu
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by silento(m): 3:57pm On Jan 17, 2024
Debian or Ubuntu , Ubuntu it makes things easy for u by default
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by molleculiari: 7:55am On Feb 19
I switched over because I wanted something smoother, and trying Linux through PCLinuxOS felt like slipping into comfy shoes after stiff boots. The rolling updates and built‑in apps saved me a bunch of setup time, and I liked not messing with the command line for basic stuff. The Dutch and Flemish community support came in handy when I hit small snags, so it never felt like I was on my own.
Re: What Linux Distro Would You Suggest For A Total Beginner by as69: 7:52am On Feb 20
For a total beginner, Linux Mint is hard to beat. It's based on Ubuntu so you get all the same software and community support, but the desktop feels more polished and intuitive out of the box. Everything just works — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, media codecs — without you having to hunt for drivers or run terminal commands.

Since you said you don't want something that looks like Windows, go with Mint Cinnamon edition. It has its own distinct look — clean, modern, and not trying to copy anyone. You can customize it heavily once you get comfortable.

Fedora is another solid option if you want something that stays closer to the cutting edge. Slightly more "developer-oriented" but still very beginner friendly with GNOME desktop.

Either way, install it on a USB first and try it live before committing. That way you can test everything without touching your current setup.
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