5 Linux Distros For Beginners
Summary
TLDRThis video introduces five beginner-friendly Linux distributions for those seeking alternatives to Windows. Pop!_OS offers a familiar yet distinct experience with its Cosmic desktop environment. Linux Mint provides a Windows-like interface with Cinnamon, while SolydXK offers a modern design with rounded corners and accessibility features. Ubuntu, with its wide range of flavors, is still a solid choice for beginners and enterprises. Fedora, though seemingly advanced, is also beginner-friendly with its frequent updates and strong community support. The video encourages viewers to try out the distro that appeals to them the most.
Takeaways
- ๐ค Microsoft's constant updates and privacy concerns may prompt users to consider switching to Linux.
- ๐ง Linux offers a vast array of distributions, which can be overwhelming for beginners.
- ๐ Pop!_OS is a user-friendly distribution with a familiar interface and the Cosmic desktop environment.
- ๐ ๏ธ Pop!_OS features global search, workspaces, and excellent Nvidia support out of the box.
- ๐๏ธ Software installation on Pop!_OS is straightforward via the built-in software manager.
- ๐ฑ Linux Mint provides a traditional Windows-like experience with the Cinnamon desktop environment.
- ๐ง Linux Mint is equipped with a suite of programs for office work and PDF viewing, along with customization options.
- ๐จ Sorin OS offers a modern design with rounded corners and accessibility features, balancing familiarity with innovation.
- ๐ Ubuntu is a beginner-friendly and enterprise-ready distribution with a large community and multiple variants.
- ๐ง Fedora, while not always recommended for beginners, offers a default GNOME experience with frequent updates.
- ๐ All mentioned distributions support a live environment for testing and can be installed alongside Windows.
Q & A
What is the main issue discussed in the video regarding Microsoft's updates?
-The video discusses the frustration with Microsoft's constant updates that include unnecessary features and potential privacy concerns.
Why might someone consider switching to Linux?
-People might consider switching to Linux due to issues with Windows updates, hardware compatibility, or the desire to experience a new and exciting operating system.
What is Pop!_OS and how does it differ from Windows?
-Pop!_OS is a Linux distribution that offers a different look from Windows but maintains basic functionalities. It uses its own desktop environment called Cosmic, which is being reworked for improved user experience.
What is unique about the Cosmic desktop environment in Pop!_OS?
-The Cosmic desktop environment in Pop!_OS features a global search functionality, tiling functionality for windows, and seamless workspace switching, which is more efficient than Windows' virtual desktops.
Why is Pop!_OS notable for its Nvidia support?
-Pop!_OS is notable for its Nvidia support because it installs the necessary drivers plug-and-play, unlike other distributions that may rely on proprietary drivers.
How does the software installation process work on Pop!_OS and other Linux distributions mentioned?
-Software can be installed via the inbuilt software manager, where users can search for the desired app and download it if available.
What is Linux Mint and how does it compare to Windows?
-Linux Mint is a beginner-friendly Linux distribution that offers a familiar Windows-like experience with its Cinnamon desktop environment, making it easy for users to transition.
What are some additional features of Linux Mint that are not found in Windows?
-Linux Mint includes features like hot corners for triggering actions, an overview of workspaces, and a theme browser for customization, which are not typically found in Windows.
What is Sorin OS and how does it differ from other Linux distributions?
-Sorin OS is a Linux distribution with a modern design approach, offering a balance between the familiar Windows 10 design and a more efficient workspace approach. It also has better support for Windows apps out of the box.
Why might Ubuntu be recommended for beginners and enterprises?
-Ubuntu is recommended for beginners and enterprises due to its close resemblance to Microsoft solutions, great hardware and software support, a large community, and the availability of different 'flavors' for different needs.
What is Fedora and how does it stand out among other Linux distributions?
-Fedora is a Linux distribution that offers a default GNOME experience, great software support, and frequent updates. It is also the base for specialized distributions like Nobara and is known for being well-supported.
How can one try out a Linux distribution without installing it?
-One can try out a Linux distribution using a live environment, which allows running the distribution off a USB stick or another medium without installing it.
What is the recommended tool for flashing Linux installation files?
-The Fedora Media Writer is recommended for flashing Linux distribution installation files, as it can handle any Linux distro provided.
Outlines
๐ง Introduction to Linux for Beginners
The video script introduces viewers to five Linux distributions suitable for beginners who may be dissatisfied with Microsoft's Windows updates, privacy concerns, or the inability to run Windows 11 on older hardware. The first distribution highlighted is Pop!_OS, praised for its user-friendly interface resembling Windows, yet offering unique features such as the Cosmic desktop environment, global search functionality, and excellent Nvidia support. The script emphasizes the ease of software installation and customization options available in Pop!_OS.
๐ฟ Linux Distributions Overview and Recommendations
The script continues by discussing four additional Linux distributions: Linux Mint, which offers a familiar Windows-like experience with additional features like Hot Corners; Sorin OS, noted for its modern design and efficient workspace approach; Ubuntu, a widely recommended distribution with strong community support and various 'flavors'; and Fedora, which, despite not being the most beginner-friendly, offers frequent updates and robust software support. The video concludes by emphasizing that the best distribution is subjective and depends on personal preference, and encourages viewers to try the ones that interest them the most.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กLinux distributions
๐กPop!_OS
๐กDesktop environment
๐กWindows 11
๐กHardware support
๐กSoftware manager
๐กCustomization
๐กUbuntu
๐กFedora
๐กLive environment
๐กDual boot
Highlights
Microsoft's constant system updates with unnecessary features and privacy concerns may prompt users to consider switching to Linux.
Linux offers a vast array of distributions, which can be overwhelming for beginners.
Pop!_OS is a Linux distribution that resembles a casual Windows experience, offering basic functionalities with a unique look.
Pop!_OS features its own desktop environment called Cosmic, which is being completely reworked for enhanced functionality.
Cosmic includes a global search functionality for launching applications and finding settings, similar to macOS.
Pop!_OS has great tiling functionality for efficient window management and is known for its excellent Nvidia support.
Linux Mint provides a traditional Windows-like experience with its Cinnamon desktop environment.
Linux Mint is beginner-friendly with a suite of programs for office work, PDF viewing, and an easy-to-understand settings app.
Sorin OS offers a modern design with rounded corners and custom icons, balancing familiarity with Windows and a unique workspace approach.
Sorin OS comes with better support for Windows apps, redirecting users to necessary applications for compatibility.
Ubuntu is a Linux distribution that is close to Microsoft solutions, offering great hardware and software support.
Ubuntu has many variants or 'flavors', each with a different desktop environment, such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu.
Fedora is a Linux distribution that may not seem beginner-friendly but offers a default GNOME experience with frequent updates.
Fedora serves as the base for specialized Linux distributions like Nobara, which is gaming-oriented.
Choosing the best Linux distribution depends on personal preference and how well it fits the user's needs and workflow.
All mentioned Linux distributions come with a live environment, allowing users to run them from a USB stick or other media.
For those wanting to try Linux alongside Windows, Fedora Media Writer is recommended for flashing installation files.
Transcripts
are you sick of Microsoft constantly
updating your system with features that
you don't need and in some cases even
include massive privacy concerns maybe
you have a PC or laptop that isn't
approved to run Windows 11 even though
it technically could run it or you just
want to experience something new and
exciting if you're considering switching
to Linux then you're often smacked in
the face with its vast number of
variants and flavors so in today's video
I'm going to show you five Linux
distributions for absolute big beginners
the first one on our list is the Linux
distribution popos yeah the one that
line is nuked a couple of years back pop
OS is not your casual Windows Experience
but don't let that fool you while it
looks slightly different you can expect
all your basic functionalities like
snapping your windows being able to
quickly adjust your audio access your
network and Bluetooth devices as well as
launch apps via the imput Apple launcher
if you don't like its default looks then
you can change the taskbar style or the
placement of the topper tools in the
settings or through the guide that
automatically pops up after you first
log in no pun intended popos utilizes
its own desktop environment called
Cosmic which at the moment of making
this video is completely being reworked
from the ground up it features a global
search functionality which you can also
use to launch applications find certain
settings or similar like on Mac OS
interact with some applications like the
calculator and it's placing fast at that
you also get access to sever several
workspaces on Windows known as virtual
desktops which you can quickly switch
between a functionality that is very
suitable for single monitor setups like
a laptop screen and it just works way
more seamless than the windows
counterpart unlike many other Linux
desktop environments popos Cosmic also
has great tiling functionality meaning
that all of your open Windows get split
into certain areas which can then be
moved grouped together and so on popos
is also outstanding because of its very
good Nvidia support which unlike a MD or
Intel still rely on their own
proprietary driver which popos just
installs plug-in play if you choose the
right installation method if you have
more exotic Hardware then you can also
download their firmware in the settings
menu software on popos and also all the
other Linux distributions later on in
this video can be installed via the
inbuilt software manager you simply open
it search for the app you want and
download it if it's available couldn't
be simpler let's move on to a more
traditional Windows like experience
Linux Mint now as you can see by default
it looks kind of like Windows 10 but
reimagined in its own style with the
desktop environment cinnamon mint is the
go-to Linux distribution that you often
see being advertised online and for good
reason it comes with a small but good
Suite of programs suited for office work
viewing or editing PDFs and an easy to
understand Settings app which doesn't
overwhelm you its familiar taskbar the
overall feel of the desktop itself and
its settings makes for an easy
transition but it also packs a lot of
additional features that you won't find
on Windows for example hot Corners which
can trigger many different actions
including this overview which I really
like Linux Mint also comes with
different customization options which
you can further extend by an inbuilt
theme browser since drivers on Linux
work differently than they do on Windows
and usually come in the kernel Linux
Mint offers a more bleeding edge version
on the website so that your new and
beautiful graphics card can also work
properly pretty awesome stuff Sor noas a
more modern design approach with rounded
Corners custom icons and great
accessibility sorin o strives to be
simple by striking a balance between the
known and loved Windows 10 and Below
design philosophy and the more unusual
but very helpful workspace approach it
comes with a selection of different
customization templates for you to use
the screenshot and recording menu and
essentially everything you do feels very
efficient and smooth sorin o also comes
with better support for Windows apps out
of the box as it automatically redirects
you to the necessary application needed
to run them while you could install the
wine dependency on any Linux
distribution it's pretty awesome that on
this dis R you don't even have to look
it up since s OS is built on the desktop
environment gnome you can also create
custom rightclick templates to quickly
generate files that are already
formatted in the way that you want and
you you can also connect to it remotely
without much effort next on the list is
of course Ubuntu and while many in the
Linux Community don't recommend it
anymore due to some of canonical's past
choices one thing is still clear it's
still a great Linux distribution for
beginners but also Enterprises which are
looking to switch to Linux on Ubuntu you
are the closest to Microsoft Solutions
which is kind of a blessing but also a
curse but nonetheless it works you
install it have great hardware and
software support a big Community behind
it and it also comes in many different
variants called flavors that's right
Ubuntu is not just a typical gnome
experience as you might know it there is
also the KD plasma version called
kubuntu Ubuntu Bachi cinnamon the same
desk of environment like Linux Mint
unity and many more the default one is
being built on the latest and greatest
release of The Gnome T environment and
you get access to a very nice looking
overview in different workspaces a big
app menu with inbuilt directory support
and in my opinion pretty nice looking
icon theme it's also the base
distribution of popos Linux Min and SOS
by the way and last but not least there
is Fedora now Fedora might not seem like
a beginner's distribution at first and
in some sense that's true as it doesn't
come with all video codex for Hardware
acceleration on AMD anymore in practice
however if you don't have a laptop with
an inbuilt AMD GPU that drains your
power because of this then what you get
is a Linux distribution that comes with
a default gnome experience has great
software support out of the box and gets
updated very frequently Fedora also
serves as the base of some specialized
gaming oriented Linux distributions like
nobara and just like Ubuntu has a very
big Community behind it it's also the
distribution that I use on my Microsoft
Surface and my main gaming PC all right
then which want's the best well honestly
there isn't one poos and Linux Mint are
both very beginner friendly by offering
great Hardware support and their own
design philosophy sorin no is for you if
you like a traditional taskbar approach
and a modern and simplistic design
Ubuntu is the good old stuff that sure
has barked some controversies especially
around the software packaging format
they use but in the end none of this is
really a concern for you Fedora is the
one if you want the default test
environment experience while still being
updated and well supported however some
distributions that are based of it might
even be better if you use it for a
specialized use case in today's video
you have seen a couple of different
Linux distributions that each have their
own designs workflows and features but
which one you choose is entirely up to
you there is no best Linux distribution
since all that matters in the end is how
it feels and if you like it so go ahead
pick the one that you found the most
interesting and try it out all of the
mentioned Linux distributions today come
with a life environment meaning that you
can run them off the USB stick or
whatever other medium you use to install
it if you want to go a step further then
you can also install Linux side by side
to Windows but make sure that it detects
it before you format your whole drive if
you need a program to flash your
installation files then I recommend the
Fedora media writer which can Flash any
Linux distri you put into it and yeah
that's it five Linux distributions for
absolute beginners let me know down in
the comments which one you want to try
out if you've liked this video then
please make sure to show it with a like
and don't forget to subscribe to the
channel so you don't miss out on any
more Linux videos thank you so much for
watching and all that's left to say now
is good morning good afternoon or good
evening wherever you are I'll see you
around
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)