New-User-Distros: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:07, 5 February 2025

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In this list only distros which may be suitable for new users are considered. This is a curated list focused on new users and distros for more advanced users such as Arch are omitted from the list. Distro variants with similar characteristics are grouped together and are represented by the + symbol in the column header next to the distro.

The term "new user" is intended to mean those with little or even no experience with GNU/Linux.

Installation

KDE

KDE Plasma Distro
	Fedora KDE	Kubuntu	Debian KDE	SteamOS
Installer process	Not easy	Easy	Not easy	?
Dual boot	Not easy	Easy	Not easy	?
Multimedia codecs	Not easy	Easy	Not easy	?

Non-KDE

Non-KDE Distro
	Fedora+	Ubuntu+	Linux Mint+
Installer	Not easy	Easy	Easy
Dual Boot	Not easy	Easy	Easy
Multimedia codecs	Not easy	Easy	Easy

Usage

KDE

KDE Plasma Distro
	Fedora KDE	Kubuntu	Debian KDE	SteamOS
Widespread usage	No	Yes	No	Yes
Low-spec HW	?	?	?	?
Proprietary software	Not easy	Easy	?	?
New-user onboarding	No	?	No	?
New-user online documentation	Yes	Yes	?	?
Update stability	No	Yes	Yes	?
Customization	Yes	Yes	Yes	?
Cutting edge software	Yes	No	No	?

Non-KDE

Non-KDE Distro
	Fedora+	Ubuntu	Xubuntu/Lubuntu	Linux Mint Cinnamon/Mate	Linux Mint Xfce	Debian Gnome/Mate	Debian Xfce/LxQt
Widespread usage	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Low-spec HW	?	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes
32-bit support	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Proprietary software	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
New-user onboarding	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	?	?
New-user online documentation	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	No	No
Update stability	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Customization	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Cutting edge software	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 !           !! Fedora KDE !! Kubuntu !! Debian KDE !! SteamOS
 |-
-| Installer || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Installer process || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
 |-
-| Dual Boot || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Dual boot || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
 |-
 | Multimedia codecs || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 === Non-KDE ===
-{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
+{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; margin-left: 0px;"
 |+ Non-KDE Distro
 |-
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 === KDE ===
-{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
+{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; margin-left: 0px;"
 |+ KDE Plasma Distro
 |-
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 === Non-KDE ===
-{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
+{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; margin-left: 0px;"
 |+ Non-KDE Distro
 |-