New-User-Distros: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:26, 5 February 2025

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In this list only distros which may be suitable for users with no experience with GNU/Linux (i.e., "new user") are considered. This is a curated list. Distros for more advanced users such as Arch are omitted from the list.

Distro variants are grouped together with the + symbol when they exhibit similar characteristics.

Installation

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

Non-KDE Plasma Distro
	Fedora+	Ubuntu+	Linux Mint+	Pop!_OS
Installer	Not easy	Easy	Easy	?
Dual Boot	Not easy	Easy	Easy	?
Multimedia codecs	Not easy	Easy	Easy	?

Usage

KDE Plasma Distro
	Fedora KDE	Kubuntu	Debian KDE
Popular with new users	No	Yes	No
Low-spec HW	?	?	?
32-bit support	No	No	Yes
Proprietary software availability	?	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
Nvidia Driver Support (Gaming)	?	?	?

Non-KDE Plasma Distro
	Fedora+	Ubuntu	Xubuntu/Lubuntu	Linux Mint Cinnamon/Mate	Linux Mint Xfce	Debian Gnome/Mate	Debian Xfce/LxQt	Pop!_OS
Popular with new users	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 availability	?	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	?
Nvidia Driver Support (Gaming)	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 |+ style="text-align: left;" | KDE Plasma Distro
 |-
-!           !! Fedora KDE !! Kubuntu !! Debian KDE !! SteamOS
+!           !! Fedora KDE !! Kubuntu !! Debian KDE
 |-
-| Installer process || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Installer process || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}}
 |-
-| Dual boot || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Dual boot || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}}
 |-
-| Multimedia codecs || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Multimedia codecs || {{no|Not easy}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{no|Not easy}}
 |}
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 |+ style="text-align: left;" | KDE Plasma Distro
 |-
-!             !! Fedora KDE !! Kubuntu !! Debian KDE !! SteamOS
+!             !! Fedora KDE !! Kubuntu !! Debian KDE
 |-
-| Popular with new users || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}}
+| Popular with new users || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}}
 |-
-| Low-spec HW || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Low-spec HW || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}}
 |-
-| 32-bit support|| {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}}
+| 32-bit support|| {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}}
 |-
-| Proprietary software availability || {{maybe|?}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Proprietary software availability || {{maybe|?}} || {{yes|Easy}} || {{maybe|?}}
 |-
-| New user onboarding || {{no}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{no}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| New user onboarding || {{no}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{no}}
 |-
-| New user online documentation || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| New user online documentation || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe|?}}
 |-
-| Update stability || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Update stability || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
 |-
-| Customization || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Customization || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
 |-
-| Cutting edge software || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Cutting edge software || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}}
 |-
-| Nvidia Driver Support (Gaming) || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}}
+| Nvidia Driver Support (Gaming) || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}}
 |}