New-User-Distros: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:54, 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	SteamOS
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+
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	SteamOS
Popular with new users	No	Yes	No	Yes
Low-spec HW	?	?	?	?
32-bit support	No	No	Yes	No
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 Plasma Distro
	Fedora+	Ubuntu	Xubuntu/Lubuntu	Linux Mint Cinnamon/Mate	Linux Mint Xfce	Debian Gnome/Mate	Debian Xfce/LxQt
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	?	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 38: / Line 38: @@
 !             !! Fedora KDE !! Kubuntu !! Debian KDE !! SteamOS
 |-
-| Widespread new user usage || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}}
+| Popular with new users || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}}
 |-
 | Low-spec HW || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}}
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 !           !! 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}}
+| Popular with new users || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}}
 |-
 | Low-spec HW || {{maybe|?}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe|?}} || {{yes}}