Linux is an interesting operating system in that unlike Windows, there’s not one specific “Linux”. There’s many different distributions, or “distros” of Linux, and they separate themselves in many ways. Some have special tools that only exist for that distro, many have special theming and branding to make them look a certain way, and different distros also target users with various levels of Linux knowledge, with some being very user friendly, and others being only for the most hardcore Linux nerds. This page aims to show off various distros of linux, so that you can decide what you want installed on your computer.
Linux Mint (Our Default)
– Looks and Feels similar to Windows
– Has very good support due to popularity
– Installing software is easy thanks to Software Manager
Cons:
– Can be a little too heavy for older systems
– Tends to receive updates slower and generally have slightly out of date software (although we attempt to make it up to date as much as we can)
Linux Mint attempts to mimic Windows in many ways, and also offers its own unique style in others. It tends to be very easy for newcomers to pick up, which makes it our default type of Linux to install on Linux computers if nothing is specified. It also makes installing software a breeze (which can’t be said for all Linux distros, due to how software works on Linux in general), with its built in Software Manager. It feels very nice to use, it tends to work with most computers out of the box, and it looks really nice. With all that elegance though, comes a catch: It tends to be a bit heavier then other Linux distros (still much more lightweight than Windows 10 though!), so for very low powered computers it may be better to choose a different distribution that’s more lightweight.
Xubuntu
– Lightweight and fast
– Also has good support within the Linux community due to Popularity
– “Software” app similar to Software Manager on Mint makes installing software easy
Cons:
– Can feel a bit less like Windows compared to Mint or other comparable distros
– Not as flashy of an appearance
Xubuntu is a distro more focused on being lightweight and no-frills. It keeps it’s graphical effects simple and sometimes a bit boring, but it’ll run well on almost anything you can throw it on. It has similarly good support to Mint and has a similar “Software” app that makes installing software easy. This would be a good choice if you wouldn’t mind getting used to a more foreign looking OS, and needed or wanted something lightweight and very much to the point.
ElementaryOS
– Very elegant look and feel, similar to MacOS in ways
– Has a software manager type application, making installing software easy
Cons:
– Community support can be a bit weaker then other distros
– Not very lightweight, can bog down older hardware
– Can be harder to get used to
ElementaryOS is a distro focused on style and appearance above other things, and it shows. It has a very nice desktop that feels nice to use, and everything looks nice. It gets updates a bit faster then Mint, and generally has good software support. It’s a bit heavy though, so you’ll want a pretty decent computer behind it to make sure it works well. It also has some interesting design choices that can make it harder to get used to at first, but if you put in the effort to learn how to use it, you won’t be disappointed.
MX Linux
– Very Lightweight
– Incredibly Configurable
– Tends to receive updates frequently
Cons:
– Not very similar to many OSes appearances and function by default, needs tweaking to feel more like Windows or MacOS
– Installing software is harder; No software store type application