4 Recommended Linux Distributions for Beginners in 2024
2024-03-03
2024-03-03
This article is the English version of the Japanese article titled ‘2024年版 初心者にオススメのLinuxディストリビューション 4選’.
For those new to Linux
Why not try Linux?
For many people, a personal computer (PC) and its operating system (OS) are one and the same, and they may not have thought of them as separate entities. It is common for PCs to be sold with Windows installed at electronics stores, and it is common for Mac users to buy PCs with MacOS installed. However, the OS (operating system) of a PC can be freely replaced. The Linux introduced this time is just one of many operating systems.
It is very rare to install Linux by itself, so it is distributed in the form of a Linux distribution that bundles Linux (kernel) and peripheral software. Linux distributions are distributed by various organizations for free or for a fee, and we can freely choose and use them. There are a huge number of Linux distributions, so it is difficult for beginners to choose the appropriate one. In this article, we have selected distributions that can be used as everyday PCs even by those who are new to Linux. We would be very honored if this article can be a trigger for your Linux life.
Linux is not just for experts and enthusiasts
If you think of Linux as something that system experts and programmers use to type commands into a black screen, right? If you feel this way, I hope you will read this article and actually try Linux. Linux (or more accurately, Linux distributions) is no longer just for system experts or PC enthusiasts, but can be easily installed on everyday PCs. Linux can do many things that Windows and Macs can do. It can be used to surf the web, create documents, watch videos and listen to music, create art, do DTM, and many other things.
Is Linux an inferior version of a paid OS?
I often see sites that introduce Linux advertising it as a “free OS,” emphasizing that it can be used for free, but I am concerned that this will fix the simplistic image that Linux is free. There are certainly many things that can be used for free, but that is only the result of Linux (and other software) being distributed under a “free” license. In fact, enterprise Linux distributions that companies run for business purposes are paid. Please keep in mind that Linux is in no way a “system that is inferior to paid OSes that can be used for free,” but rather that because of its freedom, developers from all over the world can participate in its development, and it is an OS that can be distributed for free or for a fee.
Distribution Selection Criteria
When selecting a distribution for beginners, we took the following points into consideration. For those who are not particularly familiar with systems but want to switch from Windows to Linux, and for those who are interested in Linux and want to try it out, we selected one that requires as little configuration as possible and can be used with the initial settings.
- Easy to install
- Able to display Japanese without configuration
- Able to input Japanese without configuration
- Software installation can be done with a GUI
- System configuration can be done with a GUI
- System updates can be done with a GUI
- Free and easy to obtain
Ubuntu
| Package format | DEB |
| Package management | APT |
| Standard desktop environment | Customized GNOME Official flavors are available |
| Release method | Fixed release |
Table 1. Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a distribution developed with the goal of “providing a modern and stable system that is easy for anyone to use.” It was created as a derivative of Debian and is being developed with the support of Canonical, a company founded by Mark Shuttleworth. Ubuntu has its own packages and is not binary compatible with Debian packages.
Ubuntu has an all-in-one environment immediately after installation, and a desktop environment that is easy to use even for people who are not familiar with systems, so when it was released, it attracted a lot of attention and increased its share in desktop use. It is no exaggeration to say that the reason there are so many Debian-based distributions today is because of Ubuntu. Ubuntu itself has also spawned many derivatives, and it is no longer uncommon to hear it referred to as a Debian/Ubuntu derivative.
As a writer, I recommend Ubuntu to beginners who want to try Linux but don’t know what’s good. If you don’t take the Japanese part into consideration, there are many other distributions I would like to recommend, but to be honest, when it comes to distributions that take the Japanese environment into consideration and have a lot of information in Japanese on the Internet, there is nothing that can beat Ubuntu at the moment. If you are interested in Linux but are a little unsure, try installing Ubuntu. I’m sure you’ll like it.
Linux Mint
| Package format | DEB |
| Package management | APT |
| Standard desktop environment | Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce |
| Release method | Fixed release |
Table 2. Linux Mint
Linux Mint is a distribution derived from Ubuntu that aims to provide users with a more user-friendly, modern and sophisticated environment. Today, there are two types: Ubuntu-based and Debian-based (LMDE: Linux Mint Debian Edition). If you don’t have any particular preference, we recommend the Ubuntu-based (regular version). It also supports multimedia and claims to be “ready to use right out of the box.” It is equipped with its own Mint Tool, which is not available in Ubuntu, and is designed to make settings and system updates easy.
The Linux Mint project is particular about the desktop environment and has created the Cinnamon and MATE desktop environments. I think that its sophisticated design will be appreciated by users who are familiar with Windows. Like Ubuntu, Linux Mint also has a forum where you can ask questions in Japanese, so even beginners will find it easy to get information. However, there are some problems when upgrading between versions, so if you are unsure about Ubuntu, I think it is a good idea to get used to Ubuntu before trying Linux Mint.
As far as the author has used the Japanese environment, Japanese display and input during and after installation have been used without any problems.
In my opinion, this project conveys the intention to provide a modern and easy-to-use system. On the other hand, since it has more proprietary tools than Ubuntu, when a problem occurs, it may be difficult to deal with it using only the Ubuntu information that is available on the Internet, and search skills may be required. Linux Mint is a distribution with many fans in Japan, so I think it can be recommended as a distribution for beginners to try for the first time.
Debian
| Package format | DEB |
| Package management | APT |
| Standard desktop environment | Select from GNOME, KDE, Xfce, etc. |
| Release method | Fixed release |
Table 3. Debian
Debian is a distribution provided by the Debian project, which was started by Ian Murdock (1973-2015). The project upholds the Debian Social Contract and aims to provide a system composed of free (not free, but liberty) software. It is a project that has been going on for over 30 years and maintains a major presence in the current IT industry. Ubuntu was also born as a derivative distribution of Debian. In the past, the project was conservative and strict, emphasizing the principle of free over practical aspects, but in recent years, it has become more flexible, such as changing the Debian social contract to allow non-free firmware to be included in the installation media.
Compared to Ubuntu, it is composed of older and more stable packages. Therefore, it is said to be a stable and robust system. On the other hand, while Ubuntu includes proprietary and non-free packages in the system, Debian’s basic policy is not to include them in the main body (they are provided as third parties), so it is inferior to Ubuntu in terms of user usability.
From the perspective of a desktop OS, the introduction of non-free packages is essential, especially in the field of multimedia, so it is time-consuming to manually add repositories, and I think this is a point that feels more troublesome than Ubuntu, which includes non-free and proprietary packages.
Regarding the Japanese environment, there are no particular problems with displaying and inputting Japanese during and after installation.
I really like the philosophy of Debian, but at the same time, I think that in practical terms, it is sometimes inconvenient because it is bound by that philosophy. It can be used without any problems for purposes such as surfing the web with a browser or studying programming, and I think that by using Debian, you will naturally become aware of things like the difference between free and non-free packages, so it is not a loss at all. Debian was once said to be difficult for beginners, but the barrier to entry has been lowered considerably. Why not give it a try?
OpenSUSE
| Package format | RPM |
| Package management | YaST(yast2) / zypper |
| Standard desktop environment | Select from GNOME, KDE, Xdce, etc. |
| Release method | Leap: Fixed release Tumbleweed: Rolling release |
Table 4. OpenSUSE
OpenSUSE is a distribution jointly developed by the community with the support of SUSE and the business-oriented SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE). The package format is RPM, and the package management tools are YaST (GUI) and Zypper (command line). Like other distributions originating in Europe, OpenSUSE has been focusing on the GUI configuration screen, and YaST, the heart of OpenSUSE’s management tools, serves as a control center that allows not only package management but also system configuration with a GUI.
It is quite friendly when it comes to Japanese, and there is no particular difficulty in Japanese during or after installation, and it can be displayed and entered naturally.
At the time of writing (February 2024), OpenSUSE is released in two main types: Leap and Tumbleweed. Leap is composed of stable packages and is released in a fixed release format with a fixed version. In contrast, Tumbleweed is composed of newer packages and is released in a rolling release format. For beginners, I recommend using Leap, which is well tested and composed of stable packages. If you get used to it and are confident in dealing with problems, you may want to try Tumbleweed. Rolling releases offer a comfort that fixed releases do not.
My impression is that it is a versatile distribution that can handle anything. It can be used as a regular desktop, as a development machine, or for studying programming. I think it is a good idea to choose OpenSUSE as your first Linux distribution.
Summary
If you think Linux might be a little difficult, but you want to try it out, why not try it with the distributions introduced in this article? If you get used to it and want to try other distributions, we’ve also introduced the following article.