Which distribution for a newbie?

Ubuntu MATE 16.04.2

I think Manjaro is not mentioned yet. It's a Linux Distro that is based on Arch Linux. You could choose from different type of environment:

Manjaro XFCE:
Manjaro Xfce 17.0 Gellivara is delivered with the Manjaro's own dark theme as well as the current Xfce 4.12. The default kernel was updated to linux49 4.9 LTS, the Xorg stack to the 1.19 series.

Manjaro KDE:
Manjaro KDE 17.0 Gellivara is delivered with the Manjaro's own dark KDE Theme as well as the current KDE Plasma 5.9.3, KDE Apps 16.12.3 and the KDE Framework 5.31.0. The default kernel was updated to linux49 4.9 LTS, the Xorg stack to the 1.19 series.

Manjaro Gnome:
With the publication of Manjaro 17.0 the GNOME Edition was offered as third official version

Manjaro Net:
The Net Edition has not yet been officially released as version 17.0. In the download area of the Manjaro homepage, the Net Edition is currently no longer an official version.

Manjaro Community Editions:

- Cinnamon Edition
- MATE Edition
- Deepin Edition
- Enlightenment Edition
- Fluxbox Edition
- I3 Edition
- OpenBox Edition


I personally like the Cinnamon Edition, it's the same desktop environment used by Linux Mint Cinnamon.



Another fast and easy to install/use distro is ElementaryOS, it's based on Ubuntu. Desktop design and environment is similar to OSX. While the Manjaro is Windows-like.

any of these

zorin
ubuntu mate
mint cinnamon or mate
peppermint
linux lite

peppermint 10 has been released, just downloaded it earlier but yet to give it a test run. from what ive seen its mostly under the hood changes with the exception of a few new wallpapers and a rolling kernel updater thing (not too sure about it).

Another +1 for Peppermint.

Just installed it there on an older Sony laptop and it's running great. It does appear faster than the Lubuntu installation I had on it, but that could be just a perception based on how new and shiny it is.

When I started it was on Ubuntu 8.04. I used Ubuntu distros nearly continuously for the following fifteen or so years until I discovered EndeavourOS and realised I barely knew how to use Linux. Since I made the switch in 2020, I've never once had a problem with my system breaking randomly - which was an almost annual occurrence with Ubuntu. With Ubuntu I never felt empowered to pursue fixes, because I had no idea what "systemd" was. Ubuntu worked so well that I rarely needed to use the terminal.

If you're a new user who wants to learn, then I'd recommend something like EndeavourOS (based on Arch). To use this, you will be required to familiarise yourself somewhat with Terminal commands. Otherwise, just go with Fedora.

Over the last five years I tried out many distros in LiveCD mode; most were not at all friendly towards a Windows user. My pick of the litter for a distro to install is either MX Linux or Linux Lite. For a distro to run as a LiveCD, it would be Kodachi Linux or TAILS.

I’ve been on Pop!OS myself for a good while now, even though gaming isn’t my thing. It’s been a smooth ride, and I appreciate its clean design and overall stability. It’s great to hear it's working out well for you too, @AbusesToilets!

Thanks for the suggestions after watching a few vids I'm leaning toward Ubuntu, was pretty impressed with it last night, easy install an app, had to use the terminal to find what wifi driver I needed. Touchpad worked out of the box even right click. Oscars suggestion was a very close second was good to have something to compare it to.

I'll check out those other ones wurztron, I did read Lubuntu might be better for the slower machines.

Enjoy the journey. I remember the excitement when I discovered GNU/Linux aka Linux in 2008. Desktop Environments like LXDE, LXQt, and MATE [my favorite] are less resource hungry than the likes of GNOME and KDE.

I have a windows 11 laptop ,can I install Linux mint from a USB drive . Is there any easy to install Linux OS that can be installed from a USB drive and set up to dual boot while leaving the windows os in the laptop . My laptop has USB ,not cdrom or optical drive .

I.d be using Linux to play music ,podcasts or use the web browser only so I want a basic Linux OS that uses maybe 10 gig of drive space

I,m trying to install Linux mint 64 on a 10 inch laptop I go to screen menu in windows boot from USB it loads up windows 10 used Rufus to make a USB boot disk it has no cd/I've dvd drive only USB slot I chose mint 64 iso I followed the instructions in a YouTube video install Linux from USB drive my drive is 50 gig USB .

So I go to shift ,windows key ,then it shows options, eg boot from USB , etc done other options ,.

I press select boot from USB drive .USB drive is set to be bootable with Linux mint .

But I't just loads up the windows os .eg should I start over with an Ubuntu iso , is there something i.m doing wrong .?

Eg use Rufus to write Linux iso to the USB drive

I.d like to dual boot laptop with work windows and Linux OS