INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
us to introduce you to Linux
It is, quite simply, the ultimate in open source software
The OS started out as being exclusive to regular x86 desktop PCs, but has since found its way into everything from Android phones to Google
Chromebooks.Linux is based on the Unix family of operating systems, which rose to fame in the late 1970s
It has been adopted by various software developers and turned into various 'distributions' or 'distros'
All of the top Linux distros use the Linux kernel, which can be thought of as the heart and soul of the operating system
The various desktop environments for these distros is then built around it.The very best Linux distros are tailored to specific types of
Arch Linux on the other hand appeals to experienced users who can take advantage of using the Terminal to type commands to perform tasks
This guide focuses on picking out the very best distros overall.Linux, Windows or Mac - which one is best for you Watch our guide video
Elementary OSProbably the best looking distro in the worldSmartly designed and looks greatExcellent desktop environmentNot many preinstalled
interface, Elementary OS is what you need
Loki, which as well as being that bit prettier and neater than its predecessor Freya, has its own application installer UI called AppCenter
You may need to add more programs, but this is easy to do using the integrated AppCenter, which contains paid programs designed specifically
for the OS such as Quilter for budding writers or Spice-Up for composing presentations
Linux MintA strong option for those new to LinuxIdeal for those switching from Windows/MacGood media support out of the boxImpressive amount
switching from Mac or Windows, such as LibreOffice, the favoured productivity suite of Linux users
It also has better support for proprietary media formats, allowing you to play videos, DVDs and MP3 music files out of the box.You can
download four main starter flavours of Mint 18.3, each of which uses a different desktop environment, the top-most layer of the interface
allowing you to change elements such as the appearance of windows and menus
Cinnamon is currently the most popular, but you can also choose the more basic MATE, or Xfce.There's also a KDE version of Linux Mint 18.3
which uses the Plasma desktop environment
The latest version comes with a revamped Software Manager with 'featured apps' such as Spotify, Skype and WhatsApp.All these desktop
environments offer a good deal of customisation options, so feel free to download a few and boot as Live CD prior to installing to see which
works best.You can get started with Mint here3
Arch LinuxArch Linux or Antergos are sterling Linux optionsMassive potential for customisationAntergos represents a more user-friendly
most popular choices around
those with older machines who may not want unnecessary packages taking up space.Of course, this used to be the way all Linux distros were
set up, but there are now much more user-friendly methods available
Antergos comes with more drivers, more applications and a load of desktop environments to let you change the look of the system
underneath.The hardcore crowd may turn their noses up at packages like Antergos, but when it saves those newer to Linux hours of potentially
It can also use the Cinammon, MATE, KDE and Xfce environments if you prefer
Antergos doesn't come with an office suite but you can install this and other programs via the delightfully named Arch package manager
UbuntuOne of the most popular distros for good reasonsVery accessible for novicesSecurity and stability of LTS versionLubuntu spin is great
for underpowered PCsUbuntu is one of the most popular flavours of Linux and along with Mint is strongly recommended for Linux newbies, as
Every other year the developer Canonical releases an LTS (long term support) version of Ubuntu
These guarantee five years of security and general maintenance updates, so you can carry on using your machine without the hassle of running
a full upgrade every few months
be less familiar to Windows and macOS users.There are variations of Ubuntu which employ different environments such as Lubuntu, which uses a
minimal desktop environment based on LXDE and a selection of fast, lightweight applications
This places far less strain on system resources than the graphic-intensive Unity.You can get started with Ubuntu hereand Lubuntu here5
TailsA distro for the privacy-consciousEmphasis on security and privacyYet maintains a user-friendly UISomething of a niche OSTails is a
privacy-oriented Linux distro which has the aim of concealing your location and identity as much as possible
from being intercepted and analysed
privacy-trampling legislation being passed these days.You can get started with Tailshere6
CentOS 7Offshoot of Enterprise version of Red Hat LinuxBuilt for stabilityIdeal for a serverNot so great for daily desktop usageCentOS 7 is
a community offshoot of the Enterprise version of Red Hat Linux, and its focus is on stability rather than constant updates
It's not quite such a good bet for someone looking for a new OS for daily use on their desktop PC or laptop.On the plus side, you can
Ubuntu StudioSpin on Ubuntu aimed at audio and video productionGreat alternative to costly production softwareSupport for audio plug-ins and
moreStill allows access to packages in main Ubuntu OSIf you want a home music recording studio or a video production workstation without
flavour of Ubuntu Linux has been designed for audio and video production, as an alternative to paid software such as Pro Tools
to the packages in the main Ubuntu OS as well as a few digital audio sequencers
Its main strength is in audio recording through tools like the JACK Audio Connection Kit.You can get started with Ubuntu Studio here8
openSUSEPrimarily targeted at devs and sysadminsVery polished distroNicely secureCan create your own version of the OSPreviously known as
SUSE Linux and subsequently SuSE Linux Professional, openSUSE is aimed at developers and system administrators
Leap uses the source code from SUSE Linux Enterprise, which makes it much more stable
New versions are released roughly once a year and are supported for three years, making Leap perfect for business applications.Tumbleweed
(pictured above) is based on Factory, openSUSE's main development codebase
desktop, which is perfect if your machine can handle the more advanced graphical features.One of the more polished Linux distros around,
openSUSE is consistently ranked in the top five distros on DistroWatch.com
packages, desktop and system settings.You can get started with openSUSE hereSave up to 46% on a magazine subscriptionCheck out these great
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