Best Linux Distros for Your PC

Linux is, in simplest terms, an operating system. It is the software on a computer that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices on the computer to perform desired functions. The operating system (OS) relays instructions from an application to, for instance, the computer's processor. The processor performs the instructed task, then sends the results back to the application via the operating system.

Linux is very similar to other operating systems, such as Windows and OS X. Unlike Windows and Mac OS, In Linux, you have a lots of choice to make your Operating system based on your Interest.

We have collected and filtered out the best of the Linux Distros of the year from the huge list of Linux Distributions out there for Linux world. 

Best Linux Distributions

# Day-to-day use (General Purpose) Distros

Ubuntu and Kubuntu

Ubuntu is the Popular Linux Distribution out there and has followed by the most users after the Proprietary Operating systems like Windows and Mac OS. Ubuntu is based on Debian. It has its own collection software repository. One can easily install any Linux Software Applications using the terminal or Ubuntu Software center. Kubuntu is the Official derivative of Ubuntu Operating system which uses the KDE Based desktop environment instead of the Ubuntu’s Unity GUI.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is the most Loved Linux Distribution among the New Users. It is because, Mint is elegant, modern and comfortable and offers some Proprietary software packages for media Playback. Mint offers two GNOME based Desktop environments: Mate and Cinnamon. The Mate is designed from the Outdated GNOME 2 desktop and cinnamon is modern and gives neat menus and awesome Nemo which is much like Windows explorer. It is based on Ubuntu and Debian.

Debian

Debian Linux is the one of the most Popular Linux Distribution for Servers and Personal computers. Many Linux Distros derived from the Debian operating system. Because, it is considered as the solid Linux. Debian Project offers the Software repository which has a wide range of Free Linux Software applications in one Place.

Fedora

Fedora is developed by the Fedora Community and owned by the Red Hat. Fedora has very short life cycle, every 6 months new version will be release and maintenance period in only 13 months. Last few years, it has come with many server oriented features rather desktop oriented. That makes many beginners t switch over to the other Linux Distributions. It has developed its own Linux Software applications and uses them before any Linux Distros.

OpenSUSE

OpenSUSE is general-purpose operating system for every people, though it excels in the Enterprise environment. This OpenSUSE project is supported by Open-Source community and sponsored by SUSE and other companies. OpenSUSE supports thousands of free Linux Applications. It offers many Desktop environments such as GNOME, KDE, LXDE GUI’s. SUSE includes an installation and administration program called YaST which handles hard disk partitioning, system setup, RPM package management. Although the Package installer is not easy like Ubuntu.

Slackware

Slackware is one of the earliest operating system that built-on top of the Linux kernel. This Distro is not New Linux users, because it requires some Knowledge of Linux. So the Advanced users can use this Operating System effectively. Slackware is stable in design and simple, and it is more likely provide the Unix-like Linux Distro. It doesn’t provide any GUI based Administration tools and so you have to use the command-line to modify any changes. Linux distributions have switched to the more advanced GRUB, but the Slackware simply sits on LILO which is a simple Linux Boot Loader.

PCLinuxOS (PCLOS)

PCLinuxOS is the free Linux Distribution that developed from Mandriva Linux Package. It mainly targets personal computer users and provides ease of use interface, applications. You can use the apt-rpm and the Synaptic Package Manager to install RPM Packages in your system. You can play any multimedia files in PCLOS, all media codes pre-installed.

Mageia

Mageia is forked from the Mandriva Linux distribution. It was developed by the former Mandriva employees and other users, supporters of Mandriva. KDE is the default desktop environment, however you can choose the GNOME as your Desktop GUI. You can install RPM Packages in Mageia.

Gentoo

Genoo is not recommended for Linux Beginners. This Operating system built on top of Linux kernel and based on the portage package management system. Unlike traditional software distribution, You have to compile the software packages in your own system based on your configuration. Installing the Gentoo Operating system is very time-consuming process. Because It download all the package source codes from the internet for you to compile locally. If you select many packages during the installation, then it may take hours to days for the installation.

Sabayon

Sabayon is the Gentoo-based Linux Distribution. It provides wide range “Out of the box” Linux Applications and pre-configured operating system that builds on Solid platform. It has its own software repository and a package management system called Entropy. Portgage is inherited from Gentoo. Unlike Portgage, the Entropy compiles the software and gives only the Binaries to the system. It supports the following Desktop GUIs: GNOME, KDE, Xfce, and MATE. It can be installed within 30 minutes not like Gentoo.

Chakra

Chakra is based on the Arch Linux Distribution, and it is the best looking KDE Linux Distro available for Linux Users. Chakra does not have scheduled release system but uses a “Half-Rolling release” system. It has its own official repository and user-driven repository.

Knoppix

Knoppix is the Debian based Operating system which is the first OS available as LiveCD to boot directly from PenDrive or memory card. Knoppix available as two editions: CD edition and DVD edition. 1000 software packages are included on the CD edition, and more than 2600 are included on the DVD edition. It comes with 3 different Desktop Environments: By default LXDE, GNOME and KDE.

#Light-Weight Linux Distributions

Bodhi Linux

Bodhi Linux is one the best Light-weight Linus Distro that is based on Ubuntu and uses the Enlightenment Window Manager. By default the Bodhi Linux does not have any software packages other than basic Applications like File browser (EFM), Browser (Midori) and a Terminal emulator. Bodhi Linux has a list of Light-weighted Linux Software Applications in online database that can be installed one click using apturl. Since it is based on Ubuntu, you can install any packages that was created for Ubuntu.

Puppy Linux

PuppyLinux is the most loved Lightweight Linux Distribution. It only runs on minimal memory and provides easy to use interface, features. You can run the entire system on the RAM itself, it only takes 130MB memory only.

By default the lightweight wordProcessor (Abi Word), MediaPlayer(Mplayer) and lightweight web browsers included. It has its own Package manager. The Packages are identified .pet extensions. You can install any Packages from the Puppy repository and other users developed Puppy repositories.

This Puppy Linux is most useful for older computers and netbooks. Since it has been using only smaller memory footprints.

Linux Lite

Linux Lite 1.0.6 is a distribution that aims to change that by making Linux more accessible to less tech-savvy users. Linux Lite is based on Ubuntu, and it uses the Xfce 4.8 desktop environment. Linux Lite is available in 32-bit or 64-bit versions.

Porteus

Porteus is the Portable Lightweight operating system that has been derived from the Slackware Linux. You don’t need install this Linux OS in Hard Disk, you can directly run this Linux Distro from the USB Flash Drive or CD. However, if you need, you can install in the Hard Disk. Like Puppy, Poreteus also directly runs from the RAM memory, so it is very fast.

Currently, Porteus comes with the LXDE and KDE desktops.

Lubuntu

Lubuntu is derived from the Ubuntu but uses the LXDE desktop environment that makes the Lubuntu as a Lightweight Linux distribution.LXDE is known for lighter and less memory hungry and more energy efficient interface. Lubuntu includes many default applications like Ubuntu such as Synaptics Package Manager, Abiword, Mplayer etc..You can also install the Linux Applications from Ubuntu Respository.

CrunchBang Linux

CrunchBang is the lightweight Linux Distribution that is derived from the Debian. It uses the OpenBox Desktop environment with GTK+ as a default GUI. It is very light on resources,so that one can run this on old as well as new computers. 

Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Linux is known for its size 12 MB. It is the minimal Linux OS that only focuses on the base system using Busybox and FLTK. You can extend the Tiny Core Linux by installing many extensions from the package manager. If you want to install the Tiny Core on your Hard Disk, first you have install the Installer from the package manager.

# Linux OS for Specific Purpose

Kali Linux

Kali Linux is derived from the Debian Linux and it is specially developed for the Digital foresics and Network Penetration testing. Kali Linux was rewritten from the Back Track Linux Operating system.

Kali Linux Pre-installed with numerous peneteration testing applications such as nmap (a port scanner), Wireshark (a packet analyzer), John the Ripper (a password cracker), and Aircrack-ng (a software suite for penetration-testing wireless LANs).

Parted Magic

Parted Magic Linux Disto provides the complete Hard Disk Management solutions. It has loaded with hard disk partitioning tools, Disk cloning, Data Rescue, Disk Erasing and bench mark testing tools.

You can partition your hard drive, rescue files, reset windows password to rescue files, retrieve dat from the disk even if it shows read errors. It has system stability checker, stress tesing tools and more.

SystemRescueCD

SystemRescueCD is not the general operating system. It is specifically designed to repair unbootable or otherwise damaged computer systems after a system crash.

SystemRescueCD has come with several Computer Rescueing tools like GNU Parted and GParted to partition disks and re-size partitions, including FAT32 and NTFS, fdisk to edit the disk partition table, File system tools, Ability to create boot disk, Support for Windows registry editing and password changing from Linux.

Joli Linux

Joli Linux is Lightweight and Responsive Linux Operating that runs on the Cloud. You can run the apps in offline too. You can refresh your old computer or netbooks by installing the Joli Linux. All your Software updated automatically, no need manual update. You will get full cloud experience, once you signup with Joli Cloud.