Favorite Blend of Linux Desktop

**Lemur** · 05-13-2013, 16:46

Hey gang,

I know we have more than a few Linux users here. Not super-impressed with where Ubuntu is going.

What's your favorite blend/distro? What are your perceived advantages/disadvantages to the distro you use (or recommend)?

Thanks!

**Furunculus** · 05-13-2013, 23:13

opensuse with the kde desktop.

good kitchen sink distro with lots of gui driven config tools.

**Xiahou** · 05-14-2013, 03:19

Try LinuxMint and you'll never look back.

**Lemur** · 05-14-2013, 03:22

Originally Posted by Xiahou

Try LinuxMint and you'll never look back.

Oooh, I heard about this distro ... thoughts? Mini-review? Highlights?

**Xiahou** · 05-14-2013, 04:10

It's the most intuitive distro I've used to date. It's easy to install, has a clean intuitive interface and either comes with most everything you need loaded or has it readily installable. If you can run Windows7, you should be able to run this. It's like they actually set out to make an easy to use distro.... I know right?

I've always used MATE desktop, but if you want more shiny things, don't be afraid to give the Cinnamon version a try.

**caravel** · 05-24-2013, 16:33

Originally Posted by Lemur

I know we have more than a few Linux users here. Not super-impressed with where Ubuntu is going.

Originally Posted by Lemur

Oooh, I heard about this distro ... thoughts? Mini-review? Highlights?

The main issue you will have with mint, is that it is in fact ubuntu with some extras (cinnamon, etc). It uses the ubuntu repositories directly.

If it's just the unity shell you dislike, then yes mint will be one way of solving that, but you just as easily install a different desktop. Personally of the DEs I prefer XFCE or KDE to gnome-shell and mate (gnome 2 fork), but YMMV.

**wudang_clown** · 06-26-2013, 23:51

If anyone's interested in previewing a distro before installation, then distrowatch.com provides good info on many different distributions. Also, it's possible to try out a distro directly, without any trouble - just use any software which allows setting virtual machines, and you can check out any distro you like and as many as you please.