A Linux distribution or distro consists of the Linux kernel PLUS standard libraries PLUS the GNU core utilities PLUS a selected series of application and server software. What differentiates the distros is the last bit, the software packages that come with each one. For the most part the GUI or user experience is based on the Desktop Environment (DE) which you can mix or match or discard the GUI when you are using any Unix. There are several DEs, but the same ones are used on most distros (Gnome, KDE, XCFE LXDE etc.)
The nice thing about Linux is that at the basis there is no real difference between a server and a desktop except for the software packages that come with it. (There are exceptions where the kernel is trimmed down for security or performance issues but the same kernel can and is often used for either desktop or server; Windows does not work this way.)
The nice thing about Linux is that at the basis there is no real difference between a server and a desktop except for the software packages that come with it. (There are exceptions where the kernel is trimmed down for security or performance issues but the same kernel can and is often used for either desktop or server; Windows does not work this way.)
My recommendations:
Desktop Experience
If you are new to Linux but quite familiar with Windows you may be comfortable with these all of these give a nice desktop experience that is not too foreign...
Business Server
If you are looking for a robust reliable implementation of linux for business production use either on the desktop or on the server side. CentOS mirrors what happens with Redhat Enterprise Linux so it is very stable, because it is the Redhat source code it has 5 years of security updates. Each of these distros have a ~2 year release cycle which makes them inherently more stable but behind the bleeding edge. Scientific Linux is the same code base as Redhat but released and backed by Fermilab and CERN
- CentOS or RedHat if you have a budget
- Scientific Linux
- Debian
- Ubuntu Server
Power user and Server / Server Labs
If you want to have the latest and greatest development packages that are perhaps not quite ready for prime time but give you flexibility and are compatible with the newest software.
- Fedora
- openSUSE
- all of the distros in the Business Server section if you use the bleeding edge release...
Older, slower hardware:
If you have an old computer that you or some nonprofit or needy friend could use but it grinds when you run Windoze then you may want to try out one of these distributions.
Hard core, technical user
Say no more!!
See http://distrowatch.com/ for a whole whack of distros, play with a few & see what suits you.
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