Normally, the go to distro for newcomers is Ubuntu. It comes with a nice installer and an interface of brand "good enough". But I always recommend Antergos Linux for newcomers, because it is an Arch Linux based distro. Why?
Software
In Ubuntu the software is usually around one whole year behind the current version. Because the maintainers want the software to be tested and not buggy as new versions are often. In my experience however, the exact opposite is the case: I just had another "incident". Currently I have to use ubuntu, because it is not my PC. I was using Keepass and tried to synchronize the password database via my WebDAV server.
It was not working. Why? Because the version of Mono that was installed by Ubuntu (the "newest" version) was one complete major version behind the current stable version and this old version was not able to handle letsencrypt certificates. The solution after 1 day of searching: Adding the official mono ppa as repository and use the version from there.
With Arch (and Arch based distros) you always get the newest version in the main software repositories. I never encountered this issue on my Arch machine, simply because installing keepass also pulled the newest version of mono.
Software not in the official repositories
On Ubuntu, if your software is not in the official repositories, you are out of luck most of the time. If you are lucky, the software maintainer is hosting a ppa from where you can install it. If not, you have to download a .deb and update it manually.
Arch Linux on the other hand has the AUR - the Arch User Repository. Every user can upload a package build script to package any software available. This has the consequence, that if a software is available for linux, you can find it in the AUR. This also means you get normal package updates for those user packages.
Package manager
Ubuntu's package manager is very verbose, so you have to type a lot in order to do common tasks. To update all installed packages:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
compare that to pacman, the Arch Linux package manager:
sudo pacman -Syu
If you want access to the AUR through the package manager, the most common way is to install yaourt a wrapper around pacman. With this you can search easily the database of packages:
yaourt vlc
TL;DR
If you are a Linux beginner, install Antergos Linux. Once you are comfortable with the command line, switch to bare Arch Linux.
Latest comments (68)
My thought is, use a pure Arch linux box is better than using Arch based distro. After gathered some experience in linux, try Linux From Scratch projet. It'll give you better understanding about linux if you wish for deeper knowledge.
linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/
Antergos is dead. use another arch based distro.
here are the top 10:
Manjaro Linux (2)
Manjaro Linux is a fast, user-friendly, desktop-oriented operating system based on Arch Linux. Key features include intuitive installation process, automatic hardware detection, stable rolling-release model, ability to install multiple kernels, special Bash scripts for managing graphics drivers and extensive desktop configurability. Manjaro Linux offers Xfce as the core desktop options, as well as KDE, GNOME and a minimalist Net edition for more advanced users. Community-supported desktop flavours are also available.
ArcoLinux (18)
ArcoLinux (previously known as ArchMerge) is a distribution based on Arch Linux. The development takes places in three branches - ArcoLinux, ArcoLinuxD and ArcoLinuxB. ArcoLinux is a full-featured distribution that ships with the Xfce desktop (as well as Openbox and i3 window managers). ArcoLinuxD is a minimal distribution that includes scripts that enable power users to install any desktop and application. ArcoLinuxB is a project that gives users the power to build custom distributions, while also developing several community editions with pre-configured desktops, such as Awesome, bspwm, Budgie, Cinnamon, Deepin, GNOME, MATE and KDE Plasma. ArcoLinux also provides various video tutorials as it places strong focus on learning and acquiring Linux skills.
Archman GNU/Linux (36)
Archman GNU/Linux is an Arch Linux-based distribution which features the Calamares system installer and a pre-configured desktop environment. Archman also features the Pamac package manager to make installing new software easier.
ArchLabs Linux (56)
ArchLabs is a distribution based on Arch Linux and featuring the Openbox window manager as the primary desktop interface. ArchLabs is a 64-bit, rolling release distribution which provides a live DVD. The distribution can be installed using the AL-Installer system installer.
Bluestar Linux (58)
Bluestar Linux is a GNU/Linux distribution that is based on Arch Linux. The Bluestar distribution features up to date packages, a full range of desktop and multimedia software in the default installation and a live desktop DVD.
ArchBang Linux (67)
ArchBang Linux is a lightweight distribution based on Arch Linux. Using the Openbox window manager, it is fast, up-to-date and suitable for both desktop and portable systems.
Chakra GNU/Linux (70)
Chakra GNU/Linux is a user-friendly and powerful distribution and live CD originally forked from Arch Linux. It features a graphical installer, automatic hardware detection and configuration, the latest KDE desktop, and a variety of tools and extras.
SwagArch GNU/Linux (73)
SwagArch is a GNU/Linux desktop distribution based on Arch Linux. The SwagArch distribution features a live DVD that runs the Xfce desktop and uses the Calamares graphical system installer. SwagArch offers popular FOSS applications pre-installed, including Firefox and the VLC multimedia player.
BlackArch Linux (75)
BlackArch Linux is an Arch Linux-based distribution designed for penetration testers and security researchers. It is supplied as a live DVD image that comes with several lightweight window managers, including Fluxbox, Openbox, Awesome and spectrwm. It ships with over a thousand specialist tools for penetration testing and forensic analysis.
Artix Linux (91)
Artix Linux is a fork (or continuation as an autonomous project) of the Arch-OpenRC and Manjaro-OpenRC projects. Artix Linux offers a lightweight, rolling-release operating system featuring the OpenRC init software. (An alternative spin features the runit init software.) Three editions of Artix are available, a minimal Base system, an edition featuring the i3 window manager and an edition which runs the LXQt desktop.
source:
distrowatch.com/search.php?ostype=...
Nice information. Archman beginners may check out six easy steps to install Archman Linux as single host system by creating bootable flash drive and replacing existing Windows system. techsolveprac.com/install-archman-...
If anyone is still wondering why linux has only 2% adoption amongst regular (desktop) users - just read this article and the comments below
I'm planning to use Manjaro, another arch based distro. Any tips how to make it look decent? I'd probably use XFCE but damn it looks bad.
Manjaro has a healthy amount of 'out of the box' options when it comes to looks, that being said, looks are always up to your likings, I do like budgie desktop with adapta theme.
Here you can see the common officially supported options
manjaro.org/get-manjaro/
And here you can see community based options
manjaro.org/community-editions/
There are look and feels for almost anyone there
cheers!
About Breakage
No idea why People advocate here that Arch does not break. Of course it breaks, it's a rolling distro. A few of our main devs have even a title to cause frequent breakage. So I think it's more about the mentality and what people do when stuff breaks. Having the capability of fixing breakage in not more than 5min (knowing where to look and what to do) is a guarantee for smooth sailing and comes with experience. After a while you've seen most of the things that can happen. I use Arch for years and yes sometimes it breaks. I am then like wuuuh where, when, how? Unfortunately I fix stuff too fast so the other 99% I use arch, I am just frustrated and bored that nothing breaks... :)
Agree. I love the way Arch updating its package. No more hassle in "Oh, my machine runs Ubuntu LTS, how the heck I run this version of program?", "Holy T-shirt! The major upgrade breaks all dependencies!", "Oh no, there is no official release, should I compile it my self? ".
I ran dual-boot Win 7 and Ubuntu for years because of I couldn't bear Ubuntu's dependency error. Finally, I managed to wipe Windows 7 from my computer, I trust Arch Linux.
.
Always recommend Arch Linux to all my friend!
I made a discovery today. I found a computer. Wait a second, this is
cool. It does what I want it to. If it makes a mistake, it's because I
screwed it up. Not because it doesn't like me...
Or feels threatened by me...
Or thinks I'm a smart ass...
Or doesn't like teaching and shouldn't be here...
Damn kid. All he does is play games. They're all alike.
Why? I currently am running bare Arch Linux, but what is better about Arch linux than Antergos?
I had several occasions where the Manjaro and Antergos devs fucked up their package signing keys, resulting in an inability to update packages. Fixable, but annoying
I liked Arch after learning how Linux worked and used it for a while. I just prefer OpenSUSE now.
That's why I use Debian Testing. Debian has the largest software repository, and the testing branch is full of updated and tested software, so it's like the best of two worlds.
Currently we are with Linux 4.14, PHP 7.2, Mesa 17.3.3 and Wine 3.0, just to mention some of the most famous packages.
I used before Manjaro and Arch, liked both but no matter what distro I test, I always came back to Debian.