Which Operating System Is Best for Learning Linux on a Laptop?

As a growing number of individuals seek to deepen their understanding of Linux, the choice of operating system on a laptop becomes crucial. This article explores the best options, focusing specifically on whether to use Windows or a Linux distribution, and if so, which Linux distribution to choose.

Windows vs. Linux

The first decision you need to make is whether to go with Windows or Linux. If you have the option, I highly recommend installing both on your laptop's HDD. This way, you won't be frustrated when you need to perform a task that is more easily or efficiently done in Windows.

Choosing a Linux Distribution: openSUSE

Should you decide to install a Linux distribution, my recommendation is to opt for openSUSE. Here’s why:

Desktop Environments

While distributions like Mint, which are Ubuntu derivatives, are user-friendly and straightforward, they also come with limitations in terms of customization. openSUSE, on the other hand, empowers you to choose any desktop environment that suits your needs.

By default, openSUSE uses KDE Plasma, which offers a familiar interface to those accustomed to Windows while providing extensive opportunities for customization. This flexibility is especially valuable when your objective is to learn and experiment with Linux.

If you decide to switch to another desktop environment, such as GNOME, LXDE, Xfce, Enlightenment, or MATE, openSUSE offers seamless support for all these environments. You won't be forced to switch to a different distribution to work with a preferred desktop environment.

Ease of Use vs. Understanding of Internals

openSUSE strikes a balance between user-friendliness and the ability to delve into the inner workings of the system. Both Ubuntu and its derivatives strive to make their distributions as user-friendly as possible. However, openSUSE goes a step further by providing highly configurable and accessible features from a GUI, while also offering convenient command-line access to these same features.

From my experience with Ubuntu-based distributions, this seamless integration of GUI and command-line access has sometimes been lacking. Nonetheless, openSUSE simplifies this process, allowing users to easily switch between these platforms based on their needs.

Applications and Libraries Packaging

When it comes to package management, Ubuntu and its derivatives, such as Mint, use the Debian package format. In contrast, openSUSE, alongside major commercial distributions like Red Hat Enterprise Linux, employs the RPM format. While the debate over DEB vs. RPM continues to be a passionate discussion within the Linux community, RPM has been widely accepted as the standard for the Linux Standard Base.

Software Availability

Both openSUSE and Ubuntu offer a vast array of software from official repositories and third-party repositories. Both distributions provide graphical tools for finding and installing software, with web interfaces for searching through available applications. OpenSUSE stands out by allowing users to search third-party repositories through its web interface, whereas Ubuntu provides a more AppStore-like experience for commercial software.

Both distributions offer robust support for a wide range of applications and libraries, catering to users with varying levels of expertise. OpenSUSE’s openness is particularly advantageous for those looking to explore a wide variety of software.

Conclusion

To summarize, if you're looking to learn and experiment with Linux on a laptop, I strongly recommend installing both Windows and openSUSE. openSUSE provides a flexible environment with a range of desktop options, a balance between ease of use and depth of configuration, and strong support for various applications and libraries.

If you have any further questions or require additional information, feel free to ask, and I will be happy to provide further insights.