Seven precautions to guide novices in choosing to use Linux desktop operating system

There is no easy answer to this question, especially if you are a new user who has never used any Linux desktop before. Most of the articles written around this topic are not very helpful either, as they focus on stating what is best for new users rather than helping new users decide for themselves. If you have used Linux, Distrowatch's Search page will appear more useful, but it is of limited use to new users.

I would like to propose another approach: giving opposing design choices and letting users choose based on their own preferences and work habits. Here are seven opposites to help new users get started:

7.Classic vs Innovation

The classic desktop has a workspace, one or more panels, and a menu. From MATE to Xfce, they account for the vast majority of desktop environments in Linux. They have few bells and whistles, but provide a stable interface that almost anyone who has used a computer has seen before. Those who want a desktop that runs like most versions of Windows should probably consider Classic Desktop.

In contrast, innovative desktops are different from classic designs. For example, Gnome uses an overview screen to launch applications, while desktops like Unity are actually suitable for mobile devices. Likewise, while you can build a classic desktop in KDE, this design extends the classic desktop with multiple desktops and several ways to easily swap out icons.

6.Mobile vs non-mobile

Users who do a lot of their computing work on their phone or tablet can choose a mobile-inspired desktop with a simple workspace and multiple screen variations. For these users, Gnome is a reasonable choice, but Unity is a better choice. Among many desktops, only Unity is designed for the concept of integration - using the same desktop on devices of any format and size. Unity is especially recommended for those with touch screen monitors.

5. Launcher vs Utilities

On the one hand, for some users, the desktop is nothing more than an application launcher. They spend little time on the desktop and don't have high expectations. For such users, Unity and LXDE may be suitable.

On the other hand, for some users, the desktop is part of the ecosystem, and its settings determine how it operates. These users recommend GNOME, KDE, Cinammon, and MATE.

4. Minimize design vs maximize design

Several Linux desktops are designed to reduce clutter while providing the simplest layout of tools and controls. Applications running on such desktops are designed for the most common use cases, but may not perform as well when problems arise. GNOME, LXDE, and Unity all fall into this category, as do all window managers.

The completely different thing is that the designers decided to design a comprehensive desktop. While these maximalist designs may make new users anxious about options, they have all the features you need. To simplify, they often opt for smart defaults or hide advanced features on different tabs. Desktops using this maximized design include KDE and Cinnamon.

3.Menu vs Desktop Launcher

Some users prefer to launch applications from the menu to keep the workspace interface clean. Other users like to add launchers to the desktop or panel to launch applications, documents, or URLs, making the workspace cluttered but enabling quick access/retrieval of resources.

Which one you prefer is a matter of choice. However, if you prefer using menus, try Gnome or Unity.

But if you prefer a desktop launcher, you can try MATE, Cinnamon or Xfce. If you're all about desktop launchers, KDE gives you the most configuration options, including the ability to customize each virtual workspace.

2. Full screen vs multitasking

Do you usually work on one or two applications at a time? Or do you often use multiple applications at work and frequently switch back and forth between them?

If you answered "yes" to the first question, you may be satisfied with Unity. It's not that Unity can't multitask, but it opens apps in full screen by default, and the top-level menu displayed in the panel can be confusing when you switch between multiple windows.

However, if you answer "yes" to the second question, almost any other desktop may suit your requirements.

1.Lightweight vs. Full-featured

Until recent years, the Linux desktop was still full-featured. Both KDE and Gnome provide a place to launch applications, as well as a complete ecosystem of various utilities and applications designed to run with them.

However, you may prefer to choose applications based on personal preference rather than desktop environment. Maybe you have an older, slower machine. In both cases, a lightweight desktop like LXDE, or a window manager like IceWM or Openbox may be a better choice for you.

Выберите свой собственный рабочий стол Linux

Иногда одно из приведенных выше противоречий может быть важнее другого, и вы хотите решить, какой рабочий стол использовать, просто ответьте на него. Однако лучший способ использовать этот список вариантов — рассмотреть каждый вариант, а затем подсчитать, сколько раз определенная среда рабочего стола появляется в разделе комментариев. Хотя в результате не всегда получается один тип рабочего стола, обычно вы можете сузить свой выбор до одного или двух.

Чтобы еще больше сузить область применения, учтите особенности каждого дистрибутива Linux. Например, Zorin предлагает внешний вид, подобный Windows, а MATE и Cinammon часто рекомендуются пользователям Windows, поскольку, как и Windows, они являются примерами классических рабочих столов. Точно так же, хотя я не знаю ни одного дистрибутива, который был бы так же хорош, как OS X, Unity вдохновлен OS X, поэтому тем, кто приходит из лагеря Mac, он может показаться наиболее знакомым в использовании.

Однако, какой бы метод вы ни использовали для выбора рабочего стола Linux, не торопитесь. Выбор рабочего стола, который соответствует вашим предпочтениям и рабочему процессу, определит, как вы отреагируете на этот опыт.

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