Thinking about Linux? Then you’ll probably want to try a distribution that comes complete with all the software trimmings, including the capability to play MP3s, DVD movies, plus Flash and other web video right off the bat. While Linux is not difficult to get used to, it’s nice to be able to just use it for awhile before learning how its application package management differs from the “downloading some program from some website” system that Microsoft Windows uses.
This list is incomplete in that it does not list commercial Linuxes like Linspire, Xandros, and Mandriva (where multimedia is only built-in for a price). It only lists Linuxes you can download and use for free. Also, I haven’t personally tried every one of them, so I can’t verify that each distro does all of the tricks right out of the box, or whether they need a few mouse clicks to get there. If you know, leave a message and fill me in. I will say that I use PCLinuxOS on my “family computer” and it did everything I needed from first boot.
The following distros have received positive reviews from ratings linked at DistroWatch.com:
- PCLinuxOS – A popular, ready to use distro based on Mandriva.
- Freespire – Community-supported free version of Linspire.
- Sabayon – Gentoo-based with a large selection of software pre-installed. Builds new packages from source (which takes time).
- Puppy Linux – Small and lightweight. Great for old PC’s that need upgrading from Windows 98.
- Kanotix – A LiveCD, but is installable. Based on Debian “sid”.
- Knoppix – Mostly a LiveCD/DVD but is installable. May not support Flash right out of the box.
- Kororaa – Gentoo-based with multimedia support for photos, videos, TV, music, and disc burning. No hard drive installer.
- dyne:bolic – A specialized Linus for artists and musicians wanting to do multimedia production. Includes software for recording, editing, encoding and streaming sound and video.
The following distros have received mixed reviews from ratings linked at DistroWatch.com:
- Blag – Fedora-based.
- Dreamlinux – Fast, slick, Debian based, look inspired by MacOS X.
- VectorLinux – Small, fast, easy to install. For Intel, AMD and x86 compatible systems, based on Slackware. Can be tricky to install and configure.
- Zenwalk – Slackware-based with a focus on a graphical desktop and multimedia usage. Can be tricky for new users.
The following distros have received negative/not recommended reviews from ratings linked at DistroWatch.com:
Got another one to add? Are there mistakes above? You know the drill.
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