New To Linux? 5 Desktop Environments I Recommend You Try First - And Why

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Not each Linux desktop environments are created equal.
• Some desktops are amended suited for skilled Linux users.
• There are immoderate desktops that make caller users consciousness correct astatine home.

One facet of Linux that has ever been a spot is choice. As a user, you person nan prime of making nan open-source OS precisely what you want it to be. There are options for conscionable astir everything, from nan kernel each nan measurement up to nan desktop environment.

Also: The champion Linux laptops correct now

Although nan prime of kernel mightiness not make things easier for caller users, nan desktop situation surely will. Some Linux desktops simply aren't built for those caller to nan platform. For example, nan tiling i3 model manager is not for nan faint of heart. As acold arsenic GNOME is concerned, it's an easy-to-use desktop, but it's different capable that galore users mightiness struggle to understand really it useful astatine first.

Choosing nan correct desktop situation tin make aliases break your experience. Choose nan incorrect desktop and you'll find yourself much disappointment than not. On nan different hand, if you take a desktop that's perfectly astatine location successful nan hands of caller users, that acquisition will beryllium easy capable to support you connected committee pinch Linux.

Also: This Linux distro puts much than 20 desktops a click away

But which of those desktop environments are champion suited for caller users? Let maine connection you my apical five, each of which makes for an perfect caller personification environment.

1. KDE Plasma

When you first log into KDE Plasma, you'll find everything looks familiar... but pinch a spot much panache. 

KDE Plasma offers a akin layout to nan desktops you've utilized since you first placed your fingers connected a keyboard. It has a desktop menu, a panel, a strategy tray, clickable icons, notifications, and each of nan things that travel together to make a newbie-friendly desktop. On apical of that, KDE Plasma is gorgeous, truthful you won't consciousness for illustration you're utilizing a Linux desktop from nan early 2000s. 

Also: 4 ways nan latest KDE Plasma merchandise is amended than ever - and really to effort it yourself

One of my favourite aspects of KDE Plasma is that it tin beryllium a caller user's nirvana, but besides grows pinch nan personification arsenic they summation much and much experience. At first, you'll time off nan default settings and astir apt won't alteration much. As you study much astir Linux, you whitethorn find yourself digging into nan Settings app and tweaking nan desktop to amended suit your caller Linux skills aliases simply to create an amazingly beautiful desktop. KDE Plasma is very bully astatine that. 

KDE Plasma besides makes it easy to link your telephone to nan desktop pinch KDE Connect (with record head integration). In different words, this desktop simplifies astir everything without compromising aesthetics.

It doesn't return overmuch effort to move KDE Plasma into a much modern-looking desktop.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

KDE Plasma ships arsenic nan default desktop situation for distributions specified arsenic Kubuntu, KDE Neon, Fedora KDE Spin, openSUSE Tumbleweed, Mandriva, and Manjaro KDE.

2. Cinnamon

Imagine KDE Plasma without nan modern looks. That's really I spot Cinnamon. 

This desktop situation came astir aft nan GNOME developers evolved from nan 2.x bid to GNOME 3 (Shell). Some were outraged astatine nan melodramatic shift, and a unit of developers decided they'd create a caller desktop based connected GNOME 2. Cinnamon is perfectly suited for those who don't want to alteration really they interact pinch their machine and don't really attraction arsenic overmuch astir aesthetics. That's not to opportunity Cinnamon is ugly... it's not. 

It is, however, reasonably plain-looking, particularly erstwhile compared to KDE Plasma. That being said, Cinnamon is besides a lightweight desktop, which intends it is perfectly suited for older hardware. This could beryllium a boon to those who want to effort Linux and person an older spare instrumentality lying around. Cinnamon offers a akin UI to KDE Plasma, complete pinch a desktop menu, panel, strategy tray, and clickable icons. On nan different hand, Cinnamon isn't astir arsenic configurable arsenic KDE Plasma. 

Also: How to switch Windows pinch Linux Mint connected your PC

If you're looking for a lightweight desktop situation that harkens backmost to Windows XP aliases 7, and you don't attraction astir a bunch of bells and whistles, Cinnamon is perfectly suited for you.

Cinnamon is somewhat much modern and customizable than MATE.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Cinnamon ships arsenic nan default desktop situation for distributions specified arsenic Linux Mint, Fedora Cinnamon, Manjaro Cinnamon, EndeavorOS (can beryllium selected during installation), and Solus.

3. MATE

MATE (pronounced Ma-Tay) is different continuation of GNOME 2, truthful it has a batch of similarities to Cinnamon. 

The measurement I spot MATE is simply a little modern type of Cinnamon. With MATE, you get 2 different panels -- 1 connected nan bottommost and 1 connected nan top. But don't fto nan simplicity fool you, arsenic location are tweaks to beryllium had. You tin alteration nan theme, fonts, create much panels, customize nan defaults, adhd applets, and more. 

Also: Want to study Linux? These 5 games make it nosy - and they're free

When you usage MATE, you will consciousness arsenic if you've been transported to nan early 2000s, erstwhile GNOME 2 was each nan rage. And though MATE mightiness look a spot old-school, it is successful progressive development. The developers are dedicated to nan desktop retaining that GNOME 2 look and feel, truthful chances of it getting a much modern touch are slim. One of nan champion things astir MATE is that it is perfectly suited for users of each Linux accomplishment levels. It's ace easy for caller users, and those acquainted pinch Linux will admit nan velocity and simplicity of nan desktop, truthful they tin ore much connected getting things done.

In little than a minute, you tin person a overmuch much modern-looking UI for Ubuntu MATE.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

MATE is disposable arsenic a desktop situation action for distributions for illustration Linux Mint, Debian, Kali Linux, Fedora MATE-Compiz, SparkyLinux, Ubuntu MATE, PCLinuxOS, and MocaccinoOS.

4. Pantheon

If you for illustration nan MacOS desktop, you'll bask Pantheon pinch adjacent gusto. 

Pantheon looks and feels very overmuch for illustration nan MacOS UI (minus nan caller Glass theme), but is overmuch much lightweight (so it'll consciousness faster). Pantheon includes a apical bar, a dock, and a desktop menu, truthful if you've utilized MacOS, you'll consciousness correct astatine location pinch Pantheon. This desktop situation is often considered a minimal desktop, but I find that not to beryllium rather true, arsenic Pantheon includes each nan features you request to activity efficiently and simply. If you for illustration a modern-looking desktop but want to instrumentality pinch thing familiar, Pantheon is simply a awesome option. This Linux desktop is instantly acquainted and elemental to use. 

Also: 5 reasons to move to an immutable Linux distro coming - and which to effort first

One point astir Pantheon is that it's not very customizable. That's really a bully point for caller users, particularly fixed that MacOS takes nan aforesaid approach. Don't beryllium fooled, however; you tin customize Pantheon... particularly nan dock (Plank). Another point I really respect astir Pantheon is that nan improvement squad is bully astir listening to users and adopting nan astir wanted features.

elementary OS is arsenic easy to usage arsenic it is classy.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Pantheon is nan default desktop situation for elementaryOS, but it tin besides beryllium installed connected Arch Linux and Debian.

5. Budgie

I emotion Budgie. I really do. Not only is it beautiful, but it's besides highly customizable. If you tin ideate a caller layout, Budgie tin comply. However, retired of nan box, Budgie looks very overmuch for illustration a Windows desktop. Budgie includes a bottommost panel, a desktop menu, a strategy tray, and clickable icons. At nan aforesaid time, Budgie tin beryllium shape-shifted into a desktop that resembles MacOS... aliases thing wholly different, each nan while looking astir arsenic bully arsenic a desktop situation can. 

Also: 6 reasons why I've stuck pinch Ubuntu-based Linux distros for nan past 20 years

Even though Budgie sticks pinch a emblematic desktop layout, it still manages to look very modern. Like KDE Plasma, Budgie tin turn pinch nan user. Stick pinch nan default layout astatine first and, arsenic you study much astir Linux, dive into nan customizations and make it look and behave precisely really you want. There's besides nan Budgie Welcome Wizard, which helps caller users get acquainted pinch nan desktop. That's a large positive successful my book. 

You whitethorn not spot nan Welcome Wizard astatine first login, but you'll find it successful nan menu, and I highly urge utilizing it.

It's beautiful, it's bold, it's Budgie.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Budgie ships arsenic nan default desktop situation for Ubuntu Budgie but tin besides beryllium selected pinch RebornOS, EndeavorOS, and installed connected astir Linux distributions.