Upgrading Your Life To Linux (Ubuntu vs. Debian)
Please read the article posted before this: Upgrading Your Life To Linux (Intro)
The two flavors of Linux I'll write about most are Fedora -personal favorite- and Ubuntu. I know, some may say you can't really compare the two... but, I am. Feel free to comment your dislike below about how bad it is to compare a hamburger to a rack of ribs smothered with BBQ sauce. :)
Ubuntu is a great flavor of Linux to start off with. It is easier to use, has less need for the CLI (command line interface) and it also lets you use their package installer (App Store like) to customize what you want. Ubuntu can also use proprietary software more often than Fedora (but this is changing with F28 and F29 based on what I've read and the talk about Windows becoming more "Linux Friendly"). Ubuntu is probably the easiest operating system to spot as well, with their unique color scheme coming standard (though this can be changed). Ubuntu has more time between updates because of what Ubuntu is - a "user friendly variant to Debian). So if you are the type to just get your "feet wet" one toe at a time... download a .ISO of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS @ https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop (LTS = Long Term Support).
Above - Ubuntu Desktop
Fedora is a flavor of Linux that comes from Red Hat Enterprise Linux. While it does come standard with more packages (the .ISO file is much larger), there is less need to download additional packages to make it do what you want. So less time searching for, and installing, various software and extensions to that software. Fedora is also the choice for multi-media users and professionals if you go with the Fedora Design Suite. The design suite comes with available packages to build your own software based recording studio, film editing firm, 3D design and printing studio or even a full photography editing and publisher. There are other variants to Fedora as well, and it includes being able to support a Windows Domain environment, webhosting, programming and beyond. Our family has an F26 Media Server (Fedora 26) that we store all of our movies, videos, music and photos to.
Above - MATE Desktop
The biggest difference between Ubuntu and Fedora - that you'll see if you try them both out - is the fact that a lot of software (packages) aren't compatible between the two flavors.
Packages for Ubuntu use DEB (Debian) packages, while Fedora utilizes RPM (Redhat Proprietary Management ??) packages. This would be like installing MicroSoft Word on a Mac 10.
That having been said - there are quite a few software and extensions that can be enjoyed on both, but written for each. There are a few things that can be done for both, like installing various DE's (Desktop Environment), or simply put - various desktops.
Some DE's lean more towards the "Apple" style, some feel a lot like Windows and then some are just a whole different feel all together. If you already use a Linux DE - you probably have a basic gnome desktop. Try installing Cinnamon or MATE (once installed - you can choose which DE you want to use by clicking on the gear next to [LOG IN], so you can always go back to what you like).
Above - Cinnamon Desktop
So that's it for this episode - in the next episode I'll go over various installation types, and installing the actual .ISO. Here are links to download one (or them ALL) so you can walk along with me if you want.
Fedora 28 Workstation .ISO
https://getfedora.org/en/workstation/download/
Fedora 28 Variant .ISOs (Server, Workstation and ATOMIC!)
https://getfedora.org
Ununtu 16.04 LTS
https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
Ubuntu - more info
https://www.ubuntu.com