Distributions
To new users, (GNU/)Linux distributions are often confusing. (GNU/)Linux distributions are different flavors of (GNU/)Linux. The basis is the same but their philosophies, the problems they aim to solve and the programs they use are often different from each other. Although there are a lot of distributions, almost every program will run fine with minimal changes. The affluence of distributions might confuse and numb the people new to (GNU/)Linux but it's actually a good thing to have a lot of distributions since people can choose any of them according to their needs or demands. For example Linux Mint is popular for people who are beginning to use Linux but Gentoo is for people who have an advanced knowledge of Linux. Debian is a stable Linux distribution, meaning that packages are released slower in order to prevent any problems which raise from new changes. Arch Linux on the other hand is a rolling-release distribution, it always has the latest versions of the packages in its repositories. These differences help people to find the most suitable configuration for their computers.
About GNU/Linux
You must have noticed in most places instead of the term Linux, the term GNU/Linux is used although the GNU part is in paranthesis. The main difference between Linux and GNU/Linux is that Linux is a kernel and GNU/Linux is an operating system. The GNU part refers to the utilities of the operating system. As Linux is the kernel, operating systems that aren't GNU but are using Linux kernel can exist (for example Android). Although GNU/Linux dominates the Linux scene especially in desktop market, operating systems which are Linux but not GNU exist. In this guide the term GNU/Linux (without paranthesis) will be used sometimes as this guide will be for GNU/Linux but in the beginning of this guide the part GNU was in paranthesis in order to talk mainly about all Linux based operating systems and draw attention to the GNU/Linux issue, which beginners don't know and ordinary users argue about. Usually the term Linux is used for convenience when referring GNU/Linux so when the word Linux is used when mentioning the operating system, it probably means GNU/Linux.
Choosing a distribution
When there are a lot of options, choosing between them becomes very hard. There are a lot of GNU/Linux distributions out there and it might be confusing for the beginner. There are a lot of options and choosing might be hard especially the user knows nothing about how Linux works. I can't know which distribution will be the best for you, but there are some options to consider:
- Linux Mint: A suitable distribution for the beginners. Most things work out of box and it has many graphical utilities that does the same task with the usual text utilities, so it's easier to get used to for someone who comes from MS Windows. It's based on Ubuntu (and Debian), so many programs are in the store.
- Manjaro Linux: Although this Linux distribution is not focused on beginners, Manjaro Linux is a good option for new users which want to benefit from the Arch architecture without dealing with manually setting up the system.
These are not the only distributions that are available. These are just the ones that I personally researched. Although Ubuntu is a viable option too, the data collecting of Canonical Inc. is an important thing to consider. You can look for other distributions from DistroWatch.com, but be careful when choosing distributions. You wouldn't want to start your Linux experience with trying to install the system for hours. Desktop environment might also be another problem while choosing a distribution. The truth is, there is not a lot of difference between them and they are switchable with enough knowledge. You may choose any environment that looks nice to you.