Since Microsoft recently released Windows 8, for those who have been disappointed or not trusted, it may be the right time to radically change the system and switch to the always free Linux. It is less talked about, it is a less commercial and less popular topic, but one cannot ignore how the Linux community is more and more alive, offering new alternatives, new increasingly modern systems which, in some ways, are even better than the various Windows 8 or Mac OSX.
Since the most doubt when thinking about Linux is related to the fear of being faced with an operating system that is difficult to use, we see here the easiest to use distributions, that is the most user-friendly Linux variants, not because they are similar to Windows (if you search a Linux version that is similar to Windows, better let it go), but because they use the same approach, with buttons, menus and windows to which everyone is now accustomed.
So let's see the easiest Linux versions to use for a user who wants to use the computer to work and perform all the usual activities that can be done with Windows or with a Mac .
1) Ubuntu is the most popular and most used Linux distro in the world, precisely because it is among the easiest to install and use.
Ubuntu is often synonymous with Linux, its more "commercial" version even if completely free and free and it is the system to start from if you are a beginner and if you want a complete PC, easy and compatible with any type of program or device.
Being the most used in the world, for every difficulty or problem there are forums and blogs where you can find guides also in Italian.
Another advantage of the fact that it is the most popular is its continuous development and the release of new applications to do almost anything you need.
Ubuntu is also the easiest Linux system to try thanks to Wubi that allows you to use Ubuntu Linux on Windows as a normal program so, if you are not satisfied, you can uninstall it by continuing to use Windows without any problem, at zero risk.
2) Zorin OS, the Linux version most similar to Windows .
Zorin OS is a fairly recent Linux distribution that has its roots in Ubuntu although it is very different.
ZorinOS has a desktop interface that looks a lot like Windows, making it the ideal distro for those who don't want radical revolutions.
The desktop, the navigation of the windows and the start menu are almost identical to Windows, but when you become familiar with the system you can explore the internal functionality of Linux and change its appearance.
3) Linux Mint, the most user-friendly .
Linux Mint ranks second among the most popular and used Linux distributions in the world behind Ubuntu.
Linux Mint is actually built on the basis of Ubuntu, improving all its features and making it simpler.
Unlike Ubuntu, in fact Linux Mint brings with it the codecs for watching videos, drivers for hardware compatibility, browser plugins and much more.
In Linux Mint, therefore, most programs work immediately, without the need for configurations, installations and modifications.
4) Peppermint OS, similar to Windows, the lightest .
If you have an old laptop or a netbook, it is better to install Peppermint OS which is a distro based on Ubuntu, lightened of all superfluous features.
Peppermint OS is all done with buttons, each to open the different categories of applications and to start programs, as if it were a smartphone system (you can think of Android even if it has nothing to do with it).
Another light Linux distro is Lubuntu, excellent and highly appreciated by users.
Also try Elementary OS, the easiest-to-use Linux distro for beginners .
5) PinguyOS is the Linux version similar to Mac OSX .
Those who come from a Mac computer may appreciate PinguyOS on their computer for its appearance very similar to that of the Mac system.
Easy to use like few systems, it allows you to use a PC for free with a flexible and fast system.
To conclude, I would like to clarify that every Linux distro is also in Italian and that you can try it by burning the ISO downloaded on a DVD or copying it to a USB stick, to be started "live" without installation (see how to create a Linux USB stick Live to use on any computer).
Linux can certainly also be learned with distros other than these and, as seen, there are many the best Linux distributions.
To use Linux it will always be necessary, at least at the beginning, to read a guide that can introduce the user to understand how to do things faster, but it can be really worth it.
Knowing how to use Linux, even at a basic level, gives the possibility to use every computer, old and new, without having to buy an operating system, for free.
It also allows you to choose the preferred distro and customize it as you want, in an optimized way depending on the PC you use.
