Seasoned Linux users and other professionals in the industry are constantly inundated by that one unanswerable question. What is the best Linux distribution for Beginners? … Windows users?... Programmers?... Routing?…
It doesn't matter what the last word is, or even if there is none at all - the question is simply which distribution is best. The answer is always none. Does that mean that you won't get one? Of course not. Most Linux users who have shopped around for a while will tell you exactly which one they think is best and why all the others do not measure up. The problem is that if you ask ten Linux professionals the same question they will give you ten different answers.
I was speaking with a dear friend of mine recently about this phenomenon because I myself am searching for a new Linux project. The conversation evolved from talking about newer distros we were looking at and into distros in general, and how a new Linux user could possibly choose from among them. At least with Windows you only ever have 3 choices - the outdated stable one, the semi-stable current one, or the new one. Three choices. It's easy! With Linux, you literally have hundreds of distributions to choose from.
Towards the end of the conversation my friend said something to me that really put it all into perspective. The best Linux for a beginner isn't one that can simply be named, but rather is the one that the user can get the most help with. No matter what distribution a new Linux user chooses, he will have problems from simply not understanding the system, wanting to configure something that isn't natively supported, or getting homesick for Windows applications.
The message I am trying to convey through this story is this:
New Linux Users - Ask not what Linux distribution is best, but which Linux distribution is best for you.
How do you determine that? Ask around. In getting started in Linux, regardless of which distribution it is, you will need a support team (or at least that one guy from IT) to assist you. If you know any other Linux users, ask the ones that are closest to you what they recommend, and then choose the one your friend who is most willing to lend assistance tells you.
If you are picking up Linux completely on your own, and have no friends that can help you, go with a major distribution like Fedora Core, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Debian, and other big names that there is a lot of documentation for online. If you can't get personal help, then pick a distribution that is at least well supported by its developers and fans in the forums.
If you have options, (ie: your best Linux friend recommends several) then don't feel bad about choosing based upon aesthetics. What your operating system looks and feels like can have a profound effect on how much you enjoy using it. A great place to take a look at screenshots and other information about Linux distributions is OSDir.com (Open Source Directory).
Remember, the best Linux for a newbie is the one they get the most help with. Enjoy!