Other Linux users might have a different opinion, but I think the best way to choose a Linux distribution is to know how active its community is. An active community is of vital importance because that’s where you get help and support. A thousand members means a thousand possibilities, a thousand potential solutions, a thousand potential feedbacks. A community is particularly useful for newbies who may find the linux universe unfamiliar as well as for long-time users who may have more advanced needs. Absolute beginners will find online communities as the perfect starting place to find out more about Linux in general and their distros of choice in particular.

This evening, I hopped from one Linux online community to another to find out which one has the most number of registered users. I then selected the top ten and listed it here for your convenience.

The top 10 linux distributions based on the number of its registered members are the following:

1. Ubuntu = 250,190 members
2. Gentoo = 105,828 members
3. Fedora = 89,088 members
4. Mandriva = 41,868 members
5. Xandros = 25,185 members
6. OpenSuse = 17,607 members
7. Kubuntu = 16,106 members
8. Freespire = 11,732 members
9. Arch Linux = 8,290 members
10. PCLinuxOS = 6,344 members

Which Linux distribution should you choose? Now you have an answer. But if you don’t believe in statistics, you have the option to download all the distros you want here and try each to know which one suits your need and personal taste.