Picking a distribution is like picking a flavor of ice cream. some people like vanilla, while others like chocolate. Same with Linux, some like GNOME and some like KDE (and others like some completely different desktop environment). Linux has a concept called a distribution. There are around 15 major and over hundreds of minor distributions. Each has the same core (or also know as the Linux Kernel), but different programs and support for each distribution.

Ubuntu (recommended)

Ubuntu's goals include providing an up-to-date yet stable Linux distribution for the average user and having a strong focus on usability and ease of installation. Ubuntu is a derivative of Debian, another distribution of Linux. Ubuntu is sponsored by Canonical Ltd, which is owned by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. The name of the distribution comes from the African concept of ubuntu which may be rendered roughly as "humanity toward others", "we are people because of other people", or "I am who I am because of who we all are", though other meanings have been suggested. This Linux distribution is named as such to bring the spirit of the philosophy to the software world. Ubuntu is free software and can be shared by any number of users.