Ubuntu started out with the aim of creating an easy-to-use Linux desktop, and while it
has certainly achieved that goal, several other Linux Distributions have since come
along and surpassed it with easy to use features and greater flexibility.
In this video I will be giving you a quick overview of five alternative Linux distributions
to Ubuntu.
Ubuntu MATE is an official derivative of Ubuntu and looks very reminiscent of Gnome classic
desktop from 2010. Don’t be put off by the older style view or green theme, Ubuntu MATE
has one of the finest Welcome screens to get you started with the operating system.
There are quick links for driver installer, getting started, additional help from the
community, and a link for the Ubuntu MATE shop.
There is also a basic software installer called Software Boutique which provides quick links
for common applications that you might like to have.
They are grouped into various categories, and the boutique is very easy to browse.
There is quite a large range of free open source applications available in Linux
If you don’t like the desktop style you can easily switch between alternate styles:
a Windows XP theme, a macOS theme, and a Unity theme.
As I mentioned the default style is looks like Gnome classic.
This is the Windows like style with a taskbar at the bottom of the screen and a start menu
This is an Apple macOS style with a launcher at the bottom of the screen and a start menu
in the top-left hand side. And finally this is the Unity like style with
a launcher on the left-hand side. But there is no dash searcher like Ubuntu Unity has.
You can change the compositing options in Ubuntu MATE and choose between a Software
or hardware renderer. You can also enable the Compiz renderer and have lovely effects
like the desktop cube. The different options in MATE are ideal if
you have an older system, for example a computer that originally came with Windows XP
will be capable of running Ubuntu MATE.
The selection of preinstalled applications is reasonable enough with LibreOffice, Firefox
web browser, VLC media player, and Rhythmbox music player. You will have to install the
patent encumbered multimedia codecs separately with the ubuntu-restricted-extras package
in order to play mp3 files.
Support time for Ubuntu MATE is the same as Ubuntu with long term support releases once
every two years which are supported for five years, and interim releases once every six
months which are supported for nine months.
Zorin comes in two flavours Ultimate and Core. Zorin OS Ultimate costs 19 Euros, and the
Core version is free. Zorin OS Ultimate comes pre-loaded with a
large range of applications, more choice on desktop styles, the option to have video wallpapers,
and Premium support. It is a lot easier to use a native Linux applications that could
be a like-for-like alternative to Windows applications that you have been used to, and
the large selection of applications could that come preinstalled on Zorin Ultimate gives
you an idea of what free open source software in Linux is capable of.
A party piece of Zorin is the look switcher that allows you to choose from six distinct
desktop styles, including Windows 7, Windows XP, macOS.
This is the default Windows 7 style with a start menu and iconified applications in the
taskbar. The XP style is very similar, but has application
icon and title in the taskbar. This is my favorite desktop style, a Unity
like view, with a launcher on the left-hand side and a dash style view of the applications
And the last view I’ll show you is a macOS style with a panel of currently open applications
at the bottom, and start menu on the top-left hand side.
There are also a large range of themes included with both light and dark variants, which allows
you to easily customise the look of your shiny new desktop, and get the style which you have
been used to.
SolydXK comes in two variants - SolydX which comes with the lightweight XFCE desktop, and
the heavier SolydK which comes with the more customisable KDE desktop.
At first glance the two systems are styled very similar, but it is the KDE variant SolydK
which I am focusing on here.
Like Ubuntu MATE you get a Welcome screen, albeit with a few less features, but nonetheless
a capable tool and a useful feature for new users.
SolydK is based on Debian and is a rolling release Linux distribution, meaning that your
operating system will remain up-to-date throughout the life of your computer. This is a complete
contrast to Ubuntu which will need to be reinstalled in order to remain up-to-date.
You get what you are given on the KDE desktop, there is no easy switcher like Ubuntu MATE
and Zorin have. The basic desktop style is perfectly useable. Although if you don’t
like it you can easily download additional widgets and themes.
I will point out that it uses the older KDE 4 desktop. Whereas in most of my videos you
will see me using the newer KDE Plasma 5 desktop in KDE Neon. But KDE Neon is not a distro
for new users.
The selection of applications included in SolydK is reasonable enough to get you started.
Unlike Ubuntu MATE and Zorin, SolydK contains a wider range of utilities, for example ClamTk
virus scanner, GtkHash - a hash checking tool, luckybackup synchronization tool,
and Synaptics touchpad manager for laptops.
As a side note SolydK still holds a place in my heart, because it was my first move
away from Ubuntu.
My fourth recommendation is Linux Mint Cinnamon. Linux Mint certainly seems to be a well recommended
distro for new users, although I was always more reserved on that judgement. However the
Cinnamon desktop has progressed a huge amount now in the last couple of years and comes
with a wide range customisation features and the option to add widgets to the desktop
in the form of desklets.
A very useful under the hood feature of Mint is the ability to recognise a wider range
of hardware devices, such as Wifi adapters. Perhaps if you have tried Linux in the past
and had issues with a certain item of hardware you might find that Linux Mint is able to
recognise it.
Although the ability to recognise a wider range of hardware comes at the expense of
speed, something experienced Arch Linux users will be quick to mock.
The range of applications included pre-installed is sufficient, you get LibreOffice, Firefox
web browser, Gimp image editor, VLC media player.
There is a basic parental control application included in Mint in the form of a Domain blocker,
which can be used to prevent young children from visiting certain websites.
One issue I am going to bring up is my opinion on the way Linux Mint withholds what they
consider risky updates that have a small chance of causing a driver failure. Mint lean on
the side of keeping your system working and leaving it exposed to an increased security risk.
But you can change the option on the system
updater to install all updates, which mitigates the security risk.
The fifth distribution I would recommend is Manjaro Linux. Now that may come as a bit
of a surprise to most of my regular subscribers, because I traditionally focus on Debian or
Ubuntu Linux systems. Manjaro is completely different as it is based on Arch Linux.
Arch is definitely not for new users as you have to spend a lot of time reading the manual
(RTFM). Manjaro have successfully made installing Arch as easy as Ubuntu.
Manjaro comes in a few different desktop flavours, but I am focusing on the XFCE variant here.
I rather like the theming they have done with the green, white and black colours scheme.
They have made a lightweight desktop appear nice and modern.
The hardware recognition in Manjaro is very good. Unlike any of the previously mentioned
distros Manjaro has a Kernel switcher, which means you can easily use the newest Linux
kernel, which is ideal if you have any brand new hardware.
Although to be fair to the Linux kernel I have used one from 2012 in a system built
in 2015 and it did work, albeit with a few warning messages and not as fast as more appropriate
newer software would have been.
The selection of preinstalled applications is a bit larger than Ubuntu MATE, SolydK,
and Mint. As usual we have LibreOffice, Firefox, and VLC. But Manjaro have also included Gimp
image editor, and Steam for gaming.
Manjaro is lightweight enough to be used on older systems, but with the kernel switcher
you can also use it on brand new systems. It certainly is a system to consider if you
would like something different to Ubuntu or Debian.
That concludes the look at 5 alternative systems to Ubuntu for new users.
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