Desktops & Distros

This page is my overview and notes on of all the GNU/Linux distributions and desktop environments that I have tried out (even briefly in virtual machines). These are the two primary things that make up the look and feel of a desktop operating system, i.e. one meant for daily personal or productive use.


Sections

Desktop Environments

Distros

What I Actually Use

Further Notes


Desktop Environments

Desktop Environments are what you see and how you control your computer. Some of these aren't actually 'desktop environments', but 'window managers'.

Xfce

Uwu smol bean

Likes: Xfce is simple, lightweight, and customizable (with some effort). It presents information clearly to you at all times, with verbose dialogue boxes when you hover your cursor over items on screen. The apps/accessories it comes with are similarly simple but clear and easy to use like Thunar (file manager) and Mousepad (text editor). It does not provide a software manager, so it will usually default to the one provided by the distro which may not always be beginner friendly. When paired with a beginner friendly distro, Xfce is fine for everyday use and should work on hardware thats like 10-20 years old. Also it has a cute little mouse mascot. It is my favourite desktop to use.

Dislikes: The customizability isn't always easy, like you really have to look for guidance online first if you are downloading icon packs and themes, the implementation can be different between distros too. Even on Mint, I like to increase the taskbar/panel/app menu size to be readable, increasing the panel height didn't automatically scale all the panel icons. It was trial and error finding that I had to manually increase a couple of them in their own sub menu of the panel editor menu. The same applied to making the application launcher larger, that is done by editing 'Whisker menu' inside the panel editor menu. I think this kind of stuff is enough to put off a total beginner.

Usage: Works well on anything lower powered where you don't want the desktop eating up RAM, like older PCs and laptops from the past 10-20 years. I use it on modern desktops too though, despite my issues customizing it in Linux Mint, they have a good implementation of Xfce with all their other helpful apps.

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Cinnamon

Alternate universe Windows 10

Likes: Cinnamon is probably the best desktop to provide to a new user of Linux. It looks very modern, and controls similarly to Windows 10, but without a number of the little annoyances of that system. It is easy to customize, but sort of limited in a minimalist way, again like Windows 10. That can be a good thing though, not overwhelming someone with options. It got me using Linux daily and switching over to it full time. It is developed by the Linux Mint team and tailored to their distro, but is available on many other distros too. Also it retains the desktop style of Windows 9X-10 (excluding 8) with taskbar/panel at the bottom, status icons bottom right, and app/program launcher button bottom left.

Dislikes: Just a bit too minimalist for me, it is not unusable by any means, but as a new user not recognising all the simple names and minimalist logos of apps I've never used was frustrating at times.

Usage: Any desktop or laptop from the past 10 years should run it perfectly fine, even up to 15 years would be usable. While it is not considered 'lightweight' it is far lighter than Windows 10-11, so any computer running those can run Cinnamon. It's focus is personal/business usability.

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KDE Plasma

Alternate universe Windows 11

Likes: KDE Plasma feels like if visual and usability design elements of Windows 7 were modernized and improved upon, hence the Win 11 AU joke. I came into it wanting to be a hater, just based on it being popular I assumed it would be postmodern minimalist 'weird for the sake of being weird' stuff again like GNOME. But yeah, I was genuinely surprised by how easy and intuitive it is to use and customize. There's a lot of cool little touches throughout like the cursor loading animation being a cute little logo of whats launching bouncing up and down, and the file manager 'Dolphin' showing thumbnails of images on the folders they are in. It even shows thumbnails of html pages incorporating the CSS styling from other folders, helps with photo and website management. The software manager 'Discover' is also really solid, you can just easily incorporate flatpaks by searching the term and installing 'Discover - flatpak backend'. The KDE team also develops a huge suite of free apps and accessories that are used across many other distros/desktops like Kdenlive (video editor), KDE Connect (smartphone manager), Krita (digital art), and many more. It keeps the desktop layout of Windows (taskbar at bottom, status icons bottom right, app launcher bottom left) but allows you to switch the app launcher between a typical desktop style, cascading sub menus style, or a full screen dashboard style.

Dislikes: It's resource hungry. It will run on any computer that runs Windows 11 (and probably be faster), and any computer from the past 5 years, maybe the past 10 with some slowness. But beyond that it would probably be unsuably slow. Like on my Debian laptop it sits at 1.5GB RAM idle, and when I open a browser & other stuff it jumps to like 3-4GB RAM with some slowness. Frankly, it also may have too many features for some people (including me).

Usage: Modern computers. It would work well for productive people, creatives, businesses etc. Again, a very good replacement for Windows 11 on computers from the past 5-10 years.

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GNOME

Frustratingly minimalist

Likes: It's simple and modern enough that anyone should be able to use it. It's best delivered as the standard desktop of certain distros, where the distro team has worked hard tweaking it for a certain purpose or style (Zorin OS has a great style). I think it would work well on a tablet style device, and it is/was the inspiration for many other desktop environments like Cinnamon, MATE, COSMIC, Budgie, and more. Apparently you can add or customize GNOME a lot with 'extensions' or 'plug-ins', but I haven't tried. It's also the most popular desktop across Linux distros (kinda tied with KDE), which indicates it is highly functional and will have solid ongoing development support.

Dislikes: "Erm... It's pronounced guh-nome" and it's logo is a foot. It's extremely minimalist, often hiding or not including menu options you may be accustomed to, while paradoxically being heavy on resources and slow on lower powered hardware. I hate the tablet style app dashboard design on a desktop. It feels 'modern' in the way that Windows 11 and corporate websites do.

Usage: Modern computers from the past 5-10 years, businesses, productivity people.

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Moksha (Enlightenment)

The life giver (Druidic)

Likes: Moksha is simple to use and very lightweight, bringing life to old computers. It is developed by the Bodhi Linux team and incorporates their 'nature' themeing (hence the druid joke). Their App Centre opens in a browser and has a relatively small selection, but for it's use case that isn't really a problem. You can also just download Synaptic package manager from their App Centre for access to more apps/packages. On idle it would use 500-700MB RAM, and it is a very minimal install overall.

Dislikes: Customizing it was a little annoying, beyond basic stuff like the desktop background, they did offer some themes on their App Centre though (pink theme was cute in a y2k/aero style). For my use, the browser App Centre setup was also a bit annoying, but downloading Synaptic and GDebi solved that (synaptic for access to Ubuntu/Debian respository apps, GDebi for installing directly downloaded apps/.deb files). The very minimal install (as in barely any apps included) could be a problem for some uses/people.

Usage: Old laptops primarily, 10+ years and older, good enough for basic daily use (browsing, office work, etc.) Also because of it's minimal install paired with Bodhi Linux (Ubuntu-based), it is a good option for a server if you aren't very confident with the command line only of Ubuntu Server (me, I am not very confident).

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IceWM

The life giver (Sorcery)

Likes: Super lightweight stacking window manager with an inbuilt taskbar and start menu that allows it to funtion as a desktop. Simple and intuitive to use, best when it comes with a distro designed around it, like antiX, as they add essential apps for everyday use. Does come with customizability and themes.

Dislikes: Sometimes customization changes need you to 'restart' IceWM, which can be done in the menu. Also if you use themes with a larger font, it can make the cascading menus a bit hard to read, or you can run out of space if you open the menu on screen.

Usage: Very old desktop computers and laptops (10-25 years), low powered devices (SBCs, mobiles), servers. It is the standard desktop of antiX, works great there sitting idle on 250-500MB RAM, giving life to older hardware.

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LXQt

It exists and runs on anything

Likes: Super lightweight full desktop environment with essential apps. Very simple and intuitive to use, and lightning fast.

Dislikes: Haven't really come across anything I dislike about it. I guess because it is very lightweight, it isn't as feature rich as many other desktops.

Usage: Very old computers (10-20 years+) and low powered devices like raspberry pis or other single board computers. Another one that is useful on a server PC, it sits idle at 400-600MB of RAM.

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LXDE

It exists (?) and runs on ANYTHING

Likes: Super lightweight, simple to use. I only used it once on a mobile device running within an app (usrland). It's the spiritual predecessor to LXQt, which combines the work of LXDE with Razor-Qt.

Dislikes: It isn't as recently maintained as LXQt, mostly being supported by small community groups as the original dev primarily focuses on LXQt. But again, I only used it once and it was perfectly functional.

Usage: Very old computers (10-20 years+) and low powered devices, mobiles, SBCs.

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OpenBox

It's a series of boxes

Likes: Extremely lightweight. It is essentially a blank screen that you right click on to bring up a menu showing applications and settings. It will run any application that's installed, so long as that app's dependencies are met. Useful as a kind of in-between from a full desktop to a command line terminal. Can be configured to create a desktop-like environment like IceWM (wallpaper, taskbar, app launcher button).

Dislikes: Configuration is a bit of a pain, you really need to look up guidance before diving in, or test it out in a virtual machine before putting it on actual hardware (as a relative newbie). Helps to have another desktop environment on first, which will populate the menu with essential apps like a file manager, otherwise you have to add everything manually.

Usage: Not for beginners. Basically any computing device that functions could run this. Good for servers, it sits idle at like 150-400MB RAM

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Distros

Distributions are a collection of software/firmware packed in with the Linux Kernel for a desired end use. Some examples being; daily desktop use (Mint, Zorin), stability (Debian), and extending the life of older hardware (antiX, Bodhi).

Linux Mint

Benefits: Very easy to use if coming from other operating systems (especially Windows). Highly compatible with multimedia and gaming stuff (Ubuntu-based). Pack in apps are very user friendly too, like the disk manager, USB stick formatter/writer, software centre (incorporates flatpaks), update manager, and so on. Able to be upgraded to newer versions without reinstalling, but usually has a long support life span per release anyway (4-5 years). It's first boot 'welcome' setup stuff is very straight forward and helpful too. Very popular, so support is easier to get via forums, etc.

Hindrances: Not really designed to be tinkered with, even removing included apps isn't recommended. It's customization is a bit limited too (similarly to Windows 10), and can be a bit beyond a beginner to add different looks and icon packs.

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antiX

Benefits: Super lightweight on resources, while still being pretty straight forward for new users. Comes with some neat stuff like their live USB maker and saved persistence on live USBs (so you can take your system/installed apps with you on a USB thumb drive). Will make just about any old computer you throw it on functional again. Can be used as a rescue drive; so if another system won't boot, an antiX live USB can be plugged in to recover data. Provides some themes and alternate file managers/window managers with install.

Hindrances: Doesn't use 'systemd', which some software may require. Some features/styling may be frustrating for newcomers.

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MX Linux

Benefits: Mostly light-mid weight on resources. Straight forward enough for beginners. Comes with multiple desktop options including; Xfce, KDE, and Fluxbox. Has a large community of 'respins' (kind of like reskins with specific software included). Includes a bunch of 'MX tools' that allow you to do a lot of interesting technical/tinkering related stuff. Works well on lower powered/older hardware, and has similar live USB features as antiX (they have a development co-op).

Hindrances: All the 'MX tool' features may be a bit overwhelming to newcomers. Some versions also don't use systemd, but it is an option that can be enabled/included (again, not something a beginner would want to deal with).

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Debian

Benefits: Highly customizable on a system level, and can be tailored to almost any hardware or use case. Huge userbase, so community/troubleshooting support should be easier to find. Built for long term stability. Can be paired with almost any desktop environment, and offers GNOME, KDE, Xfce, Cinnamon, MATE, LXDE, LXQt in the 'DVD ISO'.

Hindrances: Really not a beginner distro, maaaaaaaybe when paired with KDE or GNOME and installed via their respective live ISOs, but even finding those might be confusing. The stability leads to out of date software, the customizability can be rough for a beginner, and the documentation/wiki is pretty hard to follow. Numerous ISOs available on their website, it can be confusing to decide which one is needed/wanted. Installing: often the 'graphical installer' won't work so use the basic option, it asks if you want to add a local mirror for repo sources and it hovers on 'No' which if you skip will add no sources at all requiring you to add them manually/copy them from someone else online, throughout the whole install 'enter' is the button that you confirm choices with until choosing a desktop environment which is checked on/off [*] with spacebar then confirmed with enter. Installing multiple desktop environments usually includes all of their basic apps, so you end up with double file managers, text editors, terminals, etc.

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Bodhi Linux

Honestly kinda said everything relevant in the Moksha section.

Ubuntu

Benefits: Huge userbase, high compatibility and functionality. Available in a wide variety of desktop environments (referred to as 'flavours'). Once set up it is easy to use for a beginner

Hindrances: Corporate run, pushes 'snaps' app file type (that they own/develop) which may be annoying if you don't want to use them. In the base GNOME version, the software centre can't update itself while running, so you need to do a command line fix straight away. This seems like a problem that enterprise customers (businesses) would solve easily, but is needlessly frustrating for a regular user.

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Zorin OS

Benefits: Kind of like base Ubuntu but actually intended for normal people to use. Uses GNOME but modifies it to look like Windows 11. Comes with some Wine software preinstalled (bottles) for running windows programs/apps. Decent and easy to read documentation/guides for beginners, probably the best I have come across.

Hindrances: The free 'core' version has less stuff preinstalled (not really big issue). Can get round the clock technical support but only if you pay $40, otherwise they have forums that are free to access.

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What I actually use

I don't know if I am a good candidate for 'average user', I have an aversion to tailoring things to my use and usually opt for adapting to what's already available. I don't think this approach is good, it's just easy and requires little work to function. I hate developing muscle memory for one device and not being able to apply it to another near identical one. With that in mind, these are the distros/desktops I use and why.

Linux Mint - Xfce

I use this on my main PC, and will put it on laptops for other people. I like the clear information provided with Xfce and it's customizability. Mint has good multimedia & gaming compatibility and requires way less fussing around (usually none) to just function normally.

Debian 12 - Xfce & KDE Plasma

This is on my laptop, it's kind of cooked. I initially used it more as a tester to; get more comfortable with base Debian, try out desktop environments (GNOME, LXQt have been installed/uninstalled), and to test Waydroid (needs Wayland so GNOME or KDE). Xfce was always the main desktop, and I kept KDE because it was really useful and nice, but it eats like half the RAM when I have a browser open. Eventually I will do a clean install of just Xfce on Debian, MX, or Mint. This thing is a bit of a mess atm after uninstalling multiple desktops left apps behind. I use it daily though, especially since my main PC broke.

antiX - IceWM

Made my old laptop from 2011 fuction like normal again. I have previously used antiX on my main laptop too where it worked great for many months. Sits on this laptop at roughly 200-250MB of RAM most of the time (until a browser is opened). Mostly use this for trying stuff out in antiX, or typing/website stuff.

Linux Mint - Cinnamon

This is on my partner's laptop and works perfectly fine for regular use. I sometimes use it when I want to do something as simply as possible, Mint's USB stick apps and disk management app are easy to use. Also had this on my main PC for several months, and will put it on other people's computers if they wanna move over from Windows 10.

Other Setups

MX Linux - KDE Plasma: Recently testing this out on a Dell Optiplex 7050 micro that was previously used as a server. I wanted a more usable, feature rich, and easily customizable desktop to use as a portable PC around the house. Mostly as a TV box (KDE's app dashboard is readable from a distance) or for lower resource games. I have been using it daily though in lieu of my main PC until I fix that. In the future I may loan it to a friend.

Debian 13 - LXQt & OpenBox: This was a really simple low resource server setup that I have because I wanted something in between a desktop and command line. LXQt just helped with setup and installing OpenBox, it also populates the OpenBox menu with essential apps. Sits idle on a HP Prodesk 600 G3 SFF at like 150-650MB RAM running a Bedrock Minecraft Server.

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Further Notes