Can't Upgrade To Windows 11? I Found The Best Linux Distro To Replace Your Windows 10 Pc

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• SDesk is disposable now, free of charge, and you tin instal it connected arsenic galore computers arsenic you need.
• It's a accelerated and dependable Linux distribution pinch a personification interface that anyone will beryllium instantly acquainted with.
• I knowledgeable immoderate insignificant issues during my setup, which were elemental to resolve.

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I wouldn't usually propose an Arch-based Linux distribution for caller users, but each truthful often, I travel crossed 1 that challenges my perceptions. Recently, I discovered an Arch-based Linux distro called SDesk, and location couldn't beryllium a clearer usage lawsuit for it.

Firstly, SDesk is reasonably straightforward and doesn't do overmuch to guidelines retired from nan ever-growing database of Linux distributions. Sometimes, that's a bully thing. I wasn't judge what to expect aft installing and logging successful to this desktop distribution, but erstwhile I did, everything felt instantly familiar.

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SDesk opts for nan GNOME desktop, which is configured to lucifer a "standard" desktop that would beryllium acquainted to some Windows and MacOS users. On nan interface, you'll find a panel, a menu, a apical bar, favorites, and desktop icons. On nan apical bar, there's nan Workspaces fastener (far left), nan time/date (which, erstwhile clicked, opens notifications and calendar), and nan strategy tray.

The database of pre-installed applications is besides reasonably standard, including:

• LibreOffice (office suite)
• Geary (email)
  
• GNOME Music (music player)
  
• GNOME Video (video player)
  
• Octopi (GUI package manager)
  
• GNOME Maps
  
• Swirl (web browser)
  

Of course, if you don't find nan app you need, you tin ever instal it pinch Octopi or Flatpak. 

The 1 curiosity I encountered was Swirl, which isn't based connected either Chromium aliases Firefox. In fact, I haven't had overmuch luck uncovering immoderate accusation astir this web browser. I tin show you that Swirl is reasonably minimal, pinch very fewer settings. It useful fine, but I'm not fresh to urge a browser, since I can't find overmuch accusation astir it. You tin ever instal Chromium aliases Firefox utilizing Octopi. I installed Firefox and it runs rather well.

The grade of nan Swirl Browser settings.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

What I like

I really admit really nan developers created a GNOME layout that should entreaty to astir users. It's clean, it's easy, and it looks rather good. It's besides adjuvant that nan distribution ships pinch astir of nan devices you'll request (the superior being a web browser and an agency suite). I would, however, propose you instal Firefox aliases Chromium (as I mentioned earlier).

The capacity is besides rather good. I recovered applications responded instantly, thing stalled, and apps installed quickly. This is reasonably emblematic of Arch-based distributions, truthful I wasn't astatine each surprised.

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There's besides model snapping, which SDesk does well. Most Linux desktops person this feature, but immoderate limit nan basal configuration to half of nan display. SDesk takes this a measurement further and allows you to resistance a model to immoderate of nan 4 quarters of nan screen.

Here you tin spot 3 windows open, each snapped successful its ain convenient location.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

What I don't like

SDesk is simply a reasonably caller distribution, which intends it tin beryllium a spot unsmooth astir nan edges. Let maine explain.

After nan accustomed information of testing (installing applications, tinkering pinch nan settings, etc.), I ran an update and rebooted nan machine. Upon reboot, I went to log in, and nan desktop locked up. This happened aft selecting nan default personification that popped up successful nan login window. I did a speedy trial (after a difficult reboot) and clicked "Not Listed." After entering my password, I successfully logged in. I'm judge this is simply a bug that nan developers will soon fix.

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Another rumor was multimedia playback. Out of nan box, SDesk doesn't person nan codecs to play MP3 aliases MP4 files. Fortunately, this rumor was easy resolved by installing nan VLC media subordinate for illustration so:

Once I installed VLC, I could play immoderate I needed.

Bottom line

Other than those 2 caveats, I recovered SDesk to beryllium a viable Arch Linux-inspired distro for conscionable astir immoderate user. As pinch immoderate Linux desktop OS, location really wasn't overmuch I couldn't do. After installing a fewer elemental apps, I recovered SDesk could service conscionable astir immoderate purpose.

It's a beautiful, simple, fast, and reliable OS. What much do you request from a desktop operating system? You mightiness moreover find yourself preferring it complete your Windows desktop. You tin download an ISO for SDesk here.