Extix's New Release Is An Even Better Windows 11-like Linux Desktop

1 week ago

Back successful 2022, I reviewed ExTiX pinch nan thought of utilizing it to get nan Deepin desktop experience, without nan imaginable security/privacy issues associated pinch Deepin Linux.

Now ExTiX has a caller release, based connected Deepin 25 Stable. This caller merchandise vastly improves connected nan acquisition to present a desktop pinch a layout that would make immoderate Windows 11 personification consciousness correct astatine home, only location are nary intrusive ads, unexpected reboots, aliases concerns that thing will travel crashing down. When you first log into ExTiX, you'll deliberation you're utilizing a Microsoft OS. You're not... this is decidedly Linux. And though nan installation tin beryllium somewhat tricky, erstwhile it's up and running, ExTiX arsenic as user-friendly arsenic astir operating systems.

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There's moreover nan UOS AI tool, which tin beryllium utilized pinch section models (for free), by first installing nan Embedding Plugins excessively (you'll beryllium prompted to instal this erstwhile you unfastened nan UOS AI instrumentality settings nether Model Configuration.

Once nan Embedding Plugins app is installed, you tin adhd section models for illustration ULLM-1.5B, ULLM-7B, and DeepSeek-R1-1.5B. I added DeepSeek to effort nan UOS AI app to spot really it fared, and nan extremity consequence was decidedly impressive. Do support successful mind that if you opt to spell nan section AI route, make judge you're hardware has nan powerfulness for it because localized AI tin beryllium a strategy drain.

ExTiX ships pinch Deepin Browser (based connected Chromium), Firefox, and each nan Deepin apps (Mail, Music, Terminal, Calendar, etc.). The 1 point ExTiX doesn't see is an agency suite. Fortunately, you tin unfastened nan App Store, hunt for immoderate it is you need, and instal it.

Speaking of which, location are 2 package head beforehand ends recovered successful Deepin - nan default (which I judge comes from Deepin Linux) and Synaptic. Both activity well, but support successful mind that strategy updates are handled wrong nan Deepin App Store, truthful you will want to usage it.

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One point ExTiX doesn't vessel pinch is 1 of nan cosmopolitan package managers (Flatpak and Snap). You tin instal either utilizing nan apt package manager, specified as:

sudo apt-get instal snapd -y
sudo apt-get instal flatpak -y

If you request proprietary apps for illustration Slack and Spotify, you'll want to astatine slightest adhd Snap.

You will besides find a class successful nan App Store, called Linyaps App, which offers an array of package titles that are installed via Deepin's linyaps cosmopolitan package manager. You won't find a ton of apps here, and galore of them really aren't worthy your time, but you could travel crossed an app that could thief you beryllium much productive aliases entertained.

One facet of ExTiX that I very overmuch respect is really nan default Deepin apps blend successful truthful seamlessly, almost to a MacOS level. To date, nan only different Linux distribution I would person made that declare for was elementaryOS, truthful this is thing special.

As acold arsenic nan layout is concerned, you get nan accustomed bits and pieces (panel, launchpad, clickable icons, strategy tray, etc) that are each put together successful a very Windows 11 fashion. The only point missing (besides nan intrusive ads) is simply a hint of transparency and blur. You tin springiness nan sheet immoderate transparency successful Settings > Personalization > Opacity. Oddly enough, this only applies to nan sheet and thing else.

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The Personalization conception of ExTix settings.

Then there's nan Deepin Home icon, which opens a Deepin Welcome App that is well-designed and helpful. The invited app includes sections for communication, bug reporting, suggestions, resources, and links to apps and sites truthful you tin thief pinch ExTiX.

There's besides a instrumentality called nan Grand Search, which (in theory) should beryllium capable to hunt for thing (files, folders, documents, applications, settings, videos, etc.). This instrumentality is rather impressive, and I wish each distribution would see specified a thing.

The ExTix Grand Search instrumentality successful action.

Downloading nan ISO

This is wherever things get a spot tricky. If you spell to nan ExTiX website, you'll find it to beryllium a connection crockery of accusation that really doesn't do nan distribution justness aliases imaginable users immoderate favors. I scanned and scanned done nan tract to find an ISO download link, but came up pinch nothing. Instead, I did a speedy hunt pinch my favourite hunt motor and recovered nan download connected Sourceforge.

Once you person nan ISO, you tin instal ExTiX, but support successful mind that location isn't an icon connected nan desktop (or successful nan menu) branded "Install ExTiX." Instead, you instal via nan Refactor installer, which astatine first seems a spot intimidating, but you should quickly get nan bent of really it works. Another point to support successful mind is that nan installer cannot partition your drive, truthful you'll beryllium prompted to unfastened GParted, wherever you tin adhd a partition array and past a partition. It's not hard.

In nan end, I recovered nan latest type of ExTiX to beryllium an absolute delight of a desktop distribution. If you person a spare machine aliases tin rotation up a virtual machine, I highly urge giving ExTiX a try.