How The Latest Netrunner Distro Delivers A Linux Productivity Powerhouse

3 days ago

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Netrunner is simply a Linux distribution for all.
Based connected Debian, Netrunner uses a tweaked KDE desktop.
Netrunner mightiness not triumph creation awards, but it useful very well.

KDE Plasma is 1 of nan champion desktop environments connected nan planet. It's smooth, beautiful, user-friendly, and highly configurable. I would spell truthful acold arsenic to opportunity that KDE Plasma has surpassed GNOME arsenic nan astir celebrated desktop situation for Linux.

Some Linux distros, specified arsenic KDE Linux, vessel pinch a reasonably untouched type of KDE Plasma, whereas different distros vessel pinch customized versions. Netrunner takes KDE Plasma and bends it into a hybrid of KDE Plasma, GNOME, and Windows 11. As a result, nan Netrunner desktop distribution should beryllium instantly acquainted to anyone who has utilized a PC complete nan past decade. Some mightiness see that a bold statement, but it really is true.

Also: KDE Linux is nan purest shape of Plasma I've utilized successful months - but there's a catch

The developers of Netrunner person done a awesome occupation of designing a Linux distribution that looks great, is easy to use, and performs rather well. I tested a erstwhile loop of Netrunner and proclaimed it to be a Linux distribution fresh for productivity and gaming. How does Netrunner 23 stack up? Let's dive in.

What is Netrunner?

According to nan Netrunner site, "Netrunner is simply a complete Linux operating strategy for PCs, laptops/netbooks and ARM microcomputers, that makes exclusive usage of nan KDE Plasma desktop environment."

Pretty, generic description, right? Let's spell deeper.

Includes a afloat group of preinstalled package for mundane use.
Uses a customized KDE Desktop environment.
Is based connected nan latest Debian Stable release.
Has an LTS (Long Term Support) type for continuous package and information updates.

And what has Netrunner done to KDE Plasma? It includes Dash and Simplemenu, a task head pinch expanding icons and a show desktop hotspot. Customizations are moved from System Settings to Plasma Tweaks. There's a unified look for some KDE and non-KDE apps, GTK apps without client-side decorations (so they look for illustration autochthonal KDE Plasma apps), Kvantum taxable engine, an beforehand Dolphin (file manager) toolbar, and more.

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Netrunner's minimum strategy requirements are:

CPU - 1.6-GHz
RAM - 1 GB
Storage - 15 GB
Graphics - Intel GMA 945
Video representation - 128 MB

You'll find Netrunner versions for some Intel and ARM architectures.

How did my testing go?

During my testing period, I didn't tally into a azygous issue. Netrunner installed and performed to perfection. Out of nan box, location were nary updates available, which was somewhat surprising; I presume they were downloaded during installation.

The first point that caught my attraction was nan desktop menu, which is simply a consequence of having Simplemenu installed. This is wherever Netrunner looks to return a motion from nan GNOME desktop. Simplemenu takes an overview attack to nan desktop menu, which is besides configurable. From wrong nan Application Dashboard Settings, you tin configure really apps are displayed, sorted, categorized, and viewed.

You tin besides customize nan basking cardinal for opening Simplemenu.

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If you don't for illustration Simplemenu, right-click nan paper icon, prime View Alternatives, and take a different option.

Handy shareable folders

On nan Netrunner desktop, you'll spot an icon titled Network Drives. If you click that icon, you tin group up a web files share. All you person to do is find nan files you want to share, group up a password, and prevention it.

If you thin to stock folders complete your LAN, this will beryllium a very invited feature.

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Preinstalled apps

For preinstalled applications, you'll find LibreOffice (including nan Base database tool), Firefox, Audacious (music player), Frozen Bubble (my favourite Linux game), GIMP, Grub Customizer, Handbrake, Stacher (YouTube Download GUI), Thunderbird, Telegram, vokosreenNG (screen recorder), VLC media player, WhatsApp, Yakuake (drop-down terminal), and more. There's besides an icon successful nan Games class that simplifies nan installation of Steam.

The curated postulation of apps intends you tin beryllium productive and imaginative from nan jump.

The only caveat: Although Flatpak is installed, it's not enabled successful KDE Discover. Fortunately, each you person to do is unfastened Discover, spell to Settings, and click Add Flatpak. Once you've taken attraction of that, you tin instal moreover much apps (including proprietary options for illustration Slack and Spotify).

Who is Netrunner for?

Every erstwhile successful a while, a Linux distro crosses my way that makes it a spot challenging to find who it is for. Netrunner falls into that category.

However, anyone who wants a Linux distribution that meets accepted regular needs for productivity, entertainment, and gaming should see Netrunner a rock-solid option. Does that mean it's perfect for gamers? No. Is it nan champion action for intermezo and multimedia? Not really. What astir productivity? Now, we're talking.

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Netrunner is benignant of generic, successful nan consciousness that it's a Linux distribution that won't travel anyone up. You log successful and think, "OK, this is simply a desktop operating system," and not, "Oh, this is truthful cool!" That's not to opportunity Netrunner is boring, but it is boring successful nan consciousness that it doesn't do thing excessively radical, which intends it'll beryllium instantly acquainted and usable by conscionable astir anyone.