The Linux Distro Makes It Super Easy For Me To Create, Edit, And Stream - Here's How

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Neptune Linux is geared toward multimedia but offers more.
• Casual and precocious users will admit this distribution.
• Neptune Linux tin beryllium downloaded and utilized for free.

There are plentifulness of niche Linux distributions connected nan market, immoderate of which you've astir apt ne'er heard of aliases would ne'er use. Then location are those pinch a intent that mightiness entice you to see them arsenic your regular desktop OS.

Consider this: How overmuch multimedia do you consume? I'm talking videos, music, images, YouTube, podcasts, you sanction it. If you walk a bully magnitude of clip pinch multimedia (either listening/watching aliases creating), why not usage an operating strategy that was created specifically for that purpose? After all, you don't want to person to return nan clip to instal nan applications you request aliases nan codecs required to devour each of that multimedia, right?

That's why location are Linux distributions specified arsenic Neptune connected nan market. 

According to nan Neptune website, "Neptune focuses connected providing an elegant out-of-the-box acquisition for users. Therefore, we vessel a bully and elemental wide look and consciousness arsenic good arsenic a full bunch of multimedia tools, for illustration codecs, Flash player, audio, and video player."

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To that end, you'll find apps for illustration Amarok, Ardour, Kamoso, Kdenlive, Audacity, Encode, VLC media player, Xjadeo, GIMP, Darktable, Inkscape, and KColorChooser. On apical of that, nan developers person baked successful Flatpak to nan desktop app store, truthful you tin easy instal proprietary apps for illustration Spotify. 

Not only did I move nan default theme, but I installed Spotify for moreover much euphony enjoyment.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Neptune is simply a Linux distribution for those who spot a premium connected multimedia and don't want to return nan clip to configure their OS specified that it tin play aliases create audio, visual, and creator media.

What is Neptune?

Obviously, Neptune is simply a Linux distribution. More specifically, Neptune is based connected Debian Stable and ships pinch nan KDE Plasma desktop environment. On apical of that, Neptune was created specified that it tin beryllium utilized straight from a USB flash drive, truthful you tin transportation your favourite Linux distribution pinch you. Plug that USB thrust into immoderate PC, footwear it up, and you person Neptune Linux astatine nan ready.

Neptune ships pinch a reasonably caller kernel (6.12.43 retired of nan box) arsenic good arsenic KDE Plasma 6.3, updated applications, and halfway libraries, a caller installer, and a refined KDE Plasma desktop. Neptune 9.0 ("Maja") is based connected Debian 13 ("Trixie") and is only disposable for 64-bit hardware (which has go nan modular astatine this point). 

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After installing Neptune, I logged successful and was greeted by a dark-themed KDE Plasma (which is simply a pet peeve of mine). I instantly switched nan KDE Plasma taxable to a lighter type (Settings > Plasma Style) and went astir nan business of testing.

Also: I recovered a Linux distro that combines nan champion parts of different operating systems (and it works)

My first trial was for audio. I played respective formats (such arsenic .mp3, .m4a, .ogg, .wav, etc.) and each played flawlessly. I besides streamed euphony from Spotify pinch zero issues. I past did nan aforesaid point for video (both section files and YouTube) and recovered zero issues. In fact, everything I did pinch respect to multimedia worked… retired of nan box. 

If Spotify is your euphony work of choice, you'll find it successful KDE Discover.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

With astir Ubuntu aliases Debian-based Linux distributions, you get nan prime of adding third-party codecs during nan installation process. With Neptune, that is assumed, truthful you don't person to do thing to guarantee your euphony and video files will play.

"It conscionable works" is specified a bully point to opportunity astir a Linux distribution (which happens to beryllium much and much commonplace these days). 

Beyond multimedia

Neptune Linux isn't conscionable astir multimedia. In fact, location are plentifulness of pre-installed applications that will fto you beryllium imaginative aliases nutrient correct retired of nan gate. I've already mentioned immoderate of nan imaginative devices (such arsenic GIMP and Audacity), but you besides get LibreOffice, Chromium, Thunderbird, Kate (text editor), KDE Connect, Konversation (IRC client), Back In Time (backups), Timeshift (system restore), and more.

In different words, I would telephone Neptune much of an all-around Linux desktop distribution pinch a attraction connected multimedia. And because Neptune is based connected Debian Stable, you tin stake it's stone solid. During my testing period, I didn't brushwood a azygous rumor that had to beryllium dealt with. From installation to usage, Neptune was arsenic bully arsenic immoderate OS I've used. And pinch KDE Plasma astatine nan bosom of nan desktop, you cognize it tin beryllium configured to look and behave nevertheless you want. 

To that end, I tin happily study that Neptune is simply a Linux distribution that is perfectly suited for each personification types. Whether you're a creator, a consumer, a worker, a developer, aliases only request an OS for casual browsing, Neptune could beryllium nan perfect replacement for Windows 10. 

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There is 1 caveat I would mention: if you're a gamer, location will beryllium a spot of other activity needed. You'll person to instal Wine, Steam, and a fewer different bits and pieces to guarantee you tin play nan games you like. However, I would besides urge gamers effort one of these distributions.

All successful all, Neptune is simply a awesome distribution for multimedia arsenic good arsenic wide usage. Download an ISO, burn it to a flash drive, and instal it (or conscionable transportation it astir pinch you to usage erstwhile Windows is nan only option).