This Lightweight Linux Distro Makes Switching From Windows 10 Easy

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Lubuntu is simply a fast, easy Linux distribution for nan masses
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Lubuntu. Say it pinch me. Looboontoo. Has a bully ring, doesn't it?

Lubuntu isn't conscionable an adorable sanction that rolls disconnected nan lingua for illustration caramel. It's besides a Linux distribution that combines nan Ubuntu distribution and nan LXQT desktop. LXQT is simply a lightweight Linux desktop based connected nan Qt cross-platform exertion improvement framework. LXQT is fast, simple, useful good connected older hardware, is customizable, and includes a decent postulation of package to get you started.

Also: 5 lightweight Linux distributions that will bring your aged PC backmost to life

Lubuntu greatly benefits from nan operation of nan LXQT desktop and its Ubuntu base, truthful it's fast, reliable, and easy to use. Thanks to immoderate components borrowed from KDE Plasma (such arsenic nan Discover app store), it's very user-friendly.

What, exactly, makes Lubuntu truthful user-friendly? Let's return a look.

It's each astir nan desktop

There are 2 different routes to designing a Linux desktop:

  • Stick pinch what's familiar.
  • Make thing modern and different.

The wide statement is that if you want to pull caller users (specifically, those who typically usage Windows), you should spell nan acquainted route. The past point you want is to pull caller users only to person them awkward distant because they can't fig retired really to usage nan desktop.

Lubuntu went nan acquainted route.

Also: Want to prevention your aged computer? Try 1 of these 8 Linux distros for free

On nan desktop, you'll find a panel, a commencement menu, a strategy tray, and clickable icons. For nan mean user, nan Lubuntu desktop looks arsenic though it could beryllium designed by Microsoft.

Click connected nan "start" fastener and you'll spot a paper that's arsenic acquainted arsenic immoderate you've ever used. The applications are surgery into elemental categories, and you tin usage nan hunt section to find what you're looking for. You'll besides find 2 buttons astatine nan bottommost correct area of nan menu, 1 for nan powerfulness action and 1 to unfastened nan Configuration Center.

The Lubuntu desktop menu.

The Lubuntu paper is elemental to navigate.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

The Configuration Center is your settings app, wherever you tin customize nan appearance, brightness, day and time, nan desktop, record associations, keyboard and mouse, monitor, notifications, powerfulness management, and more. The Configuration Center is nan cleanable app for caller Linux users who want to do a spot of customization but don't want to get mislaid successful a postulation of analyzable options.

The only point that mightiness confuse you astir nan Configuration Center is nan Openbox introduction nether Other Settings. Openbox is nan default model head for Lubuntu, and wrong nan Configuration Center you tin alteration nan theme, appearance, fonts, windows, and overmuch more.

Also: 6 astir Windows-like Linux distros because aged habits dice hard

One of my favourite customizations for Openbox is wrong nan Mouse section, wherever you tin configure "focus follows mouse" by clicking "Focus windows erstwhile nan rodent pointer moves complete them" and past alteration "Raise windows erstwhile nan rodent pointer moves complete them." 

On apical of that, you tin alteration "Shades nan window" for nan "Double click connected nan titlebar" option. When you "shade" a window, nan model rolls up into nan titlebar. By doing this, you tin support each of these apps connected your desktop (without taking up excessively overmuch space), truthful multitasking is moreover easier.

The Lubuntu Shade action successful action.

I've ever loved nan Shade action for Linux app windows.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

I find this setup to beryllium astir arsenic businesslike arsenic it gets.

The 1 missing portion for Lubuntu is nan expertise to easy stock folders connected your LAN. Unfortunately, nan default record head doesn't connection this, truthful you mightiness see installing Dolphin. Even then, you person to instal Samba and nan kdenetwork-filesharing package. You tin instal them each together pinch a azygous command:

sudo apt-get instal kdenetwork-filesharing libsmbclient samba smbclient dolphin -y

Also: While Windows 10 users panic, Ubuntu makes extending support easy - here's how

If you don't request to stock folders crossed your LAN, don't interest astir nan above.

Performance

Beyond easiness of use, 1 of nan astir awesome aspects of Lubuntu is nan sheer velocity of nan desktop. It's fast. Really fast. If you're coming from Windows 10, you'll beryllium shocked astatine really accelerated this desktop operating strategy is.

Also: The easiest measurement to effort retired Ubuntu Linux

Everything you do connected Lubuntu is fast. Click to unfastened an app and it's instantly there, fresh to go. Even apps for illustration LibreOffice unfastened lightning fast. Because of this, you'll find Lubuntu is simply a awesome action for replacing Windows 10 and will vastly outperform nan Microsoft OS.

In nan end, Lubuntu is simply a elemental operating strategy that isn't going to travel you up and propulsion you for a loop. With velocity to spare, it's tin of bringing older hardware backmost to life pinch astonishing velocity and ease.

If you're willing successful giving this OS a try, download an ISO from nan charismatic Lubuntu site, pain it to a USB drive, and instal it connected a spare machine. You won't regret nan clip spent.

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