Debian derivatives
KDE Neon
In 2014, KDE began numbering releases of its framework, Plasma desktop environment, and software compilations separately. This change was made because these three areas of development progressed at different rates, and developers did not want to hold back just to keep all three in sync. Mainly for this reason, Kubuntu founder Jonathan Riddell started KDE Neon [17] to showcase the latest development in all three areas.
KDE Neon is not primarily intended for everyday work, although it is installed on KDE Slimbook computers. Rather, it is a snapshot of recent developments in advance of what is included in the software compilations. Some releases may not work smoothly on some systems.
Tails
Tails [18] is a Debian derivative that has become a leading distribution for privacy. Running from a flash drive, DVD, or virtual machine, Tails was inspired by Incognito, a similar Gentoo-based distribution, and its development was funded by the Tor Project as well as Debian. The distro received general recognition because of its use by Edward Snowden.
Tails offers a Gnome desktop outfitted with security tools for encrypted messaging, email, and newsfeeds. Other tools are used for anonymous file sharing, ad blocking, and Bitcoin transactions. Perhaps the most important tool is Tor, which allows for anonymous browsing and blocks incoming traffic that is not anonymous.
All of these tools take time to set up. However, Tails' documentation removes the need for any previous expertise. As a result, just about anyone can have a well-protected system in a matter of hours.
elementary OS
The homepage for elementary OS [19] describes it as "The fast, open, and privacy-respecting replacement for Windows and macOS." However, elementary OS is better-known as the leading representative of recent distributions that focus on aesthetics. Based on Ubuntu, it sports a heavily modified Gnome desktop with its own window manager, dock, mail client, and desktop utilities. The result is frequently compared to macOS or to Debian derivatives like deepin and Zorin that similarly emphasize a beautiful and functional desktop.
Traditionally, aesthetics have been ignored on the Linux desktop in favor of function, so elementary OS is appreciated by many users. However, its attractiveness sometimes comes at the price of fewer customizations than expert users prefer. Potential users should also be aware that, despite a structure to encourage a $20 payment for downloading, elementary OS can be downloaded for free by entering a zero dollar payment instead.
« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
![Learn More](https://www.linux-magazine.com/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/media/linux-magazine-eng-us/images/misc/learn-more/834592-1-eng-US/Learn-More_medium.png)
News
-
NVIDIA Released Driver for Upcoming NVIDIA 560 GPU for Linux
Not only has NVIDIA released the driver for its upcoming CPU series, it's the first release that defaults to using open-source GPU kernel modules.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 24.07 Released
If you’re into rolling release Linux distributions, OpenMandriva ROME has a new snapshot with a new kernel.
-
Kernel 6.10 Available for General Usage
Linus Torvalds has released the 6.10 kernel and it includes significant performance increases for Intel Core hybrid systems and more.
-
TUXEDO Computers Releases InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9 Laptop
Sporting either AMD or Intel CPUs, the TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 is an extremely compact, lightweight, sturdy powerhouse.
-
Google Extends Support for Linux Kernels Used for Android
Because the LTS Linux kernel releases are so important to Android, Google has decided to extend the support period beyond that offered by the kernel development team.
-
Linux Mint 22 Stable Delayed
If you're anxious about getting your hands on the stable release of Linux Mint 22, it looks as if you're going to have to wait a bit longer.
-
Nitrux 3.5.1 Available for Install
The latest version of the immutable, systemd-free distribution includes an updated kernel and NVIDIA driver.
-
Debian 12.6 Released with Plenty of Bug Fixes and Updates
The sixth update to Debian "Bookworm" is all about security mitigations and making adjustments for some "serious problems."
-
Canonical Offers 12-Year LTS for Open Source Docker Images
Canonical is expanding its LTS offering to reach beyond the DEB packages with a new distro-less Docker image.
-
Plasma Desktop 6.1 Released with Several Enhancements
If you're a fan of Plasma Desktop, you should be excited about this new point release.