Did you know that there is an entire ecosystem of Ubuntu-based distributions, each with their own unique features and superpowers? You may be wondering: if Ubuntu works so well, why bother with these alternatives? Here are five reasons why you should explore the wide world of Ubuntu-based distributions.
Although Ubuntu is a jack of all trades, some of its offshoots are geared towards specific needs and workflows. Let’s look at a few outstanding examples:
Ubuntu Studio: A multimedia powerhouse
If you plan to use Ubuntu primarily for media production, you should check out Ubuntu Studio. This is an official version of Ubuntu that provides an optimized environment for audio production, video editing, and graphic design. To save time, the distribution also comes pre-installed with a wide selection of the most popular and powerful free and open source (FOSS) creative tools. These include:
You also get dedicated tools like Ubuntu Studio Controls and Ubuntu Studio Audio Configuration to easily manage audio settings like latency and sample rate adjustment.
Edubuntu: Learning is fun
Edubuntu is, as the name suggests, an official version of Ubuntu optimized for educational purposes. It is primarily aimed at schools, but you can also install it on your child’s home computer. The distribution gives you the basic Ubuntu experience with plenty of pre-installed learning tools and software. These include:
- Art
- Tux Paint for painting
- Slide for editing diagrams, graphs and tables
- mathematics
- Science
- Language and learning
- Games
- Blinking, a memory game that helps children remember sequences
- Li-ri, a simple children’s game for managing railway tracks
The distribution also includes a tool that allows administrators to control which apps are visible to non-administrator users – the Edubuntu Menu Manager.
This is a great parental control option to ensure that children can only access the apps and features they need on the computer and do not accidentally enter harmful commands.
2 You can emulate the user experience of Windows or Mac
Switching from Windows or macOS to Linux can be daunting. Fortunately, some Ubuntu-based distributions aim to ease this transition by mimicking familiar interfaces.
Zorin OS: Windows 7, is that you?
Zorin OS is my first choice for users looking for a Windows-like Linux distribution. The entire interface is a heavily customized version of GNOME to replicate the look and feel of Windows, especially the layout of Windows 7.
You get a taskbar at the bottom where all running apps and pinned apps are displayed, an application menu on the left and the taskbar on the right. Then you have Support for Windows appswhich installs Wine along with Bottles to help you run Windows apps on Zorin OS.
Wine and Bottles isn’t perfect and can’t run all Windows apps smoothly. It works well for simple apps, but struggles with more complex apps.
Overall, if you’re a Windows user who’s curious about Linux but afraid of change, Zorin OS offers you a gentle introduction to the world of penguins.
elementary OS: Apple aesthetics with Linux kernel
For those coming from the Apple ecosystem, elementary OS offers a clean, elegant and minimalistic interface reminiscent of macOS. You get a dock at the bottom and a bar at the top similar to macOS. When you use the distribution, you can sense that the developers were extremely concerned about the user experience.
In fact, I’d say this is by far one of the most user-friendly distros I’ve tried. Almost everything you need to do can be done with GUI tools – no terminal required. Overall, elementary OS is definitely worth a try if you’re new to Linux, want something that looks like macOS, and prefer ease of use over extensive customizability.
3 You will discover different desktop environments
Simply put, the Desktop Environment (DE) determines the look and feel of your Linux distribution. Ubuntu uses a customized version of GNOME as its desktop environment. But if you don’t like GNOME, you don’t necessarily have to give up Ubuntu – especially if you like everything else about Ubuntu. Instead, you can just use one of the Ubuntu flavors with a different desktop environment. Here are some notable mentions:
- Kubuntu: Runs on KDE Plasma. It offers a highly customizable and feature-rich user experience.
- Xubuntu: Runs on Xfce. It offers a lightweight desktop that is ideal for older hardware and users who prefer the classic desktop look.
- Lubuntu: Runs on LXQt. Provides an ultra-lightweight desktop environment for low-end computers and minimalists.
- Ubuntu MATE: Runs MATE. It is based on GNOME 2 and combines modern functionality with a classic user interface.
- Ubuntu Cinnamon: Runs on Cinnamon. It offers a traditional Windows-like desktop experience with modern features.
- Ubuntu Unity: Runs Unity, the official DE for Ubuntu until version 17.10, after which GNOME became the default.
- Ubuntu Budgie: Runs Budgie, a fast and simple DE that is fully customizable while still having a relatively small footprint.
You can technically install a different desktop environment on top of your existing Ubuntu installation using GNOME, but I would advise against it as it may add conflicting packages that may cause problems later.
4 You can avoid snap packages
Ubuntu is currently making a massive push for Snap apps, and I and some other users don’t like that. Unfortunately, I can’t download many popular apps on Ubuntu using the traditional APT command. For example, apps like Spotify, Discord, and Slack cannot be downloaded using APT without additional configuration, and Ubuntu recommends downloading them using Snap.
You may be able to get around this issue by disabling Snap and installing Flatpak on Ubuntu, which is a viable alternative to Snap. However, if you want to avoid this hassle, you can simply opt for an Ubuntu-based distribution like Linux Mint, which doesn’t support Snap in the first place. In fact, Flatpak support is built into Linux Mint, and you can easily download Flatpak apps from the terminal as well as the software store.
5 You get better hardware compatibility
While Ubuntu generally has good hardware support, some of its derivatives go a step further for certain hardware configurations.
Xubuntu: Bringing old PCs back to life
Ubuntu is a relatively lightweight operating system compared to Windows. However, it is rather heavyweight in the Linux world. The recommended system requirements for installing Ubuntu are 4GB of RAM, a 2GHz dual-core processor, and around 25GB of storage space.
Xubuntu uses the same Ubuntu core but foregoes the bulky GNOME desktop environment in favor of the lighter XFCE. In fact, it’s so lightweight that it can breathe new life into your old laptop. The recommended specs to run the distribution are 2GB of RAM, a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, and 20GB of storage space.
Pop!_OS: Ideal for NVIDIA users
NVIDIA drivers on Linux have never been the best. And while the situation is evolving and improving, it is still far from perfect. Now, if you are an NVIDIA user using Ubuntu, the operating system will install the open source NVIDIA drivers, known as Nouveau drivers, by default. Performance with these drivers is not the best, and ideally you should install the proprietary NVIDIA drivers.
However, sometimes driver conflicts can occur when the proprietary drivers are installed after installing the open source drivers, which can lead to graphical issues, black screens, and even boot issues. To avoid this, I recommend using Pop!_OS if you have NVIDIA devices. Pop!_OS gives you the same Ubuntu core with the added benefit of having NVIDIA drivers pre-installed with the installation ISO.
Conflicts between open source Nouveau drivers and proprietary NVIDIA drivers are not as common as they once were, but if you are using an Ubuntu with an NVIDIA GPU and are experiencing graphics issues, switching to Pop!_OS may solve these problems.
Ubuntu is a fantastic distribution on its own, but the family of derivatives offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for specialized tools, familiar interfaces, or cutting-edge features, there’s probably an Ubuntu-based distribution that will meet your needs.
