Linux Netbook Operating systems – A list
It is a proven fact that most Linux operating systems, if not all run like a duck soup on the netbooks now. That is why, it makes perfect sense to install them as a secondary operating system. We have compiled a list of compatible distros for the netbooks which support the hardware of the netbooks; are easy to install and run at acceptable speed.
1) Kubuntu Netbook Edition – Link
First on our list is the Kubuntu Netbook Remix. This might have surprised a few, but yes it deserves to be number one, thanks to its amazingly simple interface making full use of the screen real estate.
For those who have bemoaned Linux distros due to their ‘complexity’, they should surely give Kubuntu a try.
Review coming tomorrow
2) EeeBuntu – Link
The folks at EeeBuntu have one moto – make their Debian-based OS compatible with as many netbooks out there. Their EeeBuntu v3 was a huge success, which supported even the first generation netbooks.
Hands down the most compatible OS for your netbook. Read our EeeBuntu review (version 3)
3) Ubuntu Netbook Edition – Link
For many it is the OS of choice, thanks to its easy to use interface, but for many, the lack of real desktop takes some time for getting used to.
Oh, and it is the most popular Linux distro too with just about same users as its Desktop edition.
4) Peppermint OS – link
The Peppermint is one understated operating system designed to be easy on your netbook’s processor and resources. Everything works out-of-the box. Recommended.
5) Lubuntu – Link
Although we are yet to try it on our netbooks, we have heard great things about. A GadgetMix reader, George installed it on his Acer Aspire D250 and it runs like a Cheetah! We promise to give it a test drive in near future for sure.
Lubuntu is based on LXDE environment
Other notable mentions:
LeeeNux: This is targeted towards the first generation netbooks (Asus Eee 700-series) which had Garfunkel 4GB SSD. It takes mere 1.2GB of storage space. Read our Leeenux review
- Link
Manhattan OS: It is being said that Manhattan OS is very light on the resources and is pretty zippy too. Link
Jolicloud OS: Very capable and has received a lot of hype, thanks to blokes at techcrunch. Great for those with GMA 500 netbooks as it supports the chip out-of-the box. – Link
Pity that techcrunch does not promote other Linux distros.
gOS 3.1 – Made for the netbook dudes obsessed with cloud computing. Looks amazing, isn’t it? – Link
Mint OS: Wish there was a netbook edition, but to many this is the most complete Linux OS – comes with tones of proprietary drivers. Read Mint OS review – Link (thanks David for the suggestion!)
Puppy Linux: If you want a live OS that is very very fast, download and install puppy linux on the USB flash drive. And of course, just like any Linux OS, this too can be installed on hard drive. Puppy takes mere 100MB of storage on your HDD. *Wof* *wof* – Link
In the coming months, Ubuntu Unity OS will be launched, which sports boot time of 7 seconds, but it would not be ‘complete OS’. It will feature only a web browser, mail client and terminal. One would not be able to install or remove apps from the OS.
Verdict -
There is this feeling that one gets when using an Open source operating system. We do not need to find our apps on torrents to get the things working, like in case of Windows. Almost everything is there in the software centers in Linux and installation is easy as a goose.
It makes us sad when we say this but Linux is far from perfection. Lack of support from big software houses is something that is preventing most of the netbook users to switch completely to Linux. Perhaps that perception will change in future as more and more companies announce support for Linux. Until then, it is *still* worth installing Linux as a secondary OS on our netbooks
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Fie on me. I never knew that Kubuntu Netbook edition actually existed! Downloading it now, from a torrent ;) It has to be good since it has made to the top of the list, right?
I hate prism and for that very reason I despise any OS having the stupid prism pre-installed. The core reason to hate Jolicloud. HATE YOU!
+1 for Lubuntu. Running smooth as butter on my Eee 1000H Eee pc
Hey man!!
Thank you for the list.
On nearly every netbook install I’ve done I have installed PCLinuxOS for a simple reason the if you run KDE4 which runs well you also get the netbook variant with it (Configure your Desktop -> Look & Feel -> Desktop -> Workspace).
If people aren’t happy with KDE then it is very easy to install LXDE, XFCE, Gnome, or E.
On my Lenovo S10 (I got a larger HDD and upped to 2gb of RAM), Win7 Premium, PCLoS (KDE4 and xfce), with XP running in VirtualBox..
The only downside with PCLoS is that it is not the quickest booter but it is very stable, a rolling release, nicely designed and put together.
A lot of those you mentioned were Ubuntu releases or it derivatives so it is strange you didn’t mention Mint which has many of the proprietory drivers required for wireless, webcams etc..
Hi David. You are right – mint is one of the most complete Linux operating system I have ever used. I will add to the list.
BTW, while you are correct that most are customized Ubuntu releases, a normal netbook user is not technical enough to change the Windows managers and so on. That is why, we have seen so many variants which cater to different types of users.
Power users will go for the Arch Linux and will customize it to their heart’s content, while a novice user may just go for something like Eeebuntu as it comes with most of the netbook utilities pre-installed
Can anybody share their experience in comparing PC Linux OS and Mint Linux for driver compability out of the box experience for Desktops and UMPCs.
Khawar
Hey Khawar, I’ve always been a Mint user and it comes with a lot more drivers than Ubuntu. Also, if you are new to Linux, I would recommend installing Mint as it comes with all the plugins built-in
Thanks for the mention of Manhattan OS! :)
The attitude that Linux should be considered as a “secondary installation” on netbooks or any other computer for that matter is what is what is really holding Linux back, in my opinion.
The “Big Software Houses” would get off their collective butts and jump if they knew substantial numbers of Users were running Linux as their primary system, even if that meant certain compromises had to be made and it would not be long before said compromises would come to an end as the support for Linux would appear.
I have switched to Linux and it is the PRIMARY OS on all my machines and yes that has caused me so some inconvenience but not nearly enough to make me return to the old way. So yes Linux is not perfect but then neither is any other OS.
I am a bit of a noob, but one thing that is really great with all the linux distros, no matter what you use them for: if you don’t like it, you’re not stuck with it, you can change it, adapt it, download another, and it will only cost you the time to learn to do it!