The Verdict
Ubuntu alternatives
Overall, we were impressed with what we saw. All of the distributions we’ve considered succeed in offering the feel of a customised OS experience rather than a generic Linux build with a standard desktop slapped on top. They all made the standard Ubuntu desktop look a bit stale in comparison while benefiting from the rock-solid underpinning that Ubuntu offers.verall, we were impressed with what we saw. All of the distributions we’ve considered succeed in offering the feel of a customised OS experience rather than a generic Linux build with a standard desktop slapped on top.
We’ve decided to make Pop!_OS the overall winner against strong competition. We got on well with the COSMIC desktop environment. It’s bound to be a subjective experience, but the default aesthetic appealed to us, and we felt that the desktop workflow, which can largely be carried out from the keyboard, was fast and efficient. The software selection is slim without being bare-boned, but between the Ubuntu repositories and Flatpak, it should be possible to install anything else that’s required with ease.