In the ever-evolving landscape of Linux distributions, SDesk emerges as a noteworthy contender, particularly for those who may be hesitant to dive into the Arch-based realm. This distribution, available at no cost, allows users to install it on an unlimited number of computers, making it an accessible choice for many.
SDesk presents a user-friendly experience, leveraging the GNOME desktop environment configured to mirror the familiar layouts of both Windows and macOS. Upon logging in, users are greeted with a clean interface featuring a panel, menu, top bar, and desktop icons, ensuring a seamless transition for newcomers.
Pre-Installed Applications
The selection of pre-installed applications is quite standard, catering to essential needs:
- LibreOffice (office suite)
- Geary (email client)
- GNOME Music (music player)
- GNOME Video (video player)
- Octopi (GUI package manager)
- GNOME Maps
- Swirl (web browser)
For those seeking additional software, Octopi and Flatpak offer straightforward installation options. However, the inclusion of Swirl, a lesser-known web browser, raises some eyebrows due to its minimal settings and lack of available information. While it functions adequately, users may prefer to install more established browsers like Firefox or Chromium, which run smoothly on SDesk.
Strengths of SDesk
The developers have crafted a GNOME layout that is both aesthetically pleasing and intuitive, appealing to a broad audience. The distribution comes equipped with essential tools, including a web browser and an office suite, enhancing its practicality. Performance-wise, SDesk excels, with applications launching swiftly and running without hiccups—a hallmark of Arch-based distributions.
Additionally, SDesk offers an impressive window snapping feature, allowing users to easily organize their workspace by dragging windows into any of the four quadrants of the screen, enhancing productivity.
Areas for Improvement
As a relatively new distribution, SDesk does exhibit some growing pains. During testing, a reboot following an update resulted in a login freeze, a bug that is likely to be addressed in future updates. A workaround was found by selecting “Not Listed” during login, which allowed access without issue.
Another minor drawback is the absence of multimedia codecs for MP3 and MP4 playback out of the box. This can be easily rectified by installing VLC media player using the command
sudo pacman -S vlc
, enabling users to enjoy their media without further complications.
Despite these minor setbacks, SDesk stands out as a viable option for users seeking a reliable and aesthetically pleasing desktop operating system. Its simplicity, speed, and functionality make it a compelling alternative, potentially even surpassing traditional Windows environments for some users. With the recent release of version 19.1, further exploration of its capabilities is certainly warranted.
