What is the best Linux distribution for netbooks?

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Feb 7, 2024

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Updated

Xubuntu vs SparkyLinux vs Manjaro

vs Q4OS vs Hardened Gentoo vs MXlinux vs Bodhi vs BunsenLabs Linux vs Ubuntu LTS vs Lubuntu vs Debian GNU/Linux vs Fedora vs Trisquel Mini vs Manjaro Mate TuxNVape vs Manjaro

Specs

Based On

Debian>Ubuntu

Default Desktop Environment

Xfce

Init-System

Systemd

Package Manager

Debian Package Manager

Main Usage

Ubuntu with preinstalled Xfce desktop

Origin

Isle of Man

Release Schedule

Point follows UBuntu)

Official Supported Architectures

amd64

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Debian stable or testing

Default Desktop Environment

LXDE/LXQt, MinimalGUI(Openbox)

Init-System

systemd

Package Manager

Debian Package Manager

Main Usage

Desktop

Origin

Poland

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

GNU+Linux

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Arch Linux

Default Desktop Environment

XFCE, KDE Plasma, GNOME

Init-System

systemd

Package Manager

pamac

Main Usage

desktop

Origin

Release Schedule

rolling

Official Supported Architectures

x64,ARM

OS Family

linux

RAM

Os Family

Linux

Desktop Environments

KDE Plasma

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Debian Stable

Default Desktop Environment

Trinity or KDE

Init-System

systemd

Package Manager

Debian Package Manager

Main Usage

Desktopt hat focuses Qt-software

Origin

Germany

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Binary

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Init-System

Package Manager

Main Usage

Origin

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Debian Stable>antiX

Default Desktop Environment

Xfce

Init-System

SysV

Package Manager

Main Usage

Origin

USA

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

GNU/Linux

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Binary

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Ubuntu LTS

Default Desktop Environment

Enlightenment 17(Moksha-fork)

Init-System

Systemd

Package Manager

Main Usage

Origin

Release Schedule

5 year LTS (same as Ubuntu)

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

dpkg

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Debian Stable

Default Desktop Environment

Openbox

Init-System

Systemd

Package Manager

Debian Package Manager

Main Usage

Lightweight Desktop

Origin

Worldwide

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

amd64, i386

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Binary

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Init-System

Package Manager

Main Usage

Origin

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Debian>Ubuntu

Default Desktop Environment

LXQt

Init-System

Systemd

Package Manager

Debian Package Manager

Main Usage

Ubuntu with preinstalled LXQt desktop

Origin

Release Schedule

Point (follows Ubuntu releases)

Official Supported Architectures

amd64

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

NONE

Default Desktop Environment

GNOME

Init-System

Systemd

Package Manager

dpkg with apt, aptitude or apt-build

Main Usage

Universal

Origin

Release Schedule

approximately every 24 months

Official Supported Architectures

amd64 (x86_64), arm64 (aarch64), armel, armhf, i386, mipsel, mips64el, ppc64el, s390x

OS Family

GNU/Linux

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Binary

Package manager

Initial Release

1993

Last Release

11.4 "bullseye"

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Independent

Default Desktop Environment

GNOME

Init-System

Systemd

Package Manager

RPM Package Manager, DNF package manager

Main Usage

Origin

USA

Release Schedule

Point (6 Months)

Official Supported Architectures

ARMv7 (armhfp, arm-32), ARMv8 (aarch64, arm-64), x86_64, PPC64LE, MIPS-64el, MIPS-el, RISC-V, s390x

OS Family

GNU+Linux

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Binary

Package manager

Initial Release

2003

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

6.08

Gnome

Display Server

Wayland (default), X11

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Init-System

Package Manager

Main Usage

Origin

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Init-System

Package Manager

Main Usage

Origin

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Init-System

Package Manager

Main Usage

Origin

Release Schedule

Official Supported Architectures

OS Family

RAM

Os Family

Desktop Environments

Release Type

Package manager

Initial Release

Last Release

Current Linux Kernel

Gnome

Display Server

Pros + Cons

Pro
Comes with lightweight applications

Xubuntu is designed as a lightweight operating system and as such polished applications that come with Ubuntu are replaced with applications with a smaller footprint.

Comment

Pro
Quick boot time

Boots at about half the speed of most distributions.

Comment

Pro
Conservative, yet modern

It comes with all Ubuntu goodness but without bloat, a perfect mix between new ideas and usability.

Comment

Official distro of XFCE, one of the most customizable desktop environments. In XFCE you can create as many tasks bars as you need and configure every one of their elements and behaviours. You can also change any icon, font, color... etc. Literally there's nothing you can't change in GUI.

Comment

Pro
Great performance

Xubuntu is very fast and makes good use of resources.

Comment

Pro
Very lightweight and resourceful

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Does not connect to third party companies in background

Many OS's, even some Linux distros, connect to third party companies in the background to collect data. Xubuntu does not do this.

Comment

Con
XFCE development is slow

The desktop environment used in Xubuntu has not been updated in over two years and is developed at a snails pace.

Comment

Con
UI is pretty generic without customization

The default XFCE UI is pretty generic and sometimes ugly unless customized to suit the user's needs and liking. Customization in XFCE is easier than on Unity, but still hard for beginners.

Comment

Pro
Easy to use

Extremely easy to install, set up, troubleshoot, and use. Designed with beginner Linux users in mind.

Comment

Con
Redundant

There is absolutely no reason to install it, since it uses the same package repositories as Ubuntu and you can transform any Ubuntu install into a Xubuntu install.

Comment

Pro
Works fast and smooth on old machines, x86, x86_64, desktops or laptops

[add description]

Comment

Pro
All vanilla desktop environments available

Any Linux desktop in it's vanilla form can be installed on top of Sparky, whether that be alongside a pre-existing environment, or on top of a basic command line system. Furthermore, the command line system is easy to operate due to Sparky's advanced installer utility, from which you can choose whichever desktop environment you desire, straight from the Debian repositories. Guidance is on their website.

Comment

Pro
Rolling Release

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Lightweight core

Sparky is designed to be lightweight in it's core. It is based on Debian but optimised for old hardware, meaning you can run a full heavy desktop environment on a lightweight foundation, bringing greater performance compared to similar Debian or Ubuntu-based distros.

Comment

Pro
Light on resources

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Rolling or Stable Choice

You have the option for Sparky to be based on Stable or Non-Stable, bringing greater flexibility to user priorities.

Comment

Pro
Based on Debian

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Based on Arch and user friendly

Manjaro is an Arch-based distribution with all the benefits of the Arch ecosystem and community but with the added benefit of being much more user-friendly than Arch.

Comment

Pro
Support for multiple kernels

Manjaro has built-in support for multiple kernels as well as a way to easily install them.

Comment

Con
WiFi driver issues

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Arch User Repository access

Manjaro allows the user to access of the Arch User Repository, a very large user-maintained repository of packages for Arch Linux and derivatives.

Comment

Pro
Very light out of the box installation

[add description]

Comment

Con
A lot of bugs and difficulty in installation

A lot of times doesn't even boot, troubles with UEFI, drivers, display resolution, etc.

Comment

Con
Can still be unstable

Here are the details of it.

Comment

Con
Unstable CPU usage in latest versions

After a fresh install, regardless of desktop environment being used, the CPU usage is really high for no reason. and makes everything laggy.

Comment

Pro
Very reliable community

[add description]

Comment

Con
Official support for 32bit is being dropped

Manjaro is based in Arch and Arch dropped 32 bit support.

Comment

Con
Not for novices

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Very stable

Based on Debian.

Comment

Pro
Light and fast

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Comprehensive hardened guide in wiki

From SELinux to PaX to AppArmor to ... The wiki has got you covered.

Comment

Pro
Low resource consumption

System requirements include 128 MB RAM, 2.5 GB hard disk space, and a 300 MHz processor.

Comment

Pro
Minimal base system

The philosophy for the distribution is to provide a minimal base system so that users can populate it with the software they want. Thus, by default it only includes software that is essential to most Linux users, including file browsers (EFM), a web browser (Midori) and a terminal emulator (Terminology).

Comment

Pro
Different profiles to choose on first startup

Bohdi Linux offers a few different profiles to choose from when first booting the OS.

Comment

Pro
Built in compositing

Bohdi Linux has built in compositing. Users can choose a composited desktop upon first boot by choosing the fancy profile.

Comment

Con
Lead developer has stepped down

The lead dev. of Bohdi Linux has stepped down as of Sept. 2014. There is no word yet on if anyone else has picked up the job of lead.

Comment

Pro
LXDE desktop

Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment performs fast and conserves resources.

Comment

Pro
Stable

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Part of the Ubuntu family

Being based on Ubuntu (which itself is based on Debian), there's a good amount of information and support to be found when searching for it, both on Lubuntu specifically and Ubuntu that also applies to Lubuntu. It also means that there are certain security and usability standards enforced and you can use Ubuntu .deb packages.

Comment

Pro
Lightweight

By utilizing minimal software Lubuntu is able to use less resources and power.

Comment

Con
Lacks some window management features

There's no built-in way to snap windows to the sides, re-size them by double clicking the bar, or dragging to the edges.

Comment

Pro
Offers a long term support release

Lubuntu offers a long term support release with their 14.04 Trusty Tahr based version.

Comment

Con
Updating to a new release can be problematic

While there are a few tools on offer that will upgrade an old Fedora release to the newest, there can often be problems with these methods. Some that may not even crop up at first but will show later down the road. Being that upgrading can be an issue, it can be exacerbated by the fact that Fedora updates every six month, which means twice a year there is a risk of completely borking ones install.

Comment

Pro
Focuses on innovation

By using bleeding edge software, Fedora allows for innovation to take place by testing out things which other distros are not willing to try due to fears of having instability issues.