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ZDNET key takeaways
- elementary OS and Ubuntu Budgie are Linux distributions.
- Both of these distros are beautiful and user-friendly.
- One of these desktop distros is more flexible than the other.
I have a soft spot in my heart for both elementary OS and Ubuntu Budgie. For about five years, elementary OS was my Linux distribution of choice. I found it charming, well-designed, efficient, and user-friendly. Fast forward about 10 years, and Ubuntu Budgie usurped Pop!_OS for a couple of years.
Both of these desktop operating systems should be considered options for those new to Linux and those who are well seasoned in the open-source OS. Upon first blush, these distributions look quite different, but at their heart, they are quite similar.
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Let’s take a look at each and determine which one is right for you.
elementary OS
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
elementary OS is based on Ubuntu LTS releases and was first introduced in 2011. From its early days to the present, elementary OS has retained a similar design scheme, and for those who know it, you’ve probably thought all along, “This looks a lot like MacOS.”
I believe that was intentional. Given that MacOS has been heralded for years as being one of the more user-friendly operating systems, it makes sense that elementary OS would resemble Apple’s OS.
However, there’s one glaring difference (other than elementary OS being Linux): elementary OS outperforms MacOS by a long shot.
The minimum system requirements for the most recent release of elementary OS are as follows:
- A recent Intel Core i3 or comparable dual-core 64-bit processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 32 GB SSD with free space
- A 1024×768 minimum resolution display
On the other hand, the minimum system requirements of MacOS Tahoe are a MacBook Air (2020 or later), MacBook Pro (2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports or 2021 or later), Mac mini (2020 or later), iMac (2020 or later), or Mac Pro (2019). Those devices should have at least 16 GB of RAM and 50 GB (for installation only).
If you were to install elementary OS and MacOS Tahoe on similarly powered machines, elementary OS would blow MacOS away. But what is it about elementary OS that makes it so special?
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For one thing, the design scheme plays out in every element of the OS. From the dock to the desktop menu to the installed apps to the top bar… the design is seamless and flows beautifully from one bit to another. Open the file manager, and it looks like elementary OS. Click the desktop menu… elementary OS. To be honest, it’s quite refreshing in a world where it’s possible to install different apps using different Widget toolkits on the same desktop, causing a bit of thematic variation.
Speaking of theme: elementary OS is one of the rare Linux distributions that I never feel the need to tweak out of the box. That’s saying something because I always tweak my desktops. However, the developers of elementary OS (and the Pantheon desktop) get it right, release after release, and I have never felt it necessary to make even the slightest change.
elementary OS also:
- Supports Flatpak apps
- Includes a beautiful multitasking view
- Supports hot corners and multi-touch gestures
- Has a user-friendly app store
- Includes a feature called Secure Session, which requires apps to explicitly request permission for sensitive actions.
- Has microphone/screen recording indicators
- Places a high priority on privacy settings
- Has a very fast boot time
- Offers plenty of accessibility options
- Uses Flatpak for most app installs
Is elementary OS right for you?
Are you new to Linux? Are you migrating from MacOS? Do you want an operating system that is equal parts simplicity, reliability, efficiency, and beauty? If so, elementary OS should be your first choice.
elementary OS is as charming as a desktop operating system can be. The Pantheon desktop environment makes using Linux as easy as possible, so you’ll never feel the need to even open the terminal app and use the command line.
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There is one caveat to using elementary OS: it’s not nearly as flexible as other Linux distributions. The good news is that you probably won’t feel the need to make any changes. However, if you like to tinker, elementary OS might not be the distribution for you.
Ubuntu Budgie
You’d be hard-pressed to find a prettier Linux desktop.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Ubuntu Budgie is an official Ubuntu “flavor.” Thanks to the Budgie desktop, this distribution is as beautiful as any on the market. And thanks to Ubuntu, it’s also user-friendly and has outstanding hardware support (by way of the Hardware Enablement kernel).
Out of the box, Ubuntu Budgie somewhat resembles Windows 10, with an elegant panel, an easy-to-use desktop menu, a system tray, and all the bits you’ve been accustomed to for years.
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One of the big differences (for me) between Ubuntu Budgie and elementary OS is that I always customize the Budgie desktop. I much prefer a dock over a panel (which is easy to change in Budgie), never use dark mode, and tweak a few other tidbits to make the desktop better suited to my needs.
Fortunately, those configurations are all very easy to take care of, but it illustrated the key difference between these two: Ubuntu Budgie is far more flexible than elementary OS.
That’s not to say that Budgie can do more. No. What I mean is that Ubuntu Budgie can be more. You want Budgie to look like Windows? You got it. Is the MacOS UI better suited to your taste? Have at it. Or maybe you’d like something completely different? Make it so.
In other words, if you want a user-friendly, beautiful, and customizable desktop, Ubuntu Budgie is your best bet.
Ubuntu Budgie:
- Offers a flexible layout with a top panel and bottom panel (or dock)
- Has the Raven sidebar for notifications and applets
- Includes a Welcome Center for easy setup
- Offers various layouts that can mimic Windows, MacOS, or Chrome OS
- Includes plenty of customization options for themes, icons, and panel settings
- Is based on Ubuntu LTS with the HWE kernel for wide hardware support
- Offers auto window placement (tiling and snapping)
- Supports applets that can be added to the panel
- Supports installation via APT, Snap, and Flatpak
Is Ubuntu Budgie right for you?
This one is easy. If you want a beautiful desktop that is highly configurable (and looks good in all of its incarnations), easy to use, offers outstanding hardware support, and performs like a champ, then Ubuntu Budgie is what you want.
Which one should you choose?
As I mentioned, the biggest difference between elementary OS and Ubuntu Budgie is that the latter is far more flexible and customizable. At the same time, elementary OS is one of those distributions that “just works.”
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So, if you want a distribution that you install and use without having to spend any time making it yours, go with elementary OS. If you want a distribution that allows you to do whatever you want with the desktop layout, go with Ubuntu Budgie.
Either way you go, know that you’ve chosen a winner.
