Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I spend a lot of time looking for Linux distributions that fit in certain niches, and one of the most important niches is those open-source operating systems that can serve the general public.
When looking for such distributions, I tend to consider those based on Ubuntu first, which one might think is limiting, but there are hundreds of distributions with that base. Every so often, however, I run into a Debian-based distribution that fits the bill. That makes perfect sense, given Ubuntu itself is based on Debian.
Also: This city is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for OnlyOffice and Linux - here's why
RefreshOS is one such Linux distribution, and version 2.5 proves that it has what it takes to be a distribution for the masses.
RefreshOS is solid, fast, and well-designed, with a minimal (KDE Plasma) desktop that offers a pleasant, easy experience right out of the box. Everything, from the installation to usage, is user-friendly and simple. This is exactly what a Linux distribution for the average user should look like.
Also: This free Linux distro is the easiest way to revive your old computer. How it works
RefreshOS even takes Debian one step further by adding your user to the sudo group, so you don't have to change to the root user to run admin tasks. That change from the basic Debian release makes a big difference for users who might not be familiar with Linux.
And that is exactly the point -- a Linux distribution that offers the incredible stability of Debian, with the user-friendliness of Ubuntu. That's not to say Ubuntu isn't stable (it is), but Debian has always been one of (if not the) most stable OS on the planet.
But what else does RefreshOS do that makes it special?
... continue reading