ThinkPad - Time To Move On To Another Distro

Lounge Linux lounge
1

I have nothing bad to say about KDE Linux. As a matter of fact, it’s running better than I expected, considering it’s in an Alpha state. But, as an immutable distro, I’m just not happy using only Flatpaks and Appimages. And I like to tinker with configs (like Kitty and Fastfetch, to name a couple). And theming can be hit or miss.

Anyway, I’m much more comfortable with Arch, or Arch-based, distros. And while EndeavourOS is (and always will be) my daily driver on the PC, I’ve always liked something different on my laptops. I may install vanilla Arch. But I also like to check out other arch-based distros. So I looked here for Arch-based distros.

In the past I’ve used Garuda (decent), CachyOS (really like a lot), Manjaro (hated it), and Bluestar (not a fan). I think, if I don’t install actual vinalla Arch, I’m leaning towards RebornOS. But, as always, suggestions welcomed.

2

Vanilla and a little chocolate on top.

3

Happy testing, dear Uncle! Although RebornOS fails at the first hurdle: Not displaying anything on their web page without Javascript. I find that fishy in a security conscious area like Linux is for me.

4

Been playing hard with KDE Linux and liking it for the most part. Not a fan of Flatpaks or AppImages as well but will see it till the release in June.

Most of the distro I have been trying over the last 6 months are the ones using Selinux by default.

Good luck with your Distro-Hunt. :wink:

5

It’s kinda nice seeing what other distros are doing, however, either I’m just totally in-the-loop or jaded, and I don’t feel like there’s anything new the last year or two. Give me something new :slight_smile:

6

Manjaro was my first experience with an Arch-based distro, so I understand your view. I’ve been trying it again lately, found that the unstable channel is basically the same as regular Arch, at least with the packages I needed.

7

Current count is 72 distros for「Linux based on Arch」. DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD., 2026年5月28日, https://distrowatch.com/search.php?ostype=Linux&category=All&origin=All&basedon=Arch&notbasedon=None&desktop=All&architecture=All&package=All&rolling=All&isosize=All&netinstall=All&language=All&defaultinit=All&status=Active#simpleresults.

Just first five or six ones at the end (67 - 72): functional programming, security, gaming, Russian, Indonesian.

8

I may just go with the father of them all… ARCH.

9

Vanilla Arch with Xfce perhaps could fit?

10

Historically I’ve always put XFCE on Laptops, just for the fact it’s superbly performant and does the job without going overboard in settings and configurations. Set it and forget it.

11

Nah. More than likely, Arch with KDE Plasma. This laptop is more than capable. 32GM RAM with an AMD Rezen 7 Pro.

12

Lenovo offers ThinkPad models with preinstalled Linux in US market, Ubuntu or Fedora are fully factory supported! ie: T14 Gen6

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/configurator/cto/?bundleId=21QCCTO1WWUS2

So…

13

I say put on it what you enjoy using. Put a VM on it and then you can run whatever distro’s you want when you want.

14
  1. Go to Distrowatch
  2. Click on Random Distribution
  3. Install the first one which tickles your fancy
  4. If you like it then keep using it
  5. If not go to point 1

Thus Spoke My :robot: Friend

15

I am being naughty. Currently have 14 VMs running various distros, testing various things.

16

Nyarch is Arch based and has a KDE Plasma edtion :wink:

17

What about Artix?

Basically you get to set it up like vanilla Arch, but it doesn’t use systemd, so you get to setup a different init system.

18

The perfect Linux distribution for degenerated weebs.

  • Arch-based so you also need a neckbeard.

:rofl:

19

If you’ve never run vanilla Arch it’s a good experience for sure. Just to get to know the base of it all. Might as well give you new appreciation of EOS :wink:

20 
# Arch
	- Small
		- Nemesis: “minimalist live”
		- Archriot: “atomic operations and instant rollbacks”, “small-sized ISO image”
		- Artix: “lightweight”
		- EOS: “easy setup and a pre-configured desktop environment”
	- Gaming
		- ZelixOS: “high-performance computing” , “Steam gaming platform”
		- ArchEZ: “gaming and multimedia”
		- Helwan: “a comprehensive "Distro Building" manual with a guide to the Archiso tool”
		- Fluff: “high-performance”
		- XIVA: “multimedia”
		- SteamOS: “video game”
		- Garuda: “performance enhancing tweaks”
		- CachyOS: “(Burst-Oriented Response Enhancer) scheduler”
	- Dev
		- OnixOS: “Linux developers”, “O Language, a system-level functional programming language”
		- Snal: “troubleshoot hard disk, system and network”
		- RengeOS: “built-in recovery mode”
		- AcreetionOS: “holding back new packages for a week”
		- EcoOS: “AGES EcoOS system”, “from the StormOS project,”
		- XeroLinux: “Flatpak”, “desktop and bootloader themes developed in-house”, “commercial”
		- Vincent: “PowerShell (with Bash compatibility), pre-installed Wine”
		- Melawy: “XanMod Linux kernel”
		- Arkane: “configuration tool to”, “Arkdep”
		- Ditana: “text-based system installer”, “optimisations”
		- Ezarcher: “long-term supported variant of the Linux kernel”
		- EN-OS: “KDE-centric”
		- Obarun: “the S6 init”
		- SystemRescue: “administration”
		- StromOS: “usable out of the box”
		- StratOS: “custom tools”
		- Kiro: “nemesis_repo (a repository”
		- Shanios: “immutable”, “rollbacks”
		- ObsidianOS: “A/B partition style (as used by Android or Chrome OS)”
		- PrismLinux: “long-term supported (LTS) Linux kernel”, “optimised for speed”
		- blendOS: “software from supported distributions (Arch Linux, Fedora and Ubuntu)”
	- Layout
		- ElysiaOS: “Hyprland tiling”
		- ML4W: “creating advanced configuration for Hyprland”
		- AxOS: “modern and elegant look”, “Calla”, “Sleex”
		- Nyarch: “anime, manga, cosplay”
		- Lain: “Serial Experiments Lain, a Japanese anime”
		- ELEGANCE: “French” , “Tux N Mix”
		- Ultimate Edition: “seamlessly integrated, visually stimulating”
		- TROMjaro: “layouts”, “wallpapers and icon packs”
		- pearOS: “macOS-like”
		- Omarchy: “Hyprland tiling”
	- Language
		- Russia
			- UBLinux: “"Basic Desktop" uses Xfce”
			- Ctlos: “Russian language”
		- Brazil
			- BigLinux: “Brazilian Portuguese”
		- Indonesia
			- TeaLinux: “Semarang, Central Java”
		- Iran
			- Parch GNU: “optimised Persian”
		- Uganda
			- Shrike: “a customised Xfce”, “Uganda”
		- Spain/Latin Amer.
			- Arcris: “Spanish-speaking users”
	- Android
		- Reborn: “Flatpak”, “Android”
	- Tablets
		- Kader42: “for convertible laptops”
	- Security
		- Cerberix: “security”
		- Athena: “text-mode system installer” , “user education” , “cybersecurity”
		- Berserk: “security”