If you're thinking of switching from Windows or Mac – GeckoLinux aims for ease of use – ZDNET Japan

Key points in this article

• GeckoLinux can be installed for free on as many computers as you want.
• Everything you need to get started is pre-installed, and there are multiple desktop options.
• I wish there was a more user-friendly app store for GeckoLinux.

“openSUSE'' is a “Linux'' distribution that I do not recommend for beginners. The main reason is the “Yet Another Setup Tool'' (YaST). Let me start by saying that YaST is very powerful. Quite simply, YaST is for administrators, while traditional system configuration applications are for users.

that it “Gecko LinuxWhat does this have to do with “? Simply put, GeckoLinux is dedicated to simplifying openSUSE. The basic philosophy of this distribution is as follows. “GeckoLinux is a series of Linux releases built from the openSUSE distribution, with a focus on improving the desktop and ease of use out of the box.”

It's been a while since I last tested GeckoLinux, so I downloaded the Pantheon version to see how it was. Other desktop courses available include:

• Cinnamon
• 「XFCE」
• 「Gnome」
• “plasma”
• “companion”
• 「LXQt」
• Badji

Please note that these are all rolling versions (so they are always up to date).

I immediately felt that the developers have succeeded in pursuing optimization and ease of use. In my experience with the Pantheon spin, GeckoLinux is, frankly, as easy to use as Linux Mint or Ubuntu. However, it is not perfect. I think there is one area where the developers could improve the desktop experience (more on that later). If you take my advice on these specific gaps, I would not hesitate to recommend GeckoLinux to all types of users.

So, without further ado, let's take a look at what GeckoLinux is.

Imagine a Ferrari with a Ford Taurus body. It’s simple on the surface, but inside there’s pure power waiting to be unleashed. That’s the impression I get from GeckoLinux. It’s also one of the main reasons why I think GeckoLinux is a good distro for beginners. That’s because it’s powerful and flexible enough that users can grow with it as they use it. At first, you’ll probably stick with the default settings on your desktop, but you might eventually venture out and explore the world of YaST. Even if you don’t need a terminal window at first, you might want to give it a try someday.

When you first log into GeckoLinux, you'll notice that most of what you need is already there. The office suite “LibreOffice”, “Firefox”, “Geary” (email), “Pidgin” (messages), “Camera” (webcam application), “Music” (music player), “Videos” (video player), “Clipped” (clipboard manager), and a number of common utilities. All the necessary multimedia codecs are also pre-installed, so you don't have to worry about setting up your desktop to play MP3, MP4, etc. files.