stillOS offers one of the best Linux onboarding experiences I’ve ever seen

 Observe ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• stillOS is a brand new Linux distro geared toward shoppers.
• This distro makes it extremely simple to start out utilizing Linux.
• You may customise the desktop with out having any Linux abilities.

Each Linux distribution approaches the onboarding course of in another way. Some take a minimal method, whereas others maintain new customers’ arms each step of the best way. 

After which there’s the uncommon distro that finds the candy spot the place it makes it simple to take your first steps with Linux, however would not make long-time customers really feel like they’re utilizing a distribution with coaching wheels.

Additionally: 5 of the easiest, quickest Linux distros to install – and I’ve tried them all

stillOS is a distribution that nails the method of organising Linux for the primary time. This is how the stillOS web site describes the distro:

We obtained aggravated with Home windows making us the product, and Linux being too difficult. So we made stillOS. We consider stillOS is the primary actually client prepared Linux distribution. Because of atomic updates, stillOS is ready to keep as secure as a rock whereas nonetheless bringing you new options. App and OS updates are computerized, so there isn’t any want to fret about conserving your OS and apps updated.

Let me tackle that description for many who’ve by no means used Linux in any respect.

First, let’s take atomic updates, a function that new customers needn’t fear about. Why? These updates occur within the background, doing precisely what the outline says: making the OS as secure as a rock. As a result of the updates are atomic, you do not have to hassle concerning the replace course of, which can by no means trigger the OS to go bonkers on you or (worse) break. This all occurs within the background, and the subsequent time you reboot, these updates are utilized. Easy, secure, and secure.

OK, let’s return to the primary assertion — that “stillOS is the primary actually consumer-ready Linux distribution.” The thought of being consumer-ready is intriguing. From my perspective, that goes a bit past simply being an choice for many who are new to Linux and into the realm of, say, “This OS is one which could possibly be put in and bought on machines to shoppers.”

Additionally: How I turned my ancient Windows PC into a Chromebook for free – with FydeOS

Does stillOS dwell as much as that daring declare? Virtually. 

If the builders can work out the problems I’ve surfaced (extra on that in a bit), that declare might very effectively come true. Even so, I might say that stillOS is already very near being the primary consumer-ready Linux distribution. 

stillOS is acquainted

Familiarity is a declare that will get bandied about with sure Linux distributions. It appears each distro that configures KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, Xfce, GNOME, COSMIC, LXDE, and so forth. to seem like Home windows can declare that the desktop will probably be instantly acquainted to those that’re coming from Home windows.

Through the years, I’ve claimed that quite a few distributions can be immediately acquainted to new customers; distributions like ZorinOS, elementaryOS, Linux Mint, and Kubuntu. I nonetheless stand by these claims. 

Additionally: ‘Just a hobby, won’t be big’: Linus Torvalds introduced Linux 35 years ago – and almost called it Freax

Sure, stillOS takes the GNOME desktop and configures it like Home windows out of the field. It has a panel, desktop icons, a system tray…all the same old suspects. Actually, it is so acquainted that it is boring. That is not a foul factor; nonetheless, should you’re hoping for a novel, tricked-out desktop, stillOS is not what you need. Nonetheless, stillOS is instantly acquainted as a result of it sticks with the tried-and-true desktop format. 

After set up, you will expertise a number of items of the puzzle that contribute to stillOS’s declare. First, you are knowledgeable that an replace is occurring within the background, and you may proceed with out interruption. That ought to assist give customers a way of reliability.

Subsequent comes the power to pick out which functions to put in. This goes past the standard net browser and workplace suite. With stillOS onboarding, you possibly can choose apps to put in from a number of classes, similar to net browsers, productiveness, music listening, gaming, inventive work, utilities, and LLMs. Increase every class and choose any/all apps you need to set up. You are not restricted to a single app in every class. For instance, you possibly can choose as many net browsers as you need, or as many workplace suites. 

Take, as an illustration, the productiveness part, which lets you set up issues like OnlyOffice, LibreOffice, Planify, Todoist, Trello, monday.com, ClickUp, and HubSpot. 

After you full that course of, you possibly can select to open the First Steps app instantly.

stillOS is well customizable

One other factor that makes stillOS consumer-ready is the First Steps app, which has similarities to what another distros may name a Welcome app, solely it consists of fairly a bit extra. With First Steps, you possibly can:

• Set up apps
• Configure shows
• Customise the format and extensions
• Handle on-line accounts
• Add Bluetooth units
• Configure printers
• Join the stillHQ boards

As an illustration, click on Launch for “Customise the layouts and extensions,” and you may choose from a number of pre-configured layouts, together with ones that resemble completely different Home windows releases, a MacOS choice, a GNOME format, one which resembles elementaryOS, a format that appears like ChromeOS, and extra. 

Additionally: This is my favorite Linux distro of all time – and I’ve tried them all

In case you swap layouts, you will be prompted to log off and log again in. After switching to the elementaryOS format, I discovered I could not log again in till I rebooted the OS. As soon as I logged in, the format was fairly good.

I attempted a number of layouts and located that with each change, I needed to reboot. That is most certainly a bug that may (hopefully) be fastened within the subsequent replace. After a couple of format switches, I ended up with an unresponsive desktop, which pressured me to do a tough reboot. After the reboot, all was effectively.

Past the rebooting situation, there’s one different factor to handle. As a result of the builders declare that stillOS is the primary consumer-ready Linux distribution, one would assume they’d no less than point out putting in or utilizing a Home windows app. Do not get me improper, I don’t consider that the dearth of Home windows apps needs to be a deal-breaker, as a result of there are greater than sufficient apps (particularly web-based) to make up for it. However it may behoove the builders so as to add to the welcome app one thing like, “In case you recurrently use particular apps on Home windows, likelihood is good you will see that their equal in our app retailer.” 

With ZorinOS, if a person makes an attempt to put in a downloaded .exe or .msi software, a window pops up informing the person of the open-source equal. I am not saying that stillOS ought to go that far, however they might actually study one thing from ZorinOS.

Additionally: Linux Mint vs. RefreshOS: I compared the two best distros for new users – this one’s better

What I feel Linux newbies will admire is that stillOS is pretty simple to customise to work for them, with out having to leap by means of hoops. Every little thing with stillOS makes good sense, and all of it comes collectively to create top-of-the-line Linux onboarding experiences I’ve ever seen.

Does that imply I might place stillOS at or close to the highest of my finest distros for brand new customers? Give stillOS a bit extra time to work out the kinks, and you may guess it would leap into my high 10 record of finest Linux distributions for brand new customers.