Whenever the time comes to recommend a Linux distro, the most common choice is to put on the table some Debian/Ubuntu variant due to its ease of use, but beyond that territory we find very attractive Arch flavors, and one of the most popular is Manjaro. With a total of nine available versions, Manjaro presents itself as a solid alternative for advanced Windows users, and today we decided to install a couple of copies…
Switch to Linux
No. It. Is. Not. That. Easy. We have communicated and shared the virtues of the penguin to exhaustion, but most users resist any radical change, or the obligation to learn a new operating system. Even when we request modifications to the Windows interface, we are actually looking for a return to what worked well in the past, to the familiar. Recently I installed Windows 7 for an article about its updates in 2021, and I was surprised by how much I missed it.
However, that doesn't mean we're going to give up. Our exploration of Linux distros will continue, and today we came across one of the most popular (judging by portals like DistroWatch and similar). I refer to Manjaro, a project with more than ten years on its shoulders, and unlike other distros we've seen recently, Manjaro has the spirit of Arch.
Manjaro: Nine versions for all users
Visiting the official Manjaro page to try to download one of its ISO images, we discovered three versions based on the XFCE, KDE Plasma and GNOME environments. As always, XFCE aims at a reduced resource consumption. KDE goes in the opposite direction with greater flexibility in its appearance, and the possibility of adding widgets or secondary effects. Finally, GNOME is ideal both for those who have started dipping their toes into Linux, and for those coming from distros like Ubuntu and Pop!_OS, another distro that has exploded in popularity.
Regardless of the environment you choose, you should know that each one has three sub-versions: The standard image with preinstalled software, a minimal image that limits itself to offering a functional desktop and some basic apps, and a minimal LTS variant, with an extended support kernel. Personally, I really like the minimal images, because the excess of preinstalled programs is something I've been criticizing for a while, but there are nine options in total, and I'm convinced you'll find the perfect one for you.
Installing Manjaro
Fortunately, we encountered no problem here. The Manjaro ISO image first takes us to its live mode, which besides serving as an introduction to the operating system, also helps us check if there is any major hardware compatibility conflict. With a basic configuration process (username and password, timezone, partitions and swap, keyboard, etc.) and a few minutes of waiting, Manjaro will be installed.
Its standard selection of software doesn't surprise us too much, although there are some changes that catch the eye. Firefox as a browser, VLC Player for video playback, and GIMP for image editing are part of the full image, but we found OnlyOffice as the office suite. Why? Because greater compatibility with Microsoft Office files is attributed to it, especially when it comes to reproducing PowerPoint presentations with notes. Needless to say, you have the power to blow OnlyOffice to bits and return to LibreOffice whenever you want.
Another notable application that comes preinstalled with Manjaro is Steam. With all the enthusiasm surrounding the Steam Deck console and the impressive progress of Proton, it's possible that 2022 will finally be the year to play on Linux, and many distros don't hesitate to take advantage of these developments. Now, most likely you'll need to update the client when you run it for the first time. In fact, Manjaro recommended many updates, including one for the kernel. Luckily, the whole process took a few minutes, but...
Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty
... the experience won't always be free of issues. The XFCE edition worked perfectly, and the installation of Manjaro KDE also presented no errors, but when performing the first round of updates I ran into a small bug in the Pamac package manager. For some strange reason it got stuck on "Checking inter-conflicts", but a little Google-fu (here and here to be precise) solved the problem.
At the same time, the reminder arrived that Manjaro is based on Arch, and that meant I had to review the Apt equivalents under Pacman. The Arch Linux wiki has an excellent Rosetta section with a wide list of commands that will definitely get you out of a jam or two.
In summary
If you consider yourself an advanced Windows user, you want more control over preinstalled applications, you want to customize your graphical environments and you have no problem getting into the mud to fix an occasional error, then Manjaro will be a hit from start to finish. Now, I don't want to sound unfair: nothing stops you from starting with Manjaro if you're a beginner in Linux, but I recognize that its learning curve might be a bit steeper. Download a copy!
Official site and downloads: Click here
