Why Manjaro Linux is the Best Linux Distribution
Out of Manjaro Linux, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, ZorinOS, and Pop!_OS; Manjaro is the best Linux Distro in my opinion.
Currently, I’m using Manjaro Linux and it feels like this is the one that I was looking for.
But, before finally shifting to the Manjaro, I used Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, and Pop!_OS and nothing seemed to be working for me.
Not that I hate other distros but I love Manjaro more.
Let me explain the “why”.
My first Linux experience
It was 2015 when I first came to know about Linux and I was fascinated by its Live Boot feature. I wondered how come a whole operating system can be loaded from just a USB Drive — it just felt cool to me.
And, I finally decided to install Ubuntu on my main laptop which had Windows 8 earlier. However, after a few days, I moved to Linux Mint Cinnamon (I don’t remember the version name) and kept using it for the next 3 years.
After that, I went back to Windows for some unknown reasons.
And, here I’m again — came back to Linux in June 2020.
How I finally stopped at Manjaro
This time when I was installing Linux, it was different — I decided to try a few distros to find the one which I was looking for.
And, by trying I do not mean live booting or installing in VM; I took this thing literally and installed multiple Linux Distribution on my main laptop. Here’s a list of all the distros that I tried:
- Ubuntu 20.04
- Zorin OS Core 15.2
- Linux Mint Cinnamon 19.3 “Tricia”
- Pop!_OS 20.04
- Manjaro KDE Plasma 20.0.3 (currently using)
If you’re wondering why I installed all of these on my main computer, then let me explain.
When I first installed Ubuntu 20.04 everything felt great — colors and design looked perfect. But, after a day of use, sometimes, it started freezing on my system. For example, when I’m copy-pasting a very large folder and as soon as I press ctrl+v, it will not respond for 4–5 seconds. Also, it wasn’t able to execute an AppImage file for some reason.
I moved to Zorin OS Core 15.2, after that. It’s intuitive and works great too. But, it was consuming more RAM in the idle situation than it should. So, I ditched ZorinOS too.
The next distro I tried was Linux Mint Cinnamon 19.3 “Tricia”, but moved away after using it for 3 days. The main reason was that my laptop’s battery backup almost halved (yes, I tried TLP but it didn’t work) as compared to Ubuntu or ZorinOS. Also, I had used Linux Mint for 3 years in the past, and I wanted to try something new.
Later, I installed Pop!_OS 20.04 and it wasn’t able to hold me for long either. Reason? I didn’t like its desktop environment (now, I know that the desktop environments can be changed too).
I was tired of installing and trying a new distro every 2–3 days. So, I decided to explain my situation and ask for suggestions on Reddit and posted a query.
Linux4Noobs community on Reddit made me realize that all the Linux distributions that I have used to date are Debian/Ubuntu-based. So, I randomly picked one of the suggestions and decided to give Manjaro Linux (Arch-based) a try.
Earlier I was using Gnome DE and Xfce doesn’t look good to me, so I decided to install Manjaro KDE Plasma 20.0.3 on my laptop.
And, I had realized minutes after the installation that this is the “one”.
All my requirements got fulfilled battery life was great, RAM usage was optimum, design, UI everything seemed amazing.
Why I think Manjaro is the best
Manjaro is Arch-based and there are multiple jokes about Arch Linux for its complex installation procedure.
But Manjaro is nothing like that, it’s as easy to install as Ubuntu or Linux Mint — even better in some ways.
Main reasons to like Manjaro:
AUR Availability
AUR or Arch User Repository is huge, and you will find almost any application that you’re looking for. AUR is managed by the Arch Linux user community.
Manjaro has its own software repositories to ensure all the software is thoroughly tested for compatibility, but you can still access the additional software packages from the Arch User Repository (AUR).
I agree that there are some risks associated with the AUR, but there is no problem as long as you’re careful.
Rolling Release
Another big reason to like Manjaro is its bleeding-edge rolling release system — new software and updates become available for your system as soon as they are released.
Also, you won’t have to upgrade your system once or twice a year as you do with Ubuntu. You will keep getting the new Kernels, features, application updates as soon as they are available.
Comparatively Faster
Whether you’re booting up your computer or opening an application, Manjaro feels a bit faster than that of Ubuntu or ZorinOS.
According to a report, in an idle state, Ubuntu has more than 90 services and daemons running but Manjaro has only 24 services and daemons. And, believe me, that really makes a difference.
You can check the currently running processes on your system by using the following command:
systemctl list-unit-files --state=enabled --no-pagerApart from the above, there are many reasons for me to like Manjaro Linux:
- Better hardware support
- Better battery performance
- Optimum RAM consumption
- Modern & intuitive UI
- Friendly community
- Quick & easy to install
- No more PPAs
- Updated Softwares
- Lower resource usage
- Highly customizable
Final Words
It’s been more than 1 month now since I’m using Manjaro, and I haven’t experienced any kind of problems or difficulty.
So, I explained why and how much I like Manjaro Linux.
Now, it’s your turn.
Which Linux distro do you use? and, why?
