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Absolute Linux VS DistroWatch

Compare Absolute Linux VS DistroWatch and see what are their differences

Absolute Linux logo Absolute Linux

Absolute is a 64-bit Lightweight Linux distribution based upon Slackware; It concentrates on...

DistroWatch logo DistroWatch

9 hours ago - It does include a proprietary software set optimized for business users, students, researchers and developers." A list of features and further details can be found in the company's release announcement.
  • Absolute Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-09-22
  • DistroWatch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-26

Absolute Linux features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Absolute Linux is designed to be lightweight, making it ideal for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
  • Slackware-based
    Being based on Slackware, it inherits a stable and reliable foundation known for security and simplicity.
  • Customizable
    Users can easily customize their system as it provides a basic environment without unnecessary software.
  • Performance
    Due to its minimal approach, Absolute Linux offers fast performance and efficient use of system resources.

Possible disadvantages of Absolute Linux

  • Limited User Community
    With a smaller user base compared to other Linux distributions, finding community support or resources might be more challenging.
  • Software Availability
    It might lack some out-of-the-box software availability that more mainstream distributions provide.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    Due to its Slackware roots, it might not be as user-friendly for newcomers to Linux when compared to other distributions.
  • Limited Features
    The focus on minimalism means it may not have some features and tools readily available that are expected by users of more bloated systems.

DistroWatch features and specs

  • Comprehensive Database
    DistroWatch provides a thorough list of active Linux distributions, which is helpful for users seeking to explore various options and find the right one for their needs.
  • Distribution Popularity Ranking
    The site features a page hit ranking system that gives an indication of the popularity of distributions, which can guide users toward more widely supported and updated options.
  • News and Updates
    Regularly updated news and release announcements keep users informed about the latest developments in the Linux and open-source software world.
  • Reviews and Summaries
    DistroWatch offers reviews and summaries for many distributions, providing insights into their strengths and weaknesses without needing to test each one individually.
  • User Resources
    The site includes links to official distribution sites, download mirrors, forums, and documentation, making it easier for users to find support and further information.

Possible disadvantages of DistroWatch

  • Popularity Metrics Limitations
    The page hit ranking may not accurately reflect a distribution's true popularity or quality, as it only counts page visits rather than usage metrics.
  • Overwhelming for Beginners
    Newcomers to Linux might find the vast array of distributions and information overwhelming and challenging to navigate without guidance.
  • Community-Driven Content
    Information and reviews on DistroWatch largely rely on community contributions, which can lead to variability in the quality and reliability of the content.
  • Niche Focus
    While DistroWatch is highly valuable for Linux enthusiasts, it has limited appeal to users not interested in open-source operating systems, narrowing its audience.
  • Outdated Information Risk
    Some distribution pages might not be frequently updated, leading to potential issues with outdated information or dead links.

Absolute Linux videos

Absolute Linux / Operating System Trials

More videos:

  • Review - Absolute Linux designed for everyday use "big desktops"

DistroWatch videos

Measuring Distro Popularity And Why Distrowatch's Page Hit Rankings Suck.

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Choose Your Linux Distribution - Distrowatch.com
  • Review - Let's talk Distrowatch!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Absolute Linux and DistroWatch)
Operating Systems
11 11%
89% 89
Linux
8 8%
92% 92
OS & Utilities
28 28%
72% 72
Linux Distribution
4 4%
96% 96

User comments

Share your experience with using Absolute Linux and DistroWatch. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DistroWatch seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 284 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Absolute Linux mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Absolute Linux yet. Tracking of Absolute Linux recommendations started around Mar 2021.

DistroWatch mentions (284)

  • Practical Guide to Switching to Linux
    This, but here are some things I've learned to do: * Use a .local directory under my home directory instead of ~/bin. That's a great prefix when installing from source or tarball at the user level, keeps the top-level of the home directory from getting cluttered with /share /lib /include /etc /lib etc. etc. * Reach for the package manager first when installing new software, unless there is a good reason not to. It... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Warm Welcome to Linux P2
    Picking a starting distro is like playing a game, it does not take long for us to stay in our starting town. With various informative sites like DistroWatch, and even a testing site like distro test, our options are endless. Beginners should not get too hung up on deciding which game they want to play as there are tons available. Sooner or later in life, some even leave their starting towns, and even their countries. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Warm Welcome to Linux
    The common sense I advocate mainly revolves around DistroWatch. High ranking distributions (indicated by the hits per day chart) are generally more favorable for many reasons; stability, support, user-friendliness, friendliness of other users and so on. Over the past few years, I have usually recommended the three major M named distros; Mint, Manjaro, and MX. They have had high favorability over the past decade. A... - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Linux Distros: Ubuntu and Manjaro Fall Further into Oblivion – February 2024
    The broken headline (should say Linux Gaming Distros) reminded me of DistroWatch's value to the community, aside from its unusual ranking system: https://distrowatch.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ventoy, Live USB multitool for you ISOs Collector
    Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk over and over, you just need to copy the image files to the USB drive and boot it You can copy many image files at a time and ventoy will give you a boot menu to select them. You can also browse ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disk and boot them. x86 Legacy BIOS,... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Absolute Linux and DistroWatch, you can also consider the following products

DeLicate Linux - DeLicate Linux is a free and lightweight Linux Kernel-based operating system that is intended for computers comprising of very Low RAM.

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Xubuntu - Xubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Download XubuntuXubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Feature Tour.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Haiku - Haiku is an open source OS catered specifically to the needs of personal computing.

SUSE Studio - Modernisieren Sie Ihre Infrastruktur mit SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, OpenStack Cloud-Technologie für IAAS und softwaredefiniertem Storage von SUSE.