Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Garuda Linux VS MaboxLinux

Compare Garuda Linux VS MaboxLinux and see what are their differences

Garuda Linux logo Garuda Linux

Garuda Linux is an appealing Arch Linux based Distro with BTRFS (modern filesystem), Linux-zen kernel, auto snapshots, gaming edition and a lot more bleeding edge features..

MaboxLinux logo MaboxLinux

Lightweight Linux distribution based on Manjaro and using the Openbox window manager.
  • Garuda Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-05
  • MaboxLinux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-11

Garuda Linux features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    Garuda Linux offers a user-friendly experience with a focus on ease of use. Its installation process is simplified with Calamares, and the desktop environments are configured for a smooth out-of-the-box experience.
  • Performance
    Optimized for performance, Garuda Linux includes the Linux-zen kernel, which aims to provide a quicker and smoother responsiveness compared to standard kernels.
  • Customizability
    Garuda Linux offers a high degree of customizability, allowing users to tweak their system settings and appearance to their liking with various customization tools and preconfigured settings.
  • Arch-Based
    Being an Arch-based distribution, Garuda Linux benefits from the Arch User Repository (AUR) and the latest, rolling-release updates, ensuring that users have access to cutting-edge software and features.
  • Pre-Installed Tools
    Garuda Linux comes with a range of pre-installed tools and applications designed to make system management, gaming, and daily tasks easier for users.
  • BTRFS Filesystem
    The default use of the BTRFS filesystem with automatic snapshots provides enhanced reliability, data integrity, and easier recovery options.
  • Gaming
    Garuda Linux is tailored for gamers with pre-installed gaming tools, drivers, and optimizations designed to enhance gaming performance and experience.

Possible disadvantages of Garuda Linux

  • Resource Usage
    Because of its performance optimizations and pre-installed applications, Garuda Linux can be more resource-intensive compared to other distributions, which might be unsuitable for older or lower-spec hardware.
  • Stability
    As a rolling-release distribution based on Arch Linux, Garuda Linux inherits the potential stability issues that can come with continuously updated software, which may require more frequent system maintenance and troubleshooting.
  • Learning Curve
    While Garuda Linux is user-friendly, its Arch Linux heritage means there can be a steeper learning curve for users who are not familiar with the Arch ecosystem, especially when it comes to troubleshooting or advanced configurations.
  • Limited Community
    Compared to more established distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, Garuda Linux has a smaller user base and community support, which can limit the availability of resources and help.
  • Frequent Updates
    The nature of a rolling-release model means frequent updates, which can be disruptive or cumbersome for users who prefer a more stable and long-term support (LTS) release cycle.
  • Customization Overwhelm
    The high level of customizability can be overwhelming for new users, presenting them with too many choices and options which might complicate the initial setup and configuration process.

MaboxLinux features and specs

  • Lightweight
    MaboxLinux is designed to be a lightweight distribution, making it ideal for older hardware or systems with limited resources. It uses Openbox as its window manager, which requires fewer resources compared to more feature-heavy desktop environments.
  • User-Friendly
    Despite being lightweight, MaboxLinux is tailored to be user-friendly with a focus on providing a pleasant out-of-the-box experience. It includes intuitive tools and configurations streamlined for ease of use.
  • Manjaro-based
    MaboxLinux is based on Manjaro, which is itself based on Arch Linux. This means it benefits from Manjaro's user-friendly experience and the extensive Arch repositories for a large selection of software.
  • Customizability
    Being Openbox-based, MaboxLinux offers high customizability for users who want to personalize their desktop environment while maintaining a clean and minimalist interface.
  • Rolling Release
    MaboxLinux follows a rolling release model, meaning users receive updates continuously rather than needing to perform complete system upgrades, keeping software consistently up-to-date.

Possible disadvantages of MaboxLinux

  • Less Mainstream Support
    As a niche distribution, MaboxLinux may not have the same level of community support or documentation available as more popular distributions do, which could be a drawback for some users.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Given its rolling release nature and reliance on the Arch repositories, MaboxLinux might occasionally face stability issues, especially with newer packages that havenโ€™t been as thoroughly tested.
  • Learning Curve
    While user-friendly, MaboxLinux still requires some familiarity with Linux systems, which might pose a learning curve to complete beginners who may not be familiar with Openbox or Manjaro.
  • Limited Default Applications
    As a lightweight distribution, MaboxLinux comes with a minimal set of pre-installed applications, which may require users to spend additional time installing software they need for specific tasks.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Although designed to run on older hardware, there could be cases where hardware compatibility might be an issue, especially with very new or particularly unique hardware configurations without wide Linux support.

Analysis of Garuda Linux

Overall verdict

  • Garuda Linux is generally considered to be a good Linux distribution, especially for those who prioritize performance and aesthetics. Its focus on delivering a smooth and visually appealing user experience, along with powerful features for system management and customization, earns it a positive reputation among users.

Why this product is good

  • Garuda Linux is known for its performance optimization, user-friendly interface, and gaming capabilities. It uses the Zen Kernel for improved responsiveness and includes a variety of desktop environments to cater to different preferences. The distribution also offers tools such as Snapper for easy system snapshots, providing robust system recovery options. Additionally, its aesthetic appeal and focus on providing an out-of-the-box experience with pre-installed software make it an attractive choice for many users.

Recommended for

    Garuda Linux is recommended for gamers, new Linux users who want a polished and easy-to-use environment, and those who appreciate a cutting-edge, rolling-release distribution. It is also suitable for users who enjoy customizing their Linux setup and require system recovery options due to its user-friendly tools and extensive documentation.

Garuda Linux videos

A First Look At Garuda Linux KDE "Dr4Gonized"

More videos:

  • Review - Garuda Linux Review: You'll be Blown Away by its Looks [New Distro based on Arch]
  • Review - Garuda Linux - The BREATH TAKING Linux DISTRO of 2021

MaboxLinux videos

No MaboxLinux videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Garuda Linux and MaboxLinux)
Linux
94 94%
6% 6
Linux Distribution
82 82%
18% 18
Operating Systems
92 92%
8% 8
Laptops
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Garuda Linux and MaboxLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Garuda Linux and MaboxLinux

Garuda Linux Reviews

  1. bartwalgraeve@gmail.com
    An all-round positive experience

    Garuda linux boots superfast on my laptop, is very userfriendly both in daily work and maintenance. You can find and install a vast amount of software and apps. It is stable and aesthetically pleasing.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Super fast|Boot ime is amazing and all apps open quickly.|Very userfriendly

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
The centerpiece of Garuda Linux is its UI. It gets lots of modern elements with gradient coloring splashed across the OS. Garuda Linux is based on Arch and follows the same rolling release pattern. Itโ€™s offered in multiple flavors; some of the most popular ones are GNOME, Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE.
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Garuda Linux provides many different desktop environments and is updated regularly as a rolling release. In addition to graphical wizards for simplified setup, Garuda Linux provides a tool for configuration and livestreams with Garuda Gamer.
Source: www.ionos.com
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
Garuda Linux is rather less known distribution but could be a good fit for general purpose desktop computing and gaming.
Best Linux Distro for Gaming
Garuda Linux is a distro based on Arch Linux. So itโ€™s a rolling release distro, meaning youโ€™ll get the latest software and drivers. They also have a GUI for managing drivers which might come in handy for gaming. They have a Gaming Edition which uses KDE Plasma and comes with a GUI called Garuda Gamer for installing various gaming software and emulators.
Source: linuxstans.com
9 Best Linux Gaming Distributions in 2021
Garuda Linux is rather less known distribution but could be a good fit for general purpose desktop computing and gaming.
Source: itsfoss.com

MaboxLinux Reviews

We have no reviews of MaboxLinux yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Garuda Linux seems to be a lot more popular than MaboxLinux. While we know about 96 links to Garuda Linux, we've tracked only 7 mentions of MaboxLinux. 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.

Garuda Linux mentions (96)

  • Linux gaming is faster because Windows APIs are becoming Linux kernel features
    My son, and his friends all seem to have switched to https://garudalinux.org/ recently for gaming. Seems to be working out well for them. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • KDE launches its own distribution (again)
    CatchyOS is great, been using it for months and been good overall. There is also garuda linux, it looks great too, only tested it for a little though, worth trying if you are in your distro-hopping phase: https://garudalinux.org. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Linux hit over 3% desktop user share according to Statcounter
    I'd suggest trying Nobara and/or Garuda - both are absolutely easymode to install from a USB stick, and are specifically configured for gaming, but have a pretty different look and feel. Nobara is a very plain, kind of old fashioned, plain feeling UI (it rather reminds me of Windows 2000 in some ways, although it's much more advanced of course) while Garuda showcases just how fancy your desktop can look. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Reviving an old machine for gaming
    Garuda (Arch based, use a Desktop environment with small memory prints like XFCE or lxqt). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Please Help me for my search
    Personally, I feel like rolling release distros 'should' include a properly configured (GRUB-)Btrfs+Timeshit/Snapper by default. This will enable the user to rollback to a working system whenever a breakage occurs; even from the GRUB-menu. As the 'unadulterated' Arch is a blank slate upon which you 'should' tinker to your heart's content, it doesn't do this by default. However, you're highly encouraged to set it... Source: about 3 years ago
View more

MaboxLinux mentions (7)

  • A MaboxLinux Story
    It's Mabox Linux, which I hadn't heard of before seeing this post. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Iโ€™m looking for a simple, lightweight, user-friendly and well-supported distro to replace Ubuntu for programming and browsing.
    Sorry; misread your post before. I like Bunsen's Berylium. Otherwise, in ascending order of weight: maboxlinux.org or Peppermint or one of the MX spins. Mabox: absurdly easily protean OpenBox. Peppermint: aimed for Internet friendly. MX: simply integrated tools for managing itself. Let me know what you think? :-) Last thought, if you do run virtual machines (RAM16GB, go for it) read this:... Source: over 3 years ago
  • on an old budget laptop, what nonessential things can I delete to make Linux Mint run smoother?
    Mabox Linux boasts a minimal installation footprint like some others, which is typically a good sign for older hardware. I haven't played with this one a lot, but I'm liking what I see so far, and that it's Manjaro-based is a bit of a pivot from the usual Debian-based environments I tend to snap up. Source: over 3 years ago
  • New SSD so new Distro, my x200 running Mabox
    Then what is this https://maboxlinux.org/? First thing I found is mabox linus. Source: over 3 years ago
  • T400 new SSD time, what distro should I go for is the question?
    I have been running Mabox on my x200 with zero issues, it's essentially Manjaro in Openbox, with a lot of the problems people have in Manjaro, fixed. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Garuda Linux and MaboxLinux, you can also consider the following products

Pop!_OS - A developer-focused minimalist Linux distro from System 76

instantOS - instantOS is a Manjaro based distro that works out of the box but is still aimed at power users. Everything is lightning fast and works out of the box.

EndeavourOS - An Arch-based distro with a dynamic and friendly community in its core

Manjaro - Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linuxยฎ distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.

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