Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MX Linux VS Q4OS

Compare MX Linux VS Q4OS and see what are their differences

MX Linux logo MX Linux

MX Linux is an operating system - a cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS...

Q4OS logo Q4OS

Fast and powerful operating system based on the latest technologies while offering highly productive desktop environment. We focus on security, reliability, long-term stability and conservative integration of verified new features.
  • MX Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26
  • Q4OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-14

MX Linux features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    MX Linux offers a highly intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it a great choice for beginners who might be new to Linux.
  • Performance
    The distribution is lightweight and optimized to run smoothly even on older hardware, ensuring good performance.
  • Stability
    Built on the Debian Stable base, MX Linux is known for its robustness and reliability, providing fewer system crashes and bugs.
  • Customization
    MX Linux allows extensive customization, enabling users to tailor their systemโ€™s appearance and functionality to their liking.
  • MX Tools
    The distribution includes a unique set of tools, such as MX Snapshot and MX Package Installer, that enhance user experience by simplifying complex tasks.
  • Community Support
    MX Linux has an active and helpful community, offering extensive forums and documentation to assist users in troubleshooting and optimizing their systems.

Possible disadvantages of MX Linux

  • Slower Updates
    Being based on Debian Stable, MX Linux may not have the latest software and feature updates, lagging behind more cutting-edge distributions.
  • Limited Software Availability
    The software repositories, although extensive, may not have as wide a selection as some other distros, requiring users to sometimes rely on external sources.
  • Aesthetic
    While functional and customizable, the default look and feel might not be as polished as some other distributions designed with visual aesthetics in mind.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Customization
    While it is user-friendly for basic tasks, more advanced customization and optimization may require a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with Linux internals.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Though generally good, there can be occasional issues with hardware compatibility, especially with very new or very old devices.

Q4OS features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Q4OS is designed to be a lightweight operating system, allowing it to run efficiently on older hardware with limited resources, which helps extend the life of older machines.
  • Trinity Desktop Environment
    Q4OS features the Trinity Desktop Environment, which provides a look and feel similar to classic versions of Windows, offering familiarity and ease of use for new Linux users transitioning from Windows.
  • Performance
    The operating system is optimized for performance, allowing for smooth operation even on low-spec hardware, making it ideal for resource-constrained environments.
  • Customization
    Q4OS provides a variety of customization options allowing users to tailor the system to their specific needs without compromising on performance.
  • Debian Base
    Being based on Debian, Q4OS benefits from the stability and robust package management that the Debian ecosystem is known for, ensuring reliable and secure software updates.

Possible disadvantages of Q4OS

  • Limited Software Availability
    As a niche distribution, Q4OS may have limited access to certain proprietary software compared to more popular distributions, which may require additional steps or workarounds to install specific applications.
  • Trinity Desktop Environment Limitations
    While the Trinity Desktop Environment offers a familiar interface, it may not have all the modern features that are found in other desktop environments like GNOME or KDE Plasma.
  • Community Support
    Q4OS has a smaller user and developer community compared to larger Linux distributions, which can sometimes result in fewer resources for troubleshooting and community support.
  • Niche Appeal
    The appeal of Q4OS might be limited to users looking for a Windows-like interface or those specifically interested in the Trinity Desktop, which may not satisfy users looking for more contemporary Linux experiences.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Updates and new feature releases may not be as frequent as other more major distributions, potentially leading to slower adoption of the latest software technologies.

MX Linux videos

MX Linux 19.1 Xfce Review | Distro Delves S2:Ep9

More videos:

  • Review - REVIEW: MX LINUX 19 : "BLAZING FAST!"
  • Review - Why is MX Linux So Popular?

Q4OS videos

Q4OS 3.1 w/Trinity Desktop Overview | Distro Delves S2:Ep19

More videos:

  • Review - Q4OS: A Stable Retro Linux Distro
  • Review - Q4OS Linux 3.7 Testing

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MX Linux and Q4OS)
Linux
86 86%
14% 14
Operating Systems
89 89%
11% 11
Linux Distribution
88 88%
12% 12
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare MX Linux and Q4OS

MX Linux Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
MX Linux is a mid-weight distro that uses the Xfce desktop environment. It is known for its stability, ease of use, and performance.
Source: linuxsimply.com
10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
MX Linux is always able to make its place in our list when it comes to selecting the best mid-weight Linux distros. Out of the box it uses a lightweight XFCE desktop environment and being built on Debian, stability is always not an issue. The user-friendly approach to this distro and multiple sources to install popular Linux packages make it an excellent choice for old and...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
MX Linux is based on Debian and is suitable for use on older and less powerful computers because of its slim Xfce desktop. Compared to other professional Linux distributions, MX Linux is much more user-friendly. However, because of its many options it is also an interesting distribution for experienced users.
Source: www.ionos.com

Q4OS Reviews

We have no reviews of Q4OS yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MX Linux should be more popular than Q4OS. It has been mentiond 91 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.

MX Linux mentions (91)

  • Linux market share approaching 4.5% for first time, could hit 5% by 1Q25
    Does one really care? Have you looked at https://www.clearlinux.org/ https://github.com/clearlinux https://github.com/CachyOS https://github.com/MX-Linux ? Would they lack anything? I picked these three specifically because I tested them recently on new hardware I got. What they have in common is their focus on encapsulating 4. For mere mortals, while not doing 5, or at... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What if I don't want constant OS upgrades?
    I like Manjaro XFCE, it's rolling updates so it's as packages come out you can update to the newest (it pulls latest from github, but has other repos) if you want oldschool oldschool, check out antiX linux, MX Linux is based on AntiX but looks semi-better, they're based on Debian. Remember though, debian is like 5 package versions behind, because that's what they do with their auditing for stability. MX Linux has... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • what happened to my linux mint laptop and how do I fix it?
    If you want something new you probably want to aim light. I'd opt for AntiX full version as it's very light, stable and comes with a variety of lightweight desktops, themes and other stuff to choose from at login. The sister project MXLinux could also be worth a look for a more traditional system, but I'd try the Fluxbox option to keep things light. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Installing MX Linux
    I'm getting an error of - Could not find file antiX/linuxfs - searched devices /dev/sdc1 /dev/sdb1 etc. Gives me an ooption to contact Bitjam at mxlinux.org and then says P=power off, r=reboot. I've tried to look around but I'm not finding any details on what's going on. There was a mention of bad hardware, but if my other ISO's are booting no problem I dont think that is the issue. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Arch, void or something else entirely?
    I thought I would never say this, but I think you should try the KDE edition of https://mxlinux.org/. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

Q4OS mentions (24)

  • Which Linux version should I use on my PC?
    With those specs you are looking at something designed for low power machines, and not one of the more beginner friendly distros. I would take a look at q4os or Puppy Linux. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Scrollbars Are Becoming a Problem
    Https://q4os.org/ and https://xpq4.sourceforge.io/ It's does not seem well known but it looks and works very closely to old Windows. I have a side project plan to take this, combine it with a decent laptop, pre install libreoffice and a browser and sell it as "Stable OS" with a long term "no-change" policy to anyone who just needs a basic computer where not everything changes at the whim of someone looking for a... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • On the hunt for Kubuntu 14.10 Plasma 5
    Try q4os with Trinity desktop. Trinity is the fork of KDE 3.5 iirc Https://q4os.org/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Dualboot with windows 10 pro and linux?
    Okay. The best way for beginners to experience dual boot is to install Q4OS. Look up for tutorials online about it and the best part is, it can stay on your Windows partition without hassle like resizing it or disableing secure boot which isn't hard on that laptop but for security reasons and Windows itself, just try like this. You will take small but important steps. After you decide to upgrade your laptop if... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Does anyone know of ANY way to get a notification or alert whenever a WYZE device goes offline?
    My best suggestion is buying a cheap thin book. I use one. HP T620 Thin Client. You can buy it on eBay for $50 including shipping (here). Then I installed Q4OS (here) which is a Debian based version of Linux. Then install Docker and Portainer. There are many guides on google on how to do it. But don't get confused with Home Assistant OS versus installing it inside of Docker. They are different. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing MX Linux and Q4OS, you can also consider the following products

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

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

Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) - KDE 3.5 fork. A computer desktop environment for Unix-like operating systems with a primary goal of retaining the function and form of traditional desktop computers.

elementary OS - A fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS. Pay what you want or download for free.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

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