Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Slax VS Ubuntu

Compare Slax VS Ubuntu and see what are their differences

Slax logo Slax

Slax is a modern, portable, small and fast Linux operating system. Slax LinuxSlax is a modern, portable, small and fast Linux operating system.

Ubuntu logo Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.
  • Slax Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-08
  • Ubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

Slax features and specs

  • Portability
    Slax is a lightweight, portable Linux distribution that can be run directly from a USB drive or CD without installation, making it easy to carry and use on multiple devices.
  • Simplicity
    With a straightforward and clean interface, Slax is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Modularity
    Slax features a modular approach, allowing users to easily add or remove software packages to customize their system according to their needs.
  • Speed
    Due to its lightweight nature, Slax is fast and responsive, even when run from removable media, providing a quick boot and operational experience.
  • Live Environment
    Slax can be used as a live operating system, providing a reliable option for system rescue or for testing without altering the host system.

Possible disadvantages of Slax

  • Limited Software Repository
    Slax may not have as extensive a software repository as some other larger Linux distributions, which could limit the availability of certain applications directly from its package manager.
  • Minimalist Features
    While the simplicity is a pro for some users, others might find that Slax lacks some features and tools found in more comprehensive Linux distributions.
  • Community and Support
    Being a niche distribution, Slax might not have as large of a user community or as much official support, which can make troubleshooting more challenging.
  • Persistent Storage Setup
    Setting up persistent storage on USB drives requires additional configuration steps, which may not be straightforward for new users who want to retain their settings and data across sessions.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    As with many Linux distributions, Slax might face compatibility issues with some hardware components, particularly newer or less common devices.

Ubuntu features and specs

  • Open Source
    Ubuntu is an open-source operating system, meaning it's free to use, distribute, and modify. This allows users to customize their system to their liking and contributes to a large community of developers constantly improving the system.
  • Security
    Ubuntu places significant emphasis on security, providing regular updates and including a built-in firewall and virus protection. Its Unix-based kernel design adds an additional layer of security.
  • User-Friendly
    Ubuntu is designed to be user-friendly with an intuitive interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users. The Ubuntu Software Center simplifies the installation of applications.
  • Community Support
    An active and vast community of users and developers helps to solve issues and improve the OS. There are numerous forums, guides, and documentation available.
  • Performance
    Ubuntu tends to have better performance than some other operating systems on older hardware. It is less resource-intensive, leading to faster performance on a range of devices.

Possible disadvantages of Ubuntu

  • Software Compatibility
    Some software and applications, particularly those designed for Windows or macOS, may not be available or fully compatible with Ubuntu. Users might need to find alternatives or use compatibility layers like Wine.
  • Gaming
    While gaming on Linux, including Ubuntu, has improved, it still lags behind Windows in terms of the availability and performance of games. Many popular titles do not have native Linux support.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, transitioning to Ubuntu from another OS can involve a learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with Linux commands and terminal operations.
  • Driver Support
    Users might face issues with hardware compatibility, as some device manufacturers do not provide Linux drivers. This can affect peripherals like printers, graphics cards, and network adapters.
  • Professional Software
    Certain professional-grade software in fields like video editing, graphic design, or specialized industry applications may not have Linux versions or equivalents. Professionals might need to dual-boot or use another OS for specific tasks.

Slax videos

Slax OS 9.4.0 - Review & Demo on Real Hardware.

More videos:

  • Review - Linux Slax 9.5.0 - 64 Bit Review
  • Review - Linux Slax 9.8 Preview, See What's New

Ubuntu videos

Ubuntu 19.10 Review | The Best GNOME Desktop, Yet?

More videos:

  • Review - Review: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine"
  • Review - Ubuntu 19.04, My Review (And Why Most Users Should Avoid It)
  • Review - Ubuntu 24.04: An Excellent Linux Distro
  • Review - Ubuntu's Decline
  • Review - Ubuntu 24.04 Review: Why It's Time to Change Ubuntu's Release Cycle

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Slax and Ubuntu)
Linux
5 5%
95% 95
Operating Systems
5 5%
95% 95
Linux Distribution
6 6%
94% 94
Open Source
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 Slax and Ubuntu

Slax Reviews

We have no reviews of Slax yet.
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Ubuntu Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
Ubuntu and Mint are both based on Debian and share many similarities. However, some differences may impact performances in certain use cases. For example, Ubuntu tends to be more resource-heavy than Mint, especially the GNOME desktop environment, on the other hand, is known for its lightweight Cinnamon desktop environment, which can be more responsive & faster.
Source: linuxsimply.com
10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
Ubuntu also has some lightweight games like chess and Sudoku. GNOME Files, formerly known as Nautilus, is the default file manager. It is recognized for its strong community support, regular releases, and focus on user experience. There are several Ubuntu flavors available as well per the demand of users such as Ubuntu Studio for users who need the best multimedia-supported...
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Ubuntu uses Snaps for package management, and the latter is the reason the Linux community has started repelling it. They completely dropped out-of-the-box support for Flatpaks, as we mentioned in our Ubuntu 23.04 features list. Although it’s a good starting point for a complete beginner, we would argue there are better Linux distros to try than Ubuntu.
Source: beebom.com
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Based on the open source Ubuntu community, Canonical provides commercial support and services for Ubuntu Enterprise deployments. Ubuntu Enterprise is known for its ease of use, regular updates, and compatibility with cloud environments. Commercial versions include Ubuntu Desktop, Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu for IoT, and Ubuntu Cloud -- all optimized versions for their...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Around since 2004, Ubuntu is a classic Linux distribution. The operating system is aimed at different user groups and simplifies the first steps for beginners. On the one hand, Ubuntu is customizable, but also offers numerous technical tools to simplify installation and configuration. Many programs are pre-installed, and additional packages can be conveniently added. Ubuntu...
Source: www.ionos.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ubuntu seems to be a lot more popular than Slax. While we know about 237 links to Ubuntu, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Slax. 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.

Slax mentions (5)

  • External SSD. How to get more from it? Linux on external SSD
    I find Slax which is looks like a good choice for live distro at a glance. If I'm correct it works not just in live mode it is installed on sdd. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Lightweight arch based distro
    Slax. It is based pn Debian, so you can apt install most packages. Make sure to read Slax's installation guide first though. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best xfce distro for an old laptop
    You mentioned in another comment that your laptop is from 2001? Try Slax or MX Linux. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Live ISO with many utilities installed
    You can try Slax as it can be loaded to RAM. However you will need to install rest of the required utils... (afaik Chrome and GParted are included by default). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Slax Linux - Download
    I'm trying to download slax linux from slax.org but its not working. If I go down to the bottom of the page and click on any of the download links I see a loading icon in the browser tab but nothing gets downloaded, I'm wondering if this is an issue with just me or if anyone else is having a simmilar issue. Source: almost 4 years ago

Ubuntu mentions (237)

  • I Installed Omakub Five Times So You Can Do It Just Once
    Linux is a great system. Ubuntu is a fantastic distribution to start with because of its ease to install and setup. It's also intuitive and easy to use, especially when coming from Windows or MacOS. It is a free (as in speech) and open-source system that keeps you out of the grips of Microsoft or Apple. In particular, it's great for developers and especially for web development -- since your web app is likely also... - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • How to Check PC Specs without Logging into Windows 11?
    For a quick and easy process, I am using Puppy Linux, an extremely light-weight Linux Distribution. I will download the latest Puppy Linux ISO File (I am going with Slackware Base S15Pup64 as it is lighter) and then create a bootable USB using Rufus. If you want a safe and hassle-free process, you can stick with Ubuntu Distribution. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Top 33 Ubuntu Linux Commands Every User Should Know (with Outputs)
    User@ubuntu:~ $ curl http://ubuntu.com User@ubuntu:~ $ curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"name": "user", "age": 30}' http://example.com/api # -X POST: Specifies the request type as POST. # -H: Sets the request header, here specifying JSON content. # -d: Sends data with the request. User@ubuntu:~ $ curl -u username:password -O http://example.com/protectedfile.zip. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How to Get Started with Bash Scripting for Automation
    Install a Linux distribution: Ubuntu, CentOS, or any preferred distro. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How to use WSL 2 to Install Ubuntu on Windows 11?
    The system will list all the available Linux Distros. Popular Distros including but not limited to Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE, SUSE Linux Enterprise and more will be displayed. Choose your distro accordingly. In this article, I am going to Install Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Long Term Support). - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Slax and Ubuntu, you can also consider the following products

Puppy Linux - Home, overview and getting started with Puppy Linux, amazingly fast, fascinatingly complete and delightfully small Linux.‎Wiki · ‎Download latest Puppy Linux .

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

SliTaz - Internationalization.

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.

Lubuntu - Lubuntu is a fast and lightweight operating system with a clean and easy-to-use user interface. The core of the system is based on Linux and Ubuntu. Lubuntu uses the minimal desktop LXDE, and a selection of light applications.

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