Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ubuntu VS LaunchBox

Compare Ubuntu VS LaunchBox and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Ubuntu logo Ubuntu

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

LaunchBox logo LaunchBox

LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!
  • Ubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • LaunchBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

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.

LaunchBox features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    LaunchBox offers an intuitive and sleek interface that makes it easy for users to organize and access their game library, even if they are not tech-savvy.
  • Wide Emulator Support
    It supports a wide range of emulators, allowing users to play games from multiple platforms within a single application.
  • Customizability
    LaunchBox provides various options for customizing the look and feel of your game library, including custom themes and artwork.
  • Big Box Mode
    Big Box is a premium feature that offers a full-screen, TV-friendly interface ideal for home theater setups or those using a game console setup.
  • Regular Updates
    The software is regularly updated with new features, improvements, and bug fixes, ensuring that users have a continuously improving experience.
  • Community Support
    LaunchBox has a strong community of users who contribute to forums, share custom themes, and create guides, making it easier for newcomers to get started.

Possible disadvantages of LaunchBox

  • Cost
    While LaunchBox offers a free version, many advanced features such as Big Box mode require a paid license, which might be a drawback for some users.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-heavy, particularly when dealing with large game libraries, potentially affecting the performance of older or less powerful systems.
  • Setup Complexity
    Initial setup can be time-consuming and somewhat complicated, particularly for users new to emulation or those with extensive game collections.
  • Dependency on Emulators
    The quality of the gaming experience often depends on the performance and compatibility of third-party emulators, over which LaunchBox has no control.
  • Limited Native Features
    Some features, like automatic game configuration, are not natively built into LaunchBox and require additional plugins or manual setup.

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

LaunchBox videos

The Best Emulation Frontend For Windows? - LaunchBox / Big Box

More videos:

  • Review - LaunchBox - Review and Setup Guide!
  • Review - LaunchBox Review and Setup

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ubuntu and LaunchBox)
Linux
100 100%
0% 0
Gaming
0 0%
100% 100
Operating Systems
100 100%
0% 0
Emulators
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Ubuntu and LaunchBox

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

LaunchBox Reviews

Best Free Game Launcher for Windows PC
The initially DOSBox emulator front end, LaunchBox, has integrated more features to its stacks. It allows you to play previously downloaded games. LaunchBox is pretty flexible, you can set the settings as well as customize it as per your likes.
5 best game launcher software for Windows PC
The software is partnered with EmuMovies so that you can quickly add associated box art, fan art, logos, screenshots and videos to your game database. LaunchBox will also find all associated metadata of title, genre, release, platform, etc.
The Three best Windows game launcher software to organize your game library
This software is compatible with Windows platforms from Vista on, and the publisher hints there might also be future Mac and Linux versions. LaunchBox has a freeware and Premium version with extra customization options and a Big Box Mode. The Premium version of the software is currently retailing at $20. LaunchBox is comparable to Photon Game Manager as it enables users to...
Source: zobuz.com
Top 6 best launcher games to launch and organize PC games
Depending on the launcher, LaunchBox may not find your game. Therefore you need to add it manually. However, if you are looking for a launcher that can handle Pitfall as well as the latest Tom Clancy game, Launchbox is worth considering.
Source: tipsmake.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ubuntu seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 237 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.

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 / about 12 hours 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 / 2 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
View more

LaunchBox mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ubuntu and LaunchBox, 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.

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

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.

Playnite - Source code generated using layoutit.com

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.

Batocera.linux - Batocera.linux is an open-source and completely free retro-gaming distribution that can be copied to a USB stick or an SD card with the aim of turning any computer/nano computer into a gaming console during a game or permanently.