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Unity8 VS elementary OS

Compare Unity8 VS elementary OS and see what are their differences

Unity8 logo Unity8

Mir compositor with Wayland apps support.

elementary OS logo elementary OS

A fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS. Pay what you want or download for free.
  • Unity8 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-18
  • elementary OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17

Unity8 features and specs

  • Convergence
    Unity8 is designed with convergence in mind, allowing a seamless experience across multiple device types like desktops, tablets, and phones.
  • Modern Interface
    The interface is modern and visually appealing, providing a fresh alternative to other desktop environments.
  • Community-Driven
    As part of the UBports project, Unity8 benefits from a community-driven development approach, making it responsive to user feedback.
  • Customization
    Users can customize the interface according to personal preferences, improving user experience and productivity.
  • Lightweight
    Unity8 is relatively lightweight compared to other desktop environments, which can help improve system performance on older hardware.

Possible disadvantages of Unity8

  • Limited Software Support
    Due to its niche status, Unity8 may not have as extensive software support as more mainstream environments like GNOME or KDE.
  • Development Pace
    As a community-driven project, the pace of development can be slower compared to commercially-backed alternatives.
  • Stability Issues
    Being under constant development, users may experience occasional stability issues or bugs.
  • Learning Curve
    Users who are accustomed to more traditional desktop environments might face a learning curve when transitioning to Unity8.
  • Limited Market Adoption
    Unity8 has limited adoption in the broader market, which can affect the availability of third-party applications and extensions.

elementary OS features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    elementary OS boasts a sleek, modern design that is easy to navigate, making it ideal for users transitioning from other operating systems like Windows or macOS.
  • Security and Privacy
    elementary OS is built on Ubuntu LTS, providing a secure foundation with regular updates and support for security patches. The OS also emphasizes user privacy by minimizing data collection.
  • Minimalism and Efficiency
    The system is designed to be lightweight, avoiding bloatware and unnecessary applications, which helps in optimizing performance and reducing system resource usage.
  • Custom AppCenter
    elementary OS features its own curated app store called AppCenter, where users can find high-quality, open-source applications that follow design guidelines and are safe to install.
  • Active Community and Support
    The distribution has an active community, providing forums, documentation, and third-party resources that can help new users with troubleshooting and customization.

Possible disadvantages of elementary OS

  • Limited Software Availability
    The AppCenter may not have as many applications as other more established app stores, requiring users to sometimes manually install software using the command line or third-party repositories.
  • Customization Limitations
    While elementary OS focuses on providing a consistent and polished user experience, it limits customization options compared to other Linux distributions, which may not appeal to power users.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Although it works with most mainstream hardware, users with very new or very old hardware might face compatibility issues, requiring extra configurations or workarounds.
  • Performance Overhead
    Despite being lightweight, elementary OS might run slower on very old systems due to its modern graphical interface and animations, which can consume system resources.
  • Learning Curve for New Linux Users
    While designed to be user-friendly, those new to Linux might still face a learning curve when dealing with system settings or troubleshooting without extensive resources compared to other mainstream OS options.

Analysis of elementary OS

Overall verdict

  • Elementary OS is generally considered a good choice for users who prioritize aesthetics, user privacy, and simplicity in their computing experience. It may not be the most suitable for users needing advanced customization or those who rely on specific software not well-supported on Linux.

Why this product is good

  • Elementary OS is often praised for its elegant and intuitive design, resembling macOS in terms of aesthetics. It is built on Ubuntu, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of hardware and access to a vast repository of software. Additionally, it emphasizes user privacy and includes a curated selection of applications to offer a clean and efficient user experience. Its focus on design and usability makes it especially appealing for users who appreciate visual appeal and simplicity in their operating system.

Recommended for

    Users transitioning from macOS due to its similar aesthetic, beginners looking for a simple and user-friendly Linux distribution, users who value privacy and a clean interface, and individuals who prefer a minimalist approach to their computing environment.

Unity8 videos

Unity8 Desktop Greeter Preview (Split Greeter)

elementary OS videos

elementary OS 5.1 Hera Updates - Linux Distro Reviews

More videos:

  • Review - elementary OS 5.1 Hera | Review and Final Thoughts
  • Review - Distro Review : Elementary OS 5.1 "Hera" : GLAM UP YOUR DESKTOP!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Unity8 and elementary OS)
Linux
4 4%
96% 96
Operating Systems
4 4%
96% 96
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Linux Distribution
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 Unity8 and elementary OS

Unity8 Reviews

We have no reviews of Unity8 yet.
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elementary OS Reviews

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Elementary OS has a few great homemade apps that look great and work well. In fact, distros such as Pop!_OS use Elementaryโ€™s store, and thatโ€™s a testament to the effort the Elementary team puts into developing one of these best Linux distros. Overall, Elementary OS is a user-friendly and good-looking distribution that gets most things right.
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Elementary OS is the ideal operating system for former Mac users. Usage and interfaces are reminiscent of the well-known Apple products. Elementary OS also prides itself on simple operation. It comes with pre-installed programs and an app store to add software to. Besides the desktop environment Pantheon, the team behind Elementary OS provides numerous other programs and...
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Elementary OS is based on Ubuntu LTS and it calls itself as a thoughtful, capable, and ethical alternative to macOS and Windows and the added benefit that it is free. Elementary, Inc. develops and maintains the operating system, desktop environment and itโ€™s applications.
6 Best Linux Distributions That are Not Based on Ubuntu or Debian
I have been asked this question a number of times by our readers. I often answer to this question with Ubuntu, Linux Mint, elementary OS or something similar from the list of our best Linux distributions.
Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, elementary OS seems to be a lot more popular than Unity8. While we know about 146 links to elementary OS, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Unity8. 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.

Unity8 mentions (2)

  • What happened to lomiri
    Https://lomiri.com links to https://github.com/ubports/unity8 and this repository is accessible. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Any GNOME-like DEs without all the GNOME bs?
    Unity. Yes, it's still around (now going by "unity8" and maintained and developed by UBports now instead of Canonical but it's still the same DE we all know and hate er love). Obv not my cup of tea so I'm not very knowledgeable about it so could be way off but who knows, maybe we'll get a Unity lover here and they can chime in. github. Source: over 3 years ago

elementary OS mentions (146)

  • Windows 10 resists its end: usage share climbs while Windows 11's falls
    What do you mean, there's all kinds of extremely user focused distributions. If you need it to feel like Windows there's KDE - but if you're OK with changing your mind then things like ElemeteryOS (https://elementary.io/) put a huge amount of focus on UX, accessibility, beauty and of course: usability. Aside from Archlinux, the majority of mainstream distributions bend over themselves to offer you GUIs for... - Source: Hacker News / 24 days ago
  • Eazel, ex-Apple led Linux startup
    > if a new Eazel emerged tomorrow (another Linux-focused startup led by ex-Apple "rock stars"), how would they best contribute to the Linux desktop? Probably by joining elementary OS: https://elementary.io/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Where are the paid Linux desktop distributions?
    There's Zorin OS Pro: https://zorin.com/os/pro/ And elementaryOS is kinda-sorta paid (you can pay $0 too): https://elementary.io/ Finally, while this is not a proper distro as such, ParterdMagic makes for an excellent rescue option: https://partedmagic.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Microsoft Edge ignores user wishes, slurps tabs from Chrome without permission
    I hear you, but they've all moved along in leaps and bounds. Some options if you ever look again - * ElementaryOS(https://elementary.io/). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Linux distributions for beginners in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed
    Iโ€™ve seen Raycast adjacent apps for Linux, but I donโ€™t know what the current go-to all the kids are using these days. I used Quicksilver on OS X back in the day, which kind of defined the category I think. But these days I try to keep it simple. Elementary OS seems to be trying to solve for the design issue, but itโ€™s not as polished as macOS and there are still all the 3rd party apps to contend with. Iโ€™ve tried... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Unity8 and elementary OS, you can also consider the following products

Wayfire - Wayland compositor with 3d effects.

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

GNOME - An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to put you in control and get things done.

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

Arcan - Game engine and multimedia framework and display server.

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.