Why RefreshOS 2.0 is the Linux distro even a Windows user could love

Any time I review a distribution based on Debian, I’m pondering two things. First, how does this distro set itself apart from all the other Debian-based distributions? Second, is this a good enough distribution to help lure Windows users to Linux?

Most often, a distribution will differentiate itself by a combination of desktop customizations and pre-installed software titles. Those changes depend on the developer’s goals, of course. With RefreshOS, it’s all about user-friendliness, speed, and elegance, which explains why the team chose to combine Debian (one of the most stable operating systems) with Plasma Desktop (one of the most familiar and elegant desktops available).

The one-two combination of Debian and Plasma is almost always a sure sign that, no matter how deeply the team has customized the desktop, the distribution will most likely work well for all types of users.

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Such is the case with RefreshOS. It’s based on Debian, defaults to the Plasma Desktop — with only one specific configuration change (more on that in a bit) — and is a great option for anyone looking to jump ship from Microsoft’s flagship operation system.

According to the official RefreshOS website, the distribution “focuses on stability, customization, and seamless Qt integration, with enhanced features and improved performance to meet diverse user needs.”

RefreshOS 2.0 is geared toward both artistic and productivity tasks and maintains that famous Debian stability without the addition of either Snap or Flatpak pre-installed. You will find LibreOffice, GIMP, and — for a change of pace in the browser department — Brave.

RefreshOS sounds fairly generic, doesn’t it? I think that’s by design. The developers have created a flavor of Linux that could serve just about any purpose and do so without most any user getting flummoxed by the fact that it’s Linux. Of course, that’s due in part to how user-friendly Linux desktops have become over the years — and Plasma stands at the head of the pack in that category.

What have they done to Plasma?

Two words… not much. 

With one noticeable exception, the RefreshOS dev team pretty much left Plasma alone. That doesn’t mean it’s the same Plasma you’ll find in, say, KDE Neon. There are a few minor tweaks to be found with the desktop on this distribution.

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For starters, there’s the desktop menu. Instead of defaulting to the usual Application Launcher or Menu (or even the more GNOME-like Application Dashboard), the default menu is Avalon Launcher. To me, that’s an odd choice because it’s not nearly as user-friendly as the Plasma default options. 

The biggest problem I have with Avalon Menu is that there are no categories to make it easy to locate the app you want to run. Instead, the menu displays all apps installed, a search bar, file manager locations, a clock, and the power menu. It would be nice to allow users to configure this menu to display app categories.

That, of course, is a minor nit to pick, especially given you can switch the menu type to one of the original options by right-clicking the menu button and selecting Show Alternatives. Although I prefer the GNOME-like Application Dashboard, it doesn’t want to follow the desktop theme, so I opt to go with the Plasma Application Launcher, which I find to be the best combination of all available options.

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There is one configuration option that I’m really happy to see. Like most Linux distributions, RefreshOS includes virtual desktops, which most other operating systems have adopted over the years (but Linux did first). With virtual desktops, you can have specific windows open to specific desktops to make your workflow considerably more organized. What the RefreshOS developers have done is make it easy to switch between virtual desktops by simply using the scroll wheel on your mouse. Roll down to move to a desktop below and scroll up to move to one below. This configuration makes it far more likely users will employ the feature.

The caveat

The developers decided to go with a pure vanilla Linux experience, which means they’ve opted to not include either Snap or Flatpak by default. This can be a problem if you need proprietary apps like Slack and Spotify (which I use daily). Fortunately, you can always install both Snap and Flatpak with the commands:

sudo apt-get install snapd -y
sudo apt-get install flatpak -y

Once you’ve installed either of those package managers, you can install the full range of apps. 

That’s not to say you should immediately jump in and install Snap and Flatpak. Do that only if there are apps you need that aren’t included in standard Linux repositories. 

RefreshOS delivers a few other minor changes, including the use of lxterminal instead of Plasma’s own konsole (both are terminal apps). 

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Here’s one anomaly I found: The Brave browser requires access to KDE Wallet (the Plasma app used to store passwords and keys). By default, one wallet is immediately available at user creation. That wallet, named kdewallet, is supposed to be unlocked automatically during login. However, when I attempted to open the default wallet, it asked for the password, which should be — but wasn’t — the user’s password, leaving me unable to access the default KDE wallet. To resolve this issue, I removed the default wallet and created a new one (with the same name – kdewallet) and all was fine, leading me to conclude this was an anomaly of my particular installation.

Don’t let this minor issue prevent you from trying a well-done take on the classic Debian/Plasma combination that benefits new and seasoned users alike.

For new users, RefreshOS leans into the simplicity and familiarity of Plasma Desktop to create an interface that any user  — regardless of skills — will be able to use with very little issue. On top of that, with the Debian base, you know it’s going to be stable and reliable.

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Likewise, the defining feature of  Plasma Desktop is that it offers plenty of configuration options to make even seasoned Linux users happy. With the addition of Plasma Widgets, those looking to make their desktop as efficient as possible with have a world of options. 

RefreshOS might not be perfect, but it’s a desktop operating system that will faithfully serve any user of any type for any purpose. If you’re looking for a way out of Windows, go ahead and jump on through because RefreshOS is ready to show you how easy Linux can be.

Download an ISO of RefreshOS for free now.