AnduinOS

Reader supplied reviews for AnduinOS Average rating 8.0 from 6 review(s) What are your thoughts on AnduinOS? Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system. Our FAQ page has tips on writing a good mini-review. Version: -- 1.3.11.2.41.1.41.0.7 Rating:    -- 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 out of 10 Your review (minimum 250 words): Past reviews - sort by: DateVotes Version: 1.3.1 Rating: 10 Date: 2025-05-17 Votes: 5 Might be the fastest distro Ive ever used, Ubuntu without the bloat. Its a fairly minimal install, as it gives you a browser and some added apps so you can get up and running. It includes the Gnome software store and it works well unlike, the 1.1 version of Anduin where its not accessible, and you end up installing everything through the console. The GUI is simple, clean and allows you to just get things done. Gnome 48 is really nice. I added a few apps like Synaptic from the store and I was off and running setting up the distro to my liking. Both advanced users and beginners will be fine with this distro, and the documentation is very good. Its as close to Win11 as you would want without going overboard. The start menu has your most used apps, the complete app list is available just like in Win11. Its easy to pin apps to the taskbar. I had no issues with hardware, as wifi and printer were auto detected. The weather app in the bottom left corner is really nice and easy to configure. The OS is named after the developer's first name, who works for Microsoft but is based in Hong Kong I believe. So dont be put off at its Chinese origins, its essentially Ubuntu without a lot of unnecessary features and extensions. The iso is around 2gb so not too big and is live media so you can try it without installing. Install time for me was a bit slow on older hardware, but once installed it just flew, very quick and responsive. I didnt run into any issues at all with 1.3.1 but avoid 1.1.4 as I said it doesnt have the software store enabled and apt only, its a bad experience. It allows users to create an individual experience, in a very clean UI, with less effort than most distros Ive used. Resource usage though has been around 1.5gb at GYU so this is not a distro for older hardware with less than 4gb memory. Give it a try and I think youll like what you see. Was this review helpful? Yes No Version: 1.3.1 Rating: 10 Date: 2025-05-15 Votes: 6 AnduinOS Review: A Thoughtful and Purpose-Driven Linux Experience After exploring a wide range of Linux distributions—Voyager, Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, and others—AnduinOS stands out as one of the most thoughtfully crafted distros available. It brings a fresh, clear-headed philosophy to desktop Linux that respects user preferences while offering a solid and uncluttered GNOME experience. 1. Clean and Focused GNOME Desktop One of AnduinOS’s standout qualities is how it trims down GNOME to a more practical, user-centered layout. For instance, the GNOME Overview is disabled by default—a relief for many users who prefer to boot directly to the desktop without distraction. This seemingly small decision speaks volumes about the developer’s understanding of workflow and usability. 2. Freedom from Extension Bloat Unlike heavily customized distros like Voyager, which can overload the system with locked-in extensions, AnduinOS feels refreshingly light and customizable. It doesn’t force its own vision on the user; instead, it provides a clean base for you to build your ideal setup. This is especially helpful for users who need or prefer a minimalist environment for accessibility or performance reasons. 3. Minimal Branding, Maximum Flexibility Where some distros push flashy login screens or branded theming, AnduinOS leaves the canvas blank—literally. While some might find the login screen plain, it also invites personalization without interference. You’re free to bring your own aesthetic to the table without having to undo someone else’s design. 4. Strong Performance and Practical Defaults AnduinOS boots fast, runs smooth, and doesn’t bog itself down with background clutter. It offers sensible software choices and avoids the sluggishness often associated with Ubuntu Snap. Though it’s based on Ubuntu, its software repositories are curated with a specific vision in mind, offering a streamlined and consistent experience. 5. Respect for the User More than anything, AnduinOS is respectful. It doesn’t impose, it doesn’t overreach—it simply gives you a solid, functional base that’s easy to mold into your own. The developer has shown clear intent and direction, including plans to build a better solution for app management. In Summary AnduinOS isn’t trying to be everything for everyone—and that’s its strength. It’s a focused, practical distro for users who know what they want and value a clean, customizable system without compromise. Whether you’re a creative, a minimalist, or just someone tired of unnecessary bloat, AnduinOS offers an experience that’s both modern and mindful. Highly recommended. Was this review helpful? Yes No Version: 1.3.1 Rating: 9 Date: 2025-05-12 Votes: 2 certainly the distro that comes closest to win11, everything fast and easy from installation to usability, now with flatpak and/or easy pack repositories it is really complete. It takes up little space, it's fast and by not installing software that you often don't need it allows you to choose what to install and use. great job! Anduin OS is stable, the user interface is as pleasant as and more than win11, updates run smoothly, application installation without problems, lightweight, only 1.9GB - which compared to others is a featherweight, I think and believe that whoever wants to migrate from windows 10/11 - Anduin OS is the best solution, you hardly notice that there is linux under the desktop! Was this review helpful? Yes No See all 6 reader reviews of AnduinOS...