Pop!_OS has a complicated name but it makes using Linux so easy

In the operating system world, the strangest name has to be the in-house Linux version of System76, called Pop!_OS.

It is the operating system that comes with its desktop and laptop systems and makes for a remarkably seamless integration. I would say that with Pop!_OS, System76 did for Linux what Apple did for their operating system, just with the addition of using open source code.

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With Pop!_OS running on System76 hardware (such as mine Thelio . desktop — ie my favorite desktop computer I’ve ever owned), it goes beyond the “everything works right” mantra and goes into the realm of “everything works perfectly”.

I know it sounds exaggerated, but it really is.

I have been using Linux since 1997. I have experienced nearly every distro available and have many different desktops and laptops that I either built myself or bought Windows machines and installed Linux on them. . Back in the early days, getting things to work was a real chore.

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As of now, most Linux distributions have done an excellent job of recognizing and working with the hardware (even the newest of the new ones). But very few versions of Linux can match the performance and reliability of Pop!_OS running on a System76 machine.

It’s just a thing of beauty.

That doesn’t mean you can only run Pop!_OS on a System76 desktop or laptop. Completely opposite. You can install Pop!_OS on any type of system (as long as it meets the minimum requirements of 64-bit x86 or ARM architecture (RAS PI 4)), 4GB of RAM (although recommended. 8GB RAM) and 20GB storage).

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You can even install Pop!_OS on older (Intel-based) Apple hardware (such as MacBook Pro And iMac).

What about that name?

I asked Carl Richell (CEO of System76) about the name Pop!_OS, and here’s what he said:

The name starts with “Pop!_Theme, a system76 aesthetic we’re testing. The underscore is borrowed from the enhanced “pill” in the system76 logo. “Pop” comes from the overflowing colors. full of energy that we used.

We then experimented with our custom distribution and the name “Pop” evolved into Pop!_OS. Underneath it all, we think computing is going to be fun, and the name Pop and the power it embodies are in line with our desire that users can enjoy their operating system time without any problems. We create them.

It’s a Gnome thing

Now, Pop!_OS looks and feels a lot like rebranding and reconfiguring the GNOME desktop. And that is exactly what it is.

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System76 calls this the COSMIC desktop, and the changes made to GNOME aren’t really impressive, but they’re completely different from the original GNOME desktop environment. For example, on the native GNOME desktop (using Fedora 36), click the Applications button (top left corner) and you will see the Traditional GNOME Applications Overview.

Click Apps in Pop!_OS and something very different happens. Instead of Overview, you’ll be greeted by a pop-up that shows your installed apps and customizable folders that can group apps together.

Why the change? It’s all about cognitive efficiency. The truth of the matter is that I can click Apps on both screens and type in the app’s name to see it listed. But if you don’t use that feature, it looks like you’ll have an extra step in traditional Gnome to locate the application you’re looking for.

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That workflow goes like this:

1. Click Apps
2. Click Application Grid in the Favorites bar.
3. Locate the application you want to run.

In Pop!_OS, you can simply click on Apps and find the app you want to run. Both desktops also allow you to create folders in their respective Applications overview. Pop!_OS just makes it clearer.

Firmware integration

If there’s one thing that I really appreciate with Pop!_OS (among many other standout features), it’s that System76 includes a firmware updater. If you open Settings, you will find a Firmware section that shows all firmware.

If you’ve ever tried firmware updates on Linux, you’ll understand that this feature is a breath of fresh air. Similarly, Pop!_OS makes it easy to update your OS Recovery partition and even set up automatic updates.

Efficiency

I’m a bit biased on this since I bought Thelio desktops when they were first released. That machine did (and didn’t) work great. The combination of Pop!_OS and Sytem76 hardware is an absolute desktop dream and still works just as well today as when I first bought it.

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I’ve also installed Pop!_OS on other desktops/laptops (and even virtual machines) and found it to work pretty well. Of course, when you compare a Ferrari to a Pinto, it’s hard not to be Ferrari biased.

Despite the poor similarities, you get the idea… Pop!_OS is a high-performance desktop operating system that can handle almost anything you throw at it.

Who is Pop!_OS for?

Right on the Pop!_OS website, the following statement is made:

Pop!_OS is an operating system for creative and STEM professionals who use their computer as a tool for discovery and creativity. Unleash your potential on secure, trusted open source software. Based on your particular curiosity, we feel you have a lot of it.

I’ll call System76 on this because it introduces Pop!_OS as an operating system for developers, data scientists, and other advanced users. However, I would argue that Pop!_OS is great for all types of users, regardless of whether you’re creating something, using the OS for business purposes, writing novels, playing games, or just shopping online. line.

Anyone looking for a reliable, secure, easy-to-use and performant operating system should give Pop!_OS a try. So skip the Pop!_OS marketing and know that anyone can use this OS successfully.

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However, that doesn’t mean that the Pop!_OS development team doesn’t care about people who want to enjoy the most efficient workflow possible. With an optimized interface and even the option to tile windows (I’ll address this in another post soon), you can create the exact workflow you need with your operating system. for this desktop.

So, while marketing may lead you to believe that Pop!_OS is for science-minded people and developers, the truth is that Pop!_OS is a good desktop operating system for every kind of user like you find in the market.

The Future of Pop!_OS

One thing to note is that System76 has plans to eventually move from GNOME as the basis of its OS to something built entirely in-house (and built using the Rust programming language). The name will stay the same, and if I’m guessing, there won’t be many significant changes to the way you interact with the desktop.

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However, that is all speculation. Pop!_OS can become a completely different monster. But knowing the company as well as I do, no matter which direction Pop!_OS goes, it will still be super easy to use and will work like a champ.

How to download Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS is an open source operating system, so you can download and use it for free on as many computers as you want. Just go to Pop!_OS official websiteclick DOWNLOAD, get an ISO image and burn it with your favorite image burning tool (such as Unetbootin).