MX Linux Review – A Debian Based OS for Linux Beginners
Jul 04, 2025 am 09:12 AM
Are you a Linux newbie or an intermediate user looking to try out a powerful, user-friendly, and simple Linux distribution with applications that work out of the box? Then MX Linux is just what you might be looking for.
Based on Debian’s Stable branch, MX Linux is a powerful midweight desktop-oriented Linux distribution with a focus on simplicity and ease of use, while at the same time being resource-friendly.
MX Linux is a collaborative venture between Antix, a fast and lightweight Debian-based Linux distribution, and former MEPIS communities. It is a hugely popular Linux distribution and, by the time of publishing this guide, it ranks No. 1 in distrowatch.
MX Linux Appearance
MX Linux comes in three distinct editions: XFCE, KDE, and Fluxbox. XFCE comes as the standard edition. It is elegant, resource-friendly, and provides an extensive collection of themes, wallpapers, and icon sets. It also supports a wide range of older laptops which low specifications and modern PCs.
The MX KDE edition provides powerful features that you would find in the KDE Plasma environment such as the Dolphin file manager, and KDE Connect. It also provides additional wallpapers, themes, icon sets, and MX Tools similar to what the XFCE provides.
The Fluxbox edition is a blend of speed, elegance, and low resource usage. It’s a lightweight version that has low graphical requirements and is ideal for both new and older systems with low computational power or specifications. In addition, it also provides multiple unique Apps to liven up the user experience.
MX Linux Default Applications
When installed, MX Linux provides a bevy of applications that work out-of-the-box, which include:
- Firefox browser
- LibreOffice
- Conky
- GIMP
- Thunderbird
- PDF Arranger
- VLC Media player
- Clementine music player
- LuckyBackup (Backup and Sync tool)
- antiX Advert Blocker
Common to all the editions is the MX Tools. These are tools that are specifically designed for MX Linux to simplify common tasks. Some were forked from existing AntiX applications while some were borrowed from external sources.
These tools fall under the following categories:
- Live
- Maintenance
- Setup
- Sofware
- Utilities
MX Linux 21 – Latest Release
The Current release of MX Linux is MX Linux 21, codenamed ‘WildFlower’. It was released on October 21, 2021, and is based on Debian 11 ‘BullsEye‘. It is available in 32 bit and 64 bit for XFCE and Fluxbox editions and 64-bit for KDE Plasma.
The XFCE edition also provides an ISO for ‘Advanced Hardware Support’ for the most recent hardware, firmware, and newer graphic drivers. It’s especially recommended if you are running AMD Radeon RX graphics, AMD Ryzen, and 9th/10th/11th generation of Intel Processor.
MX Linux 21 comes with the following key enhancements:
- MX-Comfort default theming, with dark variants.
- An MX-Tour displaying an overview of each desktop environment.
- Xfce 4.16, KDE Plasma 5.20, fluxbox 1.3.7 with mx-fluxbox 3.0 configs.
- Improved UEFI live system boot menus.
- Improved support for Realtek Wi-Fi drivers.
- Mesa Vulkan Graphic drivers are now installed by default.
- New and updated applications, and icon sets.
MX Linux Installation Requirements
To install MX Linux, ensure that your system meets the following minimum requirements:
- 1 GB RAM (2GB recommended).
- 5 GB of hard disk space. (20 GB recommended).
- If you are running MX Linux using a live medium using a USB drive, ensure that you have 4GB of free space..
- SoundBlaster, AC97 or HDA-compatible sound card..
- Modern i686 Intel or AMD processor..
The installation of MX Linux is quite a breeze. Simply head over to the Official MX Linux download page and download your preferred ISO image. Once downloaded, create a bootable USB drive which you will then use to boot into your PC and install MX Linux.
Closing Thoughts
MX Linux is a perfect choice for beginners in Linux who are looking for simplicity and a user-friendly desktop experience. It’s not hard to adapt especially for users who are familiar with Ubuntu and Debian. With MX Linux, users get a wide range of software applications that work out of the box and are required on a day-to-day basis.
While it looks a bit dated, its primary focus is simplicity rather than an elegant desktop experience. This is a Linux flavor that makes everyone feel comfortable while using it. Give it a test run and let us know how you find it.
The above is the detailed content of MX Linux Review – A Debian Based OS for Linux Beginners. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
Hot AI Tools
Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free
Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos
AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.
Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover
Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!
Hot Article
Hot Tools
Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor
SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use
Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment
Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools
SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)
Hot Topics
5 Best Open Source Mathematical Equation Editors for Linux
Jun 18, 2025 am 09:28 AM
Are you looking for good software to write mathematical equations? If so, this article provides the top 5 equation editors that you can easily install on your favorite Linux distribution.In addition to being compatible with different types of mathema
SCP Linux Command – Securely Transfer Files in Linux
Jun 20, 2025 am 09:16 AM
Linux administrators should be familiar with the command-line environment. Since GUI (Graphical User Interface) mode in Linux servers is not commonly installed.SSH may be the most popular protocol to enable Linux administrators to manage the servers
Gogo - Create Shortcuts to Directory Paths in Linux
Jun 19, 2025 am 10:41 AM
Gogo is a remarkable tool to bookmark directories inside your Linux shell. It helps you create shortcuts for long and complex paths in Linux. This way, you no longer need to type or memorize lengthy paths on Linux.For example, if there's a directory
Install LXC (Linux Containers) in RHEL, Rocky & AlmaLinux
Jul 05, 2025 am 09:25 AM
LXD is described as the next-generation container and virtual machine manager that offers an immersive for Linux systems running inside containers or as virtual machines. It provides images for an inordinate number of Linux distributions with support
What is a PPA and how do I add one to Ubuntu?
Jun 18, 2025 am 12:21 AM
PPA is an important tool for Ubuntu users to expand their software sources. 1. When searching for PPA, you should visit Launchpad.net, confirm the official PPA in the project official website or document, and read the description and user comments to ensure its security and maintenance status; 2. Add PPA to use the terminal command sudoadd-apt-repositoryppa:/, and then run sudoaptupdate to update the package list; 3. Manage PPAs to view the added list through the grep command, use the --remove parameter to remove or manually delete the .list file to avoid problems caused by incompatibility or stopping updates; 4. Use PPA to weigh the necessity and prioritize the situations that the official does not provide or require a new version of the software.
How to create a file of a specific size for testing?
Jun 17, 2025 am 09:23 AM
How to quickly generate test files of a specified size? It can be achieved using command line tools or graphical software. On Windows, you can use fsutilfilecreatenew file name size to generate a file with a specified byte; macOS/Linux can use ddif=/dev/zeroof=filebs=1Mcount=100 to generate real data files, or use truncate-s100M files to quickly create sparse files. If you are not familiar with the command line, you can choose FSUtilGUI, DummyFileGenerator and other tool software. Notes include: pay attention to file system limitations (such as FAT32 file size upper limit), avoid overwriting existing files, and some programs may
How to install Linux alongside Windows (dual boot)?
Jun 18, 2025 am 12:19 AM
The key to installing dual systems in Linux and Windows is partitioning and boot settings. 1. Preparation includes backing up data and compressing existing partitions to make space; 2. Use Ventoy or Rufus to make Linux boot USB disk, recommend Ubuntu; 3. Select "Coexist with other systems" or manually partition during installation (/at least 20GB, /home remaining space, swap optional); 4. Check the installation of third-party drivers to avoid hardware problems; 5. If you do not enter the Grub boot menu after installation, you can use boot-repair to repair the boot or adjust the BIOS startup sequence. As long as the steps are clear and the operation is done properly, the whole process is not complicated.
NVM - Install and Manage Multiple Node.js Versions in Linux
Jun 19, 2025 am 09:09 AM
Node Version Manager (NVM) is a simple bash script that helps manage multiple Node.js versions on your Linux system. It enables you to install various Node.js versions, view available versions for installation, and check already installed versions.NV
