MX Linux Forum

Review is positive (there is no other way ), but at least second time or more I see a review or video about MX and there is only Synaptic Package Manager mentioned and not MX Package Installer which is the thing which makes a whole difference.

"And the best distro of 2018 is ...

"Year after year, MX Linux is getting better and better... Just remember that I wasn't too pleased with the early versions of this distro and its predecessors. Which only shows that care and attention and passion can do wonders. Whatever your take from this article is, I suggest you take the freshly coming MX-18 for a spin."

https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/bes ... -2018.html

And:

"Best Xfce distro of 2018...

"And the winner is …

MX Linux once again. I did pay more love and attention to Xfce this year than last year, but the sentiment remains. The Xfce desktop seems to have stalled, and it’s in some odd limbo state, in between leading and following. MX Linux seems to be an exception to this rule. It’s a small distro, but it carries proudly, and comes with lots of goodies. MX Tools and the session save are among the many useful, practical facets, and you don’t get to see these often elsewhere.

"Year after year, MX Linux is improving, becoming nicer, friendlier, more stable, more logical, more everything."

http://www.ocsmag.com/2018/12/05/best-x ... o-of-2018/

In my opinion, MX would have been #1 long ago if the default panel bar location was not on the left edge of the screen. Many beginners to Linux come from Windows style menu bar, and the default panel position in MX simply adds to the things a beginner has to get adjusted to.

That was my personal experience when I was trying Linux for the first time. Back then it was MX-15 which looked intimidating to me. Good thing I decided to distro-hop (multi-boot) as I learn more about Linux and revisited MX Linux (current version then was MX-17.1).

mx-2018 wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:47 pm In my opinion, MX would have been #1 long ago if the default panel bar location was not on the left edge of the screen. Many beginners to Linux come from Windows style menu bar, and the default panel position in MX simply adds to the things a beginner has to get adjusted to.

That was my personal experience when I was trying Linux for t he first time. Back then it was MX-15 which looked intimidating to me. Good thing I decided to distro-hop (multi-boot) as I learn more about Linux and revisited MX Linux (current version then was MX-17.1).

I gave to my friend MX LInux on USB stick one day. He used it generally for Kodi (from time to time), because his computer had low specification and Windows wasn't enough for video. I don't know if he still uses MX for Kodi (he has newer laptop).

On everyday basis he uses Windows.

And you know what? He changed his panel in Windows for vertical position - because he tried it in MX and prefer it that way.

Conclusion: I don't think so, that vertical or horizontal panel makes (or not) a number 1 position (especially that it can be changed with two mouse clicks).

Well, sure, 'bad' habits from Windows can be some kind of obstacles when changing environment, but this vertical panel is really great 'invention' - in many ways.

A vertical panel does take some getting used to, but anyone who's willing to take a few minutes to explore their OS will do what I did when I was new to MX: try dragging it to the bottom. When that doesn't work they'll right-click it to see if there's a "move" option, and they'll eventually end up in Panel Preferences where they'll see the Mode option with the picklist for deskbar, vertical and horizontal, and also the lock/unlock selection. These took me all of five minutes, probably less, to find after my first MX installation.

The vertical panel makes more sense. Monitors are rectangular, wider than they are tall, so there's less vertical space available. The thickness of the panel takes up some of that precious space that could instead be used for applications. If the panel's on the left, the taskbar takes up some of the horizontal space which is more plentiful.

MX Tweak had a one click panel move feature, of course, but it's hard to get users to look at it in South of the FAQ, the Users Manual, the Welcome screen, etc.

Jerry3904 wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:23 pm MX Tweak had a one click panel move feature, of course, but it's hard to get users to look at it in South of the FAQ, the Users Manual, the Welcome screen, etc.

Well, this was within 5 minutes of the first time I'd installed MX and I hadn't looked at the manual or wiki or anythng yet, or even explored the various MX tools. I hadn't even run the initial upgrade yet. The very first thing I wanted to do was move the panel to the bottom, like Windows, because that's what I've been used to since Windows 95 was launched (I was actually a beta tester IIRC.) But that's an example of what I was talking about: exploring the OS and finding out about things like that.

Agreed. I was just planning our failure

I remember when I first booted MX live back in the day the first thing I did was look through all the settings the the settings screen, what can it all do. Not applying anything just yet, only looking and canceling out of things.

I still, once I have installed, walk through everything in there, something new might magically appear that is now easy to do where in the past I needed to take some other actions for.

How did i find MX Linux if i knew nothing about it ? Luck

It was sheer coincidence , what i know about Linux back then just Ubuntu or Mint ... and also Manjaro (i search youtube with query "best linux 2019") , and so my friend who knew about MX but still skeptic decide to intervene . He made me a lab rat , but since MX work flawlessly that it resurrect the xxxxxxx 18 yo dual core machine i was so happy that i forgot about the 3 distro i want to install . So when he confessed that he was trying to use me , i forgave him .

But yeah while Manjaro KDE work flawlessly too albeit slower , and both Mint and Ubuntu don't do the job , i decided to ditch them . I then try to install Manjaro XFCE , but still slower than MX 18.3 , so yeah i never looked back both to Win7 (i pay A LOT of money to do my job) and Mint/Ubuntu , and keep Manjaro to see which system crashed faster .

Fibogacci wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:45 pm

mx-2018 wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:47 pm In my opinion, MX would have been #1 long ago if the default panel bar location was not on the left edge of the screen. Many beginners to Linux come from Windows style menu bar, and the default panel position in MX simply adds to the things a beginner has to get adjusted to.

That was my personal experience when I was trying Linux for t he first time. Back then it was MX-15 which looked intimidating to me. Good thing I decided to distro-hop (multi-boot) as I learn more about Linux and revisited MX Linux (current version then was MX-17.1).

...
Conclusion: I don't think so, that vertical or horizontal panel makes (or not) a number 1 position (especially that it can be changed with two mouse clicks)...

I was referring to complete beginners who had no previous Linux experience. You can't expect them to readily know how to do those mouse clicks to move the panel, do you? First impression is very important, especially to those getting introduced to a new idea (i.e. Linux). With so many distros to choose from, guess which one a total beginner would pick? Yes, the ones that look closest to what the beginner had gotten used to. If you don't understand that, you won't understand why Windows is still the most popular desktop OS (despite how bad it is). There maybe a few who would have different impression to the vertical panel (like in your example), but that is more of an exception than the norm.

That is why I think the #1 spot could have been achieved sooner by MX Linux if the panel was positioned at the bottom (just like Windows) by default. I'm not saying horizontal panel alone makes a #1 position, but it can contribute by not scaring a total beginner away.

Ever wonder why Linux Mint overtook Ubuntu in popularity, and was at #1 spot in DW ranking for a while?

I doubt that was just because of the panel.


I started out on Mepis, I do believe it was horizontal there, yes, but when we switched to vertical I thought it an interesting look. It was something different from the norm. But I wanted it horizontal nonetheless. Know what I did at the time? I asked on the forum, because the installer told me where that forum was.


You have to give a user SOME credit that they will figure stuff out. If you are starting out on Linux you're bound to put in a little effort. If you're not down with that, there is windows to go right back to, or another distro to pick. :)

Panel has no impact on Ditrowatch position. Remember they are just page hits. They may not have even seen MX when they go to Distrowatch, see it listed and then proceed to check it out. The page hit is already recorded whether they keep MX or not.

I guess we need to keep the panel where it is, we don't want MX rank on Distrowatch to reach the Moon...

The reader reviews probably give a better idea in respect of popularity, MX manages 10th place for distributions with a decent sample size (>100 reviews):

https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resou ... average100

antiX is at 6th place though, which is interesting.

Ratings are more significant, But one must take into account the number of ratings as well. Of the top ten MX has more ratings by far, MX jumps to third when sorted by number of votes.

I really don't get all the fuss about the vertical panel. Ubuntu's Unity and Gnome's Dash are on the left as well. It's as if no other DE or distro has ever done this in history or something.

And MX has the ability, being XFCE, for users to move the panel, just like in MATE or KDE4 or Plasma.

richb wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:07 pm But one must take into account the number of ratings as well.

Yes indeed, a bigger sample size increases the likely accuracy of the score.

I think MX is still largely unknown by the general public, actually that's what increases the number of clicks on DistroWatch. Ubuntu and Debian and the like are well known so people go directly to their sites, no need to search for them on Distrowatch.

mx-2018 wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:31 pm I was referring to compleute beginners who had no previous Linux experience. You can't expect them to readily know how to do those mouse clicks to move the panel, do you?

Well, you know what, you're probably right, it could be too hard for a Windows user and he can't manage it. Nearly impossible task for beginner. It's too complicated. We should first prepare a proper manual for him how to click with left and right mouse button. Until then let's move default panel horizontally.

mx-2018 wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:31 pm First impression is very important, especially to those getting introduced to a new idea (i.e. Linux). With so many distros to choose from, guess which one a total beginner would pick? Yes, the ones that look closest to what the beginner had gotten used to. If you don't understand that, you won't understand why Windows is still the most popular desktop OS (despite how bad it is).

Popularity of Windows is due to many factors. It's too long story to write it down here. And that's story is not solely about panel and look.

mx-2018 wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:31 pm Ever wonder why Linux Mint overtook Ubuntu in popularity, and was at #1 spot in DW rankingi t for a while?

With Ubuntu it is similar long story like with Windows above. Too long to start it here.

And by the way, Distrowatch.com is not about how many people use a distribution - it's just about visits on their site.

Eadwine Rose wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:38 pm I doubt that was just because of the panel.


I started out on Mepis, I do believe it was horizontal there, yes, but when we switched to vertical I thought it an interesting look. It was something different from the norm. But I wanted it horizontal nonetheless. Know what I did at the time? I asked on the forum, because the installer told me where that forum was.

Most of you are technically well experienced and will definitely not get intimidated by panel positions. I understand that, because I've gotten past the beginner level as well. Of course, for all of us here who have at least a year of Linux experience, the panel position will have a ZERO effect on our decision on trying out a new distro. But for a certain group of less technical Windows users who are trying Linux for the first time...

Eadwine Rose wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:38 pm You have to give a user SOME credit that they will figure stuff out. If you are starting out on Linux you're bound to put in a little effort. If you're not down with that, there is windows to go right back to, or another distro to pick. :)

Okay, I'm getting it now...you deliberately devised a way to weed out those beginners who would bombard the forums with so many questions because they are too lazy to figure things out for themselves. That is a very smart decision.

richb wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:44 pm Panel has no impact on Ditrowatch position. Remember they are just page hits. They may not have even seen MX when they go to Distrowatch, see it listed and then proceed to check it out. The page hit is already recorded whether they keep MX or not.

I have to admit it's a mistake for me to refer to the DW ranking. Touche in that.

I think I will no longer pursue my proposition on the panel location. That is after considering Eadwine Rose's idea. We don't want bad reviews from those type of users do we? So let them get scared away and not try MX until they have enough Linux experience (or at least learn to be resourceful first).

mx-2018 wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:08 pm Most of you are technically well experienced and will definitely not get intimidated by panel positions. I understand that, because I've gotten past the beginner level as well. Of course, for all of us here who have at least a year of Linux experience, the panel position will have a ZERO effect on our decision on trying out a new distro. But for a certain group of less technical Windows users who are trying Linux for the first time..

You have no idea how scared off I can get. I don't call myself an eternal noob for nothing Trust me.. when I convey my experience I convey it through the eyes of the person I was back when. NOT who I am now.

Sorry, but I think this thread had outlived its usefulness, thanks for the commentary.