Linux Lite 7.0

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Flash
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Linux Lite 7.0

Post by Flash »

Linux Lite 7.0 might be the best lightweight Linux distro on the market

Written by Jack Wallen, Contributing Writer
July 1, 2024

ZDNET's key takeaways

Linux Lite 7.0 is available to download and install for free from the official site.
This lightweight Linux distribution comes with everything you need and performs like an absolute champ.
The default desktop is a bit bland but it's fairly easy to customize.

My friend recently wanted to bring an old laptop back to life. Her aging Intel MacBook was no longer supported by Apple, and instead of letting the machine wind up in a landfill somewhere, she decided to install Linux, an OS she'd never used before.

She started her quest with Linux Mint, which is always a good place to start. Unfortunately, the installation failed for her (mostly because of the doggedly slow nature of the machine), so she reached out.

Given her hardware, there was only one logical suggestion to make -- a lightweight Linux distribution. I suggested Linux Lite. This installation went well for her, except the keyboard layout was automatically selected incorrectly. Fortunately, that was an easy fix.

After this experience, I realized I hadn't reviewed Linux Lite in a while and it was time to rectify that. So, I downloaded the ISO, spun up a virtual machine, and in less than 5 minutes logged into the desktop.

Any time I review a lightweight Linux distribution, I know what I'm getting into. They tend to be fairly generic, with a lack of eye candy and panache. They get the job done and not much more.

That's why Linux Lite struck me as unique among the "genre." No, it doesn't offer a plethora of effects or beautifications. It's a very straightforward (albeit customized) version of the Xfce desktop, which means you can always further customize it to meet your needs. It took me all of two minutes to configure the desktop to how I prefer the interface (with a dock-like panel, no desktop icons, and a lighter theme)...

...As per usual with a lightweight Linux distribution, Linux Lite performed about as well as any desktop OS I've ever tried. It was fast. For my virtual machine, I gave it 3 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores and this distribution performed as if it had four times that power. Anyone with a machine that doesn't have the resources to power the latest version of Windows would do very well with this distribution, especially if speed is your thing.

Out of the box, Linux Lite ships with Chrome, LibreOffice (including Base, to create databases), GIMP, Photo Manager, Deja Dup Backups, VLM media player, a USB image writer, an onscreen keyboard, Timeshift (for restore points), and more. In other words, Linux Lite isn't lite on applications. You could install this distribution and go about your work without the need to install much more. Should you need to install anything else, there's the Synaptic Package Manager...

...The one thing I did find missing from Linux Lite was a universal package manager (such as Snap or Flatpak). No problem. From within Synaptic, I was able to quickly search for and install both.

Of course, the centerpiece of a lightweight Linux distribution is the performance and Linux Lite exceeded my expectations. Applications opened immediately; in fact, I've never seen Chrome open so fast.

If my friend, who'd never touched Linux in her life, was able to easily get Linux Lite installed and working,you probably can too. Like I tell everyone… if you can install a Windows app, you can install modern Linux. It really is that simple, and Linux Lite proves that hypothesis to be true.

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by bugnaw333 »

Very slow :thumbdown: compare to Puppy and Easy.

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by BologneChe »

bugnaw333 wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2024 1:44 am

Very slow :thumbdown: compare to Puppy and Easy.

It all depends on the material used.

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by wizard »

Review was on a virtual machine and did not specify the host hardware (makes a big difference).

I gave it 3 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores

It might be OK, but that spec wouldn't be much challenge for Puppy.

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wizard

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by rockedge »

Probably makes a good candidate for running it's ISO through FirstRibIt (firstribit.sh) and making a frugal installation with persistence and other advantages. :ugeek:

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by BologneChe »

rockedge wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2024 10:06 pm

Probably makes a good candidate for running it's ISO through FirstRibIt (firstribit.sh) and making a frugal installation with persistence and other advantages. :ugeek:

The problem is that there is nothing "Lite" in this distribution. I believe Bodhi Linux would be a better candidate for FirstRibit.

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by wiak »

Both Bodhi and Linux Lite are already catered for as isos that can be used to FirstRib them. firstribit doesn't care how big or small distros are - maybe Linux Lite too bloated and slow for those looking for true lite distro so up to user choice.

What is that System Monitoring Centre in above post, @BologneChe?

https://www.tinylinux.info/
DOWNLOAD wd_multi for hundreds of 'distros' at your fingertips: viewtopic.php?p=99154#p99154
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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by Chelsea80 »

@wiak

wiak wrote: Wed Jul 03, 2024 3:18 am

What is that System Monitoring Centre in above post, @BologneChe?

In case @BologneChe doesn't pick up on your question, search results come up with:

What is System Monitoring Centre software?

Sources
github.com favicon
linux.softpedia.com favicon

System Monitoring Center is an open-source application for Linux that provides detailed system monitoring and resource management capabilities.

Here are the key points about this software:

Features:

Monitors CPU, RAM, disk, network, and GPU usage and hardware information

Manages processes and services
Monitors users, sensors, and general system information
Provides interactive charts for performance data
Allows customization of monitoring options

User Interface:

Uses a graphical interface built with GTK4 (for version 2.x) or GTK3 (for version 1.x)

Offers a sleek and user-friendly design

Functionality:

Displays more detailed insights compared to default system monitors in many Linux distributions

Includes CPU frequency and temperature information
Provides disk usage info and connected drives details
Allows control of startup services and programs

Resource Usage:

Optimized for low CPU usage

Compatibility:

Supports ARM architecture

Available for various Linux distributions

Installation:

Can be installed via Flatpak, application stores, or distribution repositories

Also can be run from source code

Development Status:

The project ended support for version 2.x.x as of October 31, 2023

System Monitoring Center serves as a comprehensive tool for Linux users who need detailed system insights and resource management capabilities beyond what default system monitors typically offer.

Hope this helps

Chelsea80

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by BologneChe »

Bonjour @wiak

Sorry for the delay. You have to go to sleep from time to time! :)
This is the System Monitoring Center that is included in Linux Lite 7.

Best Regards

@Chelsea80 Thanks for the explanation!

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Re: Linux Lite 7.0

Post by stevie pup »

Where's the "Lite" bit? I have a Ventoy USB stick with a variety of Linux distros on it, mostly mainline but a couple of exceptions. Decided to add Linux Lite and give it a spin.

Although one or two of the other distros would be classed as relatively heavyweight, Linux Lite took substantially longer to boot than anything else.

I've now deleted it and will forget about it. :roll:

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