PureOS is a modern user-friendly Debian-based distro that uses exclusively free and open source software and it has the endorsement of the Free Software Foundation.
It’s said to have the best privacy-protecting apps that it ships with – which I guess is evident since I haven’t experienced any significant pop-ups yet.
On the whole, PureOS looks familiar owing to the fact that it runs GNOME desktop. Its screen is clutter free and being Debian-based, its operations and window functions are similar to that of Ubuntu.
Below is my list of its main features and why I will rate it.
PureOS Installation
The PureOS installation screen boasts a dark themed UI with the option to run PureOS live, use the Hardware detection Tool or Memory Diagnostic Tool in the advanced options section, or to install the OS on your hard drive.
PureOS Advance Options
Install PureOS
Next up are the typical installation options to set language, location, account details, etc. Follow the installation steps to install PureOS
User Interface / User Experience
To someone coming from an Ubuntu distro that runs Gnome desktop, the UI is clean and I like its distraction-free outlook. Straight out of the box PureOS presents a consistent UI/UX across all its applications and its responsive allows for a swift workflow.
PureOS Apps
Desktop Environment
PureOS was one of the first distros to adopt Wayland-based GNOME desktop for user sessions and they have stuck with it since then while improving it along the way.
PureOS Gnome Desktop
My favorite feature of the GNOME desktop is that I can keep my screen virtually empty. While some OSes are striving to lessen desktop clutter, GNOME allows us to take everything out completely.
Customization
PureOS can be personalized using GNOME extensions and GNOME Tweak Tool with which you can go as far as changing your system’s fonts. It is 100% open source so you’re free to go through its source code and tweak it to your desire.
PureOS Customization
Default Apps
PureOS comes with LibreOffice suite for document creation along with Rhythmbox for music, Terminal, Pure Browser (Firefox-based), Kodi Medica Center, and ToDo for to-do lists.
PureOS Default Apps
The most interesting app I came across is boxes – with which you can create customized virtual machines.
App Store
PureOS is Debian-based and it uses GNOME so its app store is similar to that of Ubuntu. You can search for and install new apps without any hassle.
PureOS Software Center
Software Updates
You have the options to manage your repositories, as well as tweak options like Developer options, update type and schedule, authentication, and other software.
PureOS Software Updates
Conclusion
On the whole, PureOS delivers an impressive performance. My assumption is that these days the least RAM in use is 2 GB so you should be able to run heavy programs without any worry.
I don’t see why I would leave Ubuntu for PureOS but it could be an okay replacement.
Feel free to share your views on PureOS in the comments section below.
