This Fedora spin is perfect for one particular kind of new Linux user

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The Nobara desktop.

A somewhat modified Nobara desktop (switched from the default Dark taxable to a Light theme).

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

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ZDNet's cardinal takeaways

  • Nobara Linux, based connected Fedora 42, is disposable now.
  • This Linux organisation is perfectly suited for gamers - and Linux newbies.
  • Nobara is escaped to download, install, and use.

I truly similar Fedora. 

I find Fedora to beryllium a precise accelerated and reliable OS, which is rather the other of what it erstwhile was.

But here's the happening astir Fedora: Although it's an outstanding Linux distribution, it's not rather user-friendly capable for those caller to Linux. Why? Out of the box, caller users mightiness find themselves having to instal codecs for multimedia and respective third-party and adjacent proprietary applications.

Also: Ready to ditch Windows? 'End of 10' makes converting your PC to Linux easier than ever

Of course, the Flatpak cosmopolitan bundle manager does a large occupation of making that easy, and Fedora does rotation Flatpak into either GNOME Software oregon KDE Plasma Discover. However, that doesn't precisely elevate Fedora to the user-friendly space.

That's wherever Nobara comes in. 

I wrote astir Nobara backmost successful 2024, calling it the "OS for everyone." A twelvemonth later, there's a caller mentation of Nobara available. Keep successful caput that Nobara is not an authoritative Fedora rotation -- it's an entity each connected its own.

What's antithetic successful this caller release? 

  • It's based connected Fedora 42 and contains respective modifications successful the root codification to marque it much of a gaming distribution.
  • It improves frames per 2nd by 5% implicit vanilla Fedora.
  • The RPM Fusion and COPR repositories are enabled.
  • Several device-specific patches are added (such arsenic those for Steam Deck, Microsoft Surface, Asus ROG, and more).
  • Several modifications are made to idiosyncratic packages (such arsenic the Calamares installer, DNF, Flatpack, gnome-shell, and galore more).

Also: 8 ways each Linux disto could marque things a batch easier for newbies

You tin work the full database of modifications connected the Nobara Project Wiki.

From the user's perspective, respective changes leap out. For instance, KDE Plasma typically uses Discover for each bundle management. Nobara, connected the different hand, includes a instrumentality called Flatpost (which is simply a GUI for managing lone Flatpack apps). Flatpost works precise good and simplifies locating flatpack apps (whereas KDE Discover surfaces some modular packages and cosmopolitan packages).

The Flatpost app connected  Nobara.

Flatpost makes installing Flapak apps precise easy.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Nobara besides ships with respective preinstalled apps, specified arsenic LibreOffice, Brave web browser, Lutris (for playing Windows games), Nobara Driver Manager (to simplify operator installation/updating), Nobara Package Manager (I judge this is simply a rebranding of KDE Discover), ProtonPlus (for gaming -- you bash request to archetypal run and acceptable up Steam for this to work), Steam, Winetricks, and more.

ProtonPlus connected  Nobara Linux.

With ProtonPlus, you tin entree each of your crippled launchers from a azygous location.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

My instrumentality connected Nobara

If you asked maine what benignant of idiosyncratic is champion suited for Nobara, my archetypal absorption would beryllium gamers, due to the fact that truthful galore of the modifications made are geared toward playing games. The inclusion of Steam and ProtonPlus makes this rather clear.

Also: The champion Linux distros for beginnersmake switching from MacOS oregon Windows truthful easy

But I wouldn't spell truthful acold arsenic to accidental Nobara is simply a gamer-only distribution. Nobara strips distant immoderate of the steps that are often indispensable successful Fedora to simplify the experience. Without having to conflict with operator and codec installation, you'll find everything conscionable works retired of the box. And with the inclusion of Flatpost, uncovering and installing the Flatpack apps you request is arsenic casual arsenic it gets.

If you asked maine if Nobara is the champion Linux organisation for caller users, I'd person to accidental no. If you asked maine whether it was a bully organisation for idiosyncratic who likes to play games and wants to migrate to Linux, I'd reply that question with a resounding yes. Nobara makes utilizing antithetic crippled launchers casual capable for anyone, and the modifications made to the strategy greatly amended the experience.

Also: Should you ever wage for Linux? 5 times I would - and why

So, if you're caller to Linux but not caller to gaming, and privation a organisation that makes gaming connected Linux a no-brainer, Nobara should beryllium 1 of your archetypal considerations. If you're looking for a much wide organisation to bash mundane tasks, you should astir apt look towards Ubuntu, Linux Mint, elementaryOS, oregon Pop!_OS.

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