The default software choices
There’s more than one approach that a distro can take to its default tools.
There are two approaches to the software loadout when it comes to a Raspberry Pi desktop operating system. Some distros offer ultra-light applications that make the most of limited hardware, and some go for full-fat choices at the expense of outright speed. Because these are full Linux systems, it’s possible to replace all of the default application choices. We’re scoring more highly if the default application selections can cover the typical use cases for a business, school or home desktop user.
Raspberry Pi OS has to be all things to all Pi users, and the choices are both minimal in number and lightweight. To get any real work done with it, you’d have to carry out some installations. We were keen to replace PCManFM with a heavier file manager such as Dolphin, which the higher-end Pis can handle.
Unlike its parent distro, Raspberry Pi OS, Twister OS has plenty of pre-configured software packages, including some that are difficult to get working on a Pi such as Steam, Wine and a few games and emulators. Wine was impressively fast on the Pi because it was having to emulate an x86 CPU. However, some choices such as the Thunar file manager are a bit lightweight and feel out of place next to the more adventurous inclusions.
Unsurprisingly, the Manjaro application selection tends towards the expected KDE stalwarts, meaning some lush choices, which will please higher-end Pi owners. For example, we were happy to see the Dolphin file manager and the Kate text editor featured because it’s worth the delay of a few seconds on launch for the extra features. However, the default application selection was sparse, which seems unnecessary and means that additions will be required for most desktop use cases.
Ubuntu has a minimal selection of applications that you’d expect from a Gnome-based distro. Firefox, Thunderbird, Rhythmbox, Shotwell and LibreOffice are present as expected, offering a fairly standard desktop.
Pop!_OS is a customised version of Ubuntu, and like Ubuntu it keeps up the Gnome tradition of giving programs generic names such as Files and Document Viewer. The default application selection is light, but it covers the basics such as office duties thanks to LibreOffice and a video player (which is actually Totem).