MX Linux: A Fast, Polished and User-Friendly Distro

I haven't looked at MX for a while, so thought it was high time that I did. The distro has its roots in Simply Mepis and Antix, and like both those distros it's hard to criticize.
Whether you are a new or experienced user, MX has a lot to offer. A stable Debian base, a plethora or GUI configuration tools to make life easier, and a nicely themed XFCE desktop to get you started - KDE and Fluxbox options are also available for download.
I never cease to be impressed by this distro and would be more than happy to use it as my daily driver.
I hope you enjoy the video :-)
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Ramble On!

[@richardmonroe4208]

It's the tools that set MX apart from others

[@BWGPEI]

As another old tech type from Canada, running Linux MINT as I watch you, let me wish you a Happy Holiday and a great New Year.

[@oscs4556]

On the mx installer, you missed a neat feature of the slider to split the root and home partitions on the disk. The snapshot tool is more than a backup tool - it takes a snapshot of your current working mx system and saves it as an live iso. After I setup my mx linux plasma with all my settings, shortcuts and apps to my preferences, I create a snapshot iso and transfer it to my ventoy keyring drive - that way , I always have live iso of my mx linux system wherever I go. Personally, I think all distributions should have a similar snapshot tool like this.

[@OldTechBloke]

Personally I never create a separate home partition, I just backup my dots to git

[@UNIXUNIX-op9fu]

sudo pacman -Syu 55,555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555,,555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555

[@cantdance3077]

Really enjoyed the brief history of MX Linux

[@davidwayne9982]

I'm on MX right now-- LOVE IT... I've distro-hopped a LOT in the last few years- and MX is always one i come back to-- it's just RIGHT-- full of all the stuff I NEED and tools to make sure to get things right-- or fIX what i accidentally screw up.. and it's FAST!!! I just love it-- have my own configured custom version on a USB so I can reload it any time I've been hopping and want to "come home"-- and it's up and running- totally ready in 3 minutes.. or no more than 5..

[@accounta09]

GLAD you LOVE MX Linux. IT looks AWEsome.

[@davidwayne9982]

@@accounta09 I've tried 26 others in the last few months and I ALWAYS come back to MX-- it LOOKS awesome- works PERFECTLY with absolutely NO issues- detacts my equipment flawlessly every time- and just WORKS-- GREAT!!!! I'd love to be able to have the tools on a usb that would work on OTHER distros to do the snapshot etc.- but don't see how that might work.

[@UNIXUNIX-op9fu]

@@accounta09 sudo pacman -Syu 55,555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555

[@RobBoudreau]

Best of luck with the new BMW Steve, they are quite a machine. Weather's finally turning here, so I got the old Hog out of the garage, cleaned up and fired up, but now we're getting what they're predicting is going to be a week's worth or rain. So, not yet. Stay safe and enjoy yourself!

[@OldTechBloke]

Cheers Rob and keeping my fingers crossed for you

[@lauriehartley9808]

I played around with various Linux live usb systems for years before I discovered MX. I made the complete transition from windows via this distro. I am running MX 19 on a Lenovo Thinkpad. It just does everything I need it for without any hassle, so much so that I can’t think of any good reason to upgrade to MX 21. One of the things I really like about this distro is the system and package upgrade icon on the menu bar. I decide when the upgrades are installed. There is also a very friendly user forum.

[@ronnierush9379]

Look forward to seeing the new bike and possibly the first Moto-Linux review 🏁

[@BrucesWorldofStuff]

MX is a great distro and have some great people behind it too. I use it as my Media Player Box. Rock Solid... So on the install you set the time zone to The Queens Time then... 🙂 Best of luck with the new BMW OTB! Looking forward to seeing it. LLAP 🖖

[@runwiththedolphin]

you can set the time zone from the live-boot menus, but its often missed.

[@TheLinuxCast]

MX is one of my favs. The tools are amazeballs. If it ran SystemD by default, I'd probably use it as my daily driver. Great vid, as always OTB!

[@dam8976]

if it use systemd will be a generic shit, leave MX alone without systemshit i mean systemd

[@billfawcett3691]

If it used systems as it's init programme I would not be using MX. It is easy, so I am told, to use systemd as an alternative to sysVinit on MX, but why would you want to use the most invidious piece of FOSS ever written. MX boot speeds have never been a problem so what's the point?

[@PhayzinOut]

@@billfawcett3691 Because Linux is about choice

[@PhayzinOut]

@@dam8976 Only reason you're complaining is you have a very slow machine. My laptop boots up Arch faster than Artix

[@dam8976]

@@PhayzinOut i have a ryzen 3700x the speed of the pc has nothing to do with systemd if You like systemshit thats fine, but don't assume what You don't know

[@donaldmickunas8552]

Hey orb, I too have become a Slackware enthusiast. I have nothing bad to say about any of the other distros. I have enjoyed a number of them at various times with Debian being my favorite for years. However, Slackware has got me really excited about exploring Linux like I haven’t been in years. I am pretty old school and Slackware gives me absolute control over my system. I am having a blast with it. I really think I’ve found the distro I’ve been looking for all these years.

[@OldTechBloke]

I feel the same way Donald

[@duduonyu5810]

Very good! Totally worth it. Well done!!!

[@shaddow1dog]

MX Linux KDE version upgraded using the back-port to Plasma 5.26.5, Framework 5.101.0, QT 5.15.7 wow speed usability configuration unmatched by any other distro while still able to use MX Linux tools this makes MX Linux the best of the best diffidently my main Debian daily driver.

[@limpa756]

hope everythings good big man

[@sonopro1]

Hope tooooo !

[@Tgspartnership]

i've spent longer on MX Linux than all my recent distro hopping experiments... currently using it as a Desktop to do a bit of code editing and it's running Proxmox in the background without any drama. Good match for the things I wanted atm!

[@stevenmoore9840]

Regarding not doing a weekly Slackware video....I'd welcome a few more.

[@smudgey5000]

This was the only distro I could get to work with my laptops Wifi card.

[@tiitulitii]

Please, drive safely!

[@gezobel]

Tried my beloved Arch installed on a USB recently ... worked for a while but then little things didn't work so well so I decided to try something else. Most other lightweight distros I found to be more bother than they were worth as for my USB drive I just wanted something to work out-the-box. Decided to try MX after seeing it recommended online for USB installation and OTB's video here. I have to say I am gobsmacked at the result. MX works an absolute treat with its default XFCE desktop (my favourite) and an impressive number of useful apps and tools as well. As OTB says, being Debian-based it's stable and reliable. Though a crusty old male, or maybe because of, I rather like that 'feminine-looking' wallpaper .. or am I not allowed to be so gender-conscious these days?!! it's such a change from some of the curious OTT wallpapers that abound these days? If anyone wants a professional-looking, easily-installed and fully operational Linux distro to carry around on a flash drive look no further. Though I have been fooling around with multiple Linux distros for around twenty years now I haven't been familiar with MX before so this has been a definite eye-opener. Never too old to learn!

[@GoatzombieBubba]

enable AHS to get the latest kernel updates.

[@certs743]

Wow, Slackware is one I haven't heard of in awhile. Last I used a Slackware based distro was Vector Linux

[@thorish933]

Good video thanks! Good Luck with the new Bike. I got an idea for you You said you want to combine your Biking travels with Linux. Well how about installing a Linux cellphone OS on an old phone and use it as your blogging machine etc. Could be fun. ;)

[@OldTechBloke]

I’ve done that a few times on old phones but have to say the experience hasn’t been good

[@thorish933]

@@OldTechBloke awww too bad.

[@mikael2313]

RIP Steve

[@Norbert9696]

You could try setting up Patreon as "per video" instead of "per month." That way if there's a month without videos, there would be also no payments. This way peope can det up monthly limits, so if for example you upload 4 videos a month and someone pledges $1 per video without a limit, you would get $4 from them, while if they set up e.g. a $1 monthly limit, they would give $1.

[@n.m4497]

you can actually make systemd run by default. Go to the menu, open MX TOOLS>Boot Options>Boot to (choose Wildflower...Systemd)

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

A great distro, my only complaint is that the wallpaper doesn't match the conky theme on the start although changing wallpapers (and conky theme manager) is easy to do.

[@itsfish8672]

NVOTB=Nice vid OTB.

[@plaiddooryakima8456]

So will we get to see the BMW behind you in future videos? :-)

[@OldTechBloke]

Yes in the winter

[@joaovictorcesa9443]

Cool

[@diogene3913]

Sorry, I need help. Since last week, after one of the latest updates to MX Linux 21, I can’t use virtualbox anymore. Every operating system, from windows to linux that I try to install as a virtual machine, installations all crash. Can you help me? Thank you.

[@dougtilaran3496]

So. You going to run the injection system on Slackware (do NOT use Arch) ? ;-)

[@OldTechBloke]

Injection system?

[@StephenSE9]

👍

[@Ragestation]

Thought it was pretty good really. The package manager leaves a little to be desired. Otherwise it's excellent.

[@doctorsocrates4413]

Great distro but for some odd reason the boot up time increases with no user interaction at all..sometimes is stuck on the mx logo when booting..i ditched mint because of this behavour..too may distros and not many are consistent and stable.

[@fruitarian]

How fast can you pedal?

[@Linux_Lucy]

Long Time No Uploads. Hope U are AOK. A 30 second video please to let us know U R OK.

[@OldTechBloke]

I’m ok Lucy just taking a break but thanks for your concern

[@garymaxwell2064]

Hey OTB... a few months ago you were an Endeavouros guy. Now you're a Slacker?

[@OldTechBloke]

I’m still a slacker but I’m also a distro reviewer. That’s what I do mate, just because I review something doesn’t mean I’ve switched to it

[@tiitulitii]

How about reviewing Modicia?

[@OldTechBloke]

Had a quick look and seems to be just another Ubuntu based distro

[@safi164]

You are not mistaking it is a fork of MEPIS Linux... This and antiX and they both share the same base.

[@googleuser344]

I cant install mx because I have Windows 10 and EFI and GRUB after installation doesnt boot.

[@n.m4497]

If youre trying to dual boot this is how its done kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYO0qKGhhZd-i6c

[@tf2368]

The distrowatch stats that show it as most downloaded are either rigged or manipulated. Decent OS anyway.

[@orcaflotta7867]

They show - Hits Per Day - HPD, not downloads.

[@65svein]

@@orcaflotta7867 Yes, easy to set up robots to do page update

[@orcaflotta7867]

@@65svein Yes, maybe. So what? Not my bizniz. I just wanted to correct your n00b mistake, that's all. Coz anyone who gives a fuk about the hit parade is completely on the wrong cruise ship anyway. I use the DW charts for my fantasy football league where I pitch Arch-basd distros against the pedestrian ones. Looks like I'm winning. ;)

[@doctorsocrates4413]

Downloads mean nothing and unless there is some form of telemtery in linux than actual usage is inaccurate...distrowatch rankings are just clicker rankings and are hardly accurate.

[@AssociateMinisterReserveDeacon]

A. Mr. OTB Do you think knowing the 8 major distribution families help you understand Linux and and help you provide technical support for Linux? B. The 8 Major Distribution Families Are. 1. Arch 2. Debian 3. Fedora 4. Gentoo 5. openSUSÉ 6. Slackware 7. Ubuntu 8. Independent Distributions (Distributions not based on the 7 other Distributions listed above.) C. Mr. OTB please continue to get on life's stage and let your Godly inner light shine. Please continue to climb life's ladder and let the world see The Great and Wonderful Gifts, Talents, and Treasures that are inside of you. D. Mr. OTB You're a Great Gentleman!!! E. Mr. OTB Please stay safe. F. Mr. OTB God Bless You!!!

[@TheBardicDruid]

There are only 3 base distros: Debian, Slackware and Red Hat Arch is actually a fork of Slackware Fedora is a fork of Red Hat Gentoo used to be known as Enoch Linux which is a fork of Slackware OpenSUSE is a fork of SuSE which is forked off Slackware Ubuntu if a screwed up fork of Debian I started in the IT field before the Linux Kernel was invented and have watched the explosion of distros.

[@leadlearner6391]

i use this distro on 5-10yr old laptops; new lease of life; thanks to Spaempunk check out his videos

[@amadeus_k2466]

you are absolutely right, except the name is STAEMPUNK

[@GoatzombieBubba]

MX Linux AHS version.

[@SA77888]

Hmm Perhaps I didnt give it enough of a chance which is totally possibly, but I didnt finx MX to be well polished, I found it to a be VERY dated and atypical representation of modern Linux desktop environments. Never seen anything like it before. Maybe I just needed to give it more time. But polished in the way of Feren or Zorin, it is certainly not.

[@hellohigoodbye]

Is MX Linux good for daily driving? I'm worried because MX Linux uses some shady strategy to keep their distro at the top of DistroWatch website distro ranking. So I'm just uncomfortable trusting them from my heart as a pure honest distro.

[@OldTechBloke]

Mx is fine as a daily driver

[@doctorsocrates4413]

Distrowatch should not be taken too seriously and the "rankings" are merely click rankings and are not indicative of actual usage.

[@flygaming3759]

I bet you you can not even run roblox on Linux any version

[@JonathanSteadman2003]

You can run Roblox through wine......

[@thierrybo6304]

"plethora or GUI configuration tools to make life easier". IMHO this is bloat, there are too many and many you wonder what they do!

[@rdb1]

Not really. I'm new to Linux and having all of these functions accessible makes life easy

[@guilherme5094]

👍