I found a new Linux distro that’s a productivity powerhouse right out of the box
I found a new Linux distro that’s a productivity powerhouse right out of the box
https://www.zdnet.com/article/manjaro-elegance-linux-distribution-hands-on/
Publish Date: 2026-01-26 04:00:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET key takeaways
- Elegance is a Linux distribution based on Manjaro.
- This rolling-release distro comes with tons of pre-installed apps.
- You can download and install Elegance for free.
Manjaro is a sweet Arch-based Linux distribution, and it has the fans to prove it. Manjaro is designed to take Arch to new heights of user-friendliness, and it succeeds quite well.
Of course, there are always those who believe everything can be improved, which is why a small team of developers decided to fork Manjaro and create Elegance.
Also: The 6 Linux distros I expect to rule 2026 – and why
The beauty of Elegance isn’t in the UI, although the developers have made Cinnamon look pretty good. What’s really appealing (at least to me) is the collection of software that comes preinstalled.
Before I get into that, it’s important to know that Manjaro provides the core of the OS, the Cinnamon desktop, the package manager, and the basic software. Beyond that, everything is Elegance.
And it really is a pretty elegant distro. Usually, when I think of Cinnamon, I think of Linux Mint. Now, there’s nothing wrong with Linux Mint. In fact, my esteemed colleague who covers Linux and open source, Steven Vaughan-Nicols, is a huge fan of Linux Mint.
That being said, I’ve always found the basic Cinnamon layout to be a bit, shall I say, boring? Yes, I shall. It’s boring.
Also: Linux will be unstoppable in 2026 – but one open-source legend may not survive
Elegance takes Cinnamon and gives it a makeover that elevates it to a more modern state, and I’m all for it.
Of course, out of the box, you get the dark theme (why is dark theme so often the default?), but that can be easily changed.
The lighter side of Elegance.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
If you’ve ever used Cinnamon for any length of time, you understand that it’s not exactly the most flexible desktop environment available to Linux.
Also: 10 Linux apps I install…
