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4 hours ago
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Back in 2022, I reviewed ExTiX with the idea of using it to get the Deepin desktop experience, without the possible security/privacy issues associated with Deepin Linux.
Now ExTiX has a new release, based on Deepin 25 Stable. This new release vastly improves on the experience to deliver a desktop with a layout that would make any Windows 11 user feel right at home, only there are no intrusive ads, unexpected reboots, or concerns that something will come crashing down. When you first log into ExTiX, you'll think you're using a Microsoft OS. You're not... this is definitely Linux. And although the installation can be slightly tricky, once it's up and running, ExTiX as as user-friendly as most operating systems.
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There's even the UOS AI tool, which can be used with local models (for free), by first installing the Embedding Plugins too (you'll be prompted to install this when you open the UOS AI tool settings under Model Configuration.
You must first install this plugin before you can use localized AI.
Once the Embedding Plugins app is installed, you can add local models like ULLM-1.5B, ULLM-7B, and DeepSeek-R1-1.5B. I added DeepSeek to try the UOS AI app to see how it fared, and the end result was decidedly impressive. Do keep in mind that if you opt to go the local AI route, make sure you're hardware has the power for it because localized AI can be a system drain.
ExTiX ships with Deepin Browser (based on Chromium), Firefox, and all the Deepin apps (Mail, Music, Terminal, Calendar, etc.). The one thing ExTiX doesn't include is an office suite. Fortunately, you can open the App Store, search for whatever it is you need, and install it.
Speaking of which, there are two package manager front ends found in Deepin - the default (which I believe comes from Deepin Linux) and Synaptic. Both work well, but keep in mind that system updates are handled within the Deepin App Store, so you will want to use it.
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One thing ExTiX doesn't ship with is one of the universal package managers (Flatpak and Snap). You can install either using the apt package manager, such as:
sudo apt-get install snapd -y
sudo apt-get install flatpak -y
If you need proprietary apps like Slack and Spotify, you'll want to at least add Snap.
You will also find a category in the App Store, called Linyaps App, which offers an array of software titles that are installed via Deepin's linyaps universal package manager. You won't find a ton of apps here, and many of them really aren't worth your time, but you could come across an app that could help you be more productive or entertained.
One aspect of ExTiX that I very much respect is how the default Deepin apps blend in so seamlessly, almost to a MacOS level. To date, the only other Linux distribution I would have made that claim for was elementaryOS, so this is something special.
The default Deepin apps on ExTiX look beautiful.
As far as the layout is concerned, you get the usual bits and pieces (panel, launchpad, clickable icons, system tray, etc) that are all put together in a very Windows 11 fashion. The only thing missing (besides the intrusive ads) is a hint of transparency and blur. You can give the panel some transparency in Settings > Personalization > Opacity. Oddly enough, this only applies to the panel and nothing else.
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It's a shame the transparency effect doesn't apply to other bits on the desktop.
Then there's the Deepin Home icon, which opens a Deepin Welcome App that is well-designed and helpful. The welcome app includes sections for communication, bug reporting, suggestions, resources, and links to apps and sites so you can help with ExTiX.
There's also a tool called the Grand Search, which (in theory) should be able to search for anything (files, folders, documents, applications, settings, videos, etc.). This tool is quite impressive, and I wish every distribution would include such a thing.
The ExTix Grand Search tool should be a model for other distributions.
Downloading the ISO
This is where things get a bit tricky. If you go to the ExTiX website, you'll find it to be a word salad of information that really doesn't do the distribution justice or possible users any favors. I scanned and scanned through the site to find an ISO download link, but came up with nothing. Instead, I did a quick search with my favorite search engine and found the download on Sourceforge.
Once you have the ISO, you can install ExTiX, but keep in mind that there isn't an icon on the desktop (or in the menu) labeled "Install ExTiX." Instead, you install via the Refactor installer, which at first seems a bit intimidating, but you should quickly get the hang of how it works. Another thing to keep in mind is that the installer cannot partition your drive, so you'll be prompted to open GParted, where you can add a partition table and then a partition. It's not hard.
In the end, I found the latest version of ExTiX to be an absolute delight of a desktop distribution. If you have a spare computer or can spin up a virtual machine, I highly recommend giving ExTiX a try.
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