- Best Linux Alternative To Macos
- Best Linux Replacement For Macos Windows 10
- Best Linux Replacement For Macos Pc
Elementary OS has got the No 1 trophy of Best Looking Linux Distro. This OS has both the beauty and crafted Looks of Windows OS and Mac OS. Moreover, it is a self-declared as “A fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS” on the official website. Elementary OS is an Ubuntu LTS based open source OS which is powered by the Pantheon. Dec 17, 2019 For running Linux on an older PC in 2019, I’ll recommend you to go with Ubuntu MATE.The latest 19.04 version was a minor upgrade over the 18.10.
Utilities • Feb.10, 2019
Apple updates macOS pretty frequently, you know. Every year, you get some cool features too, like the Dark Mode in macOS Mojave.
However, there’s something in macOS that Apple hasn’t really updated in the past decade — Dock.
Despite being the central element for navigation, macOS dock still lags. If you’re a normal user, the dock would be pretty smooth.
When you are a professional, there are more reasons to hate the dock than to love it.
Let’s have a look at where the default macOS dock falls behind.
Why is the default macOS Dock not enough?
Let’s consider things one by one.
First, as we said, Apple has brought no major changes to the dock in the last decade. On the other hand, Windows and Linux have made the launch-systems quite awesome. Windows, for instance, gives you an overview of the PC via the Start Menu.
The default dock on macOS has no window management features. Of course, you can use multi-finger gestures to move between full-screen windows. However, when you have too many windows on the screen, the Dock doesn’t help.
We also think the UI of the dock is pretty basic. Today, we need more control in handling multiple windows and applications. It’s great to have features like app progress icons, badges and activity. When I’m running 10 apps and 20 windows, that can be quite helpful.
Customization isn’t the best part about macOS dock. You can make a few changes to the way it looks, but it is not enough. Sometimes, you need a dock that blends in with your other UI and stuff, right? Well, Apple is not offering that now.
These are reasons for people to think of removing the dock from macOS.
A word on removing Dock from Mac
Ever thought of getting rid of macOS dock completely?
Unfortunately, that’s not possible. You can hide and rearrange the dock, but complete removal is not going to happen. This is because the dock is linked to some native functions in macOS. Removing the dock would tamper those features as well.
However, some of the dock replacement apps manage to hide the macOS dock so well. When you are using these apps, the old dock won’t bother you.
You basically have two options:
One, you can customize the macOS dock to suit your convenience.
Two, you can use a dock replacement app for an all-new experience.
Let’s talk about customization first.
Top tips to customize the macOS Dock
So, there are a few ways to customize how the dock looks and performs. Sometimes, this would be better than going for a fully-fledged dock replacement. Let’s check out some of the popular tips.
Getting Started: macOS has a few built-in utilities to customize the dock. You can access these settings by going to System Preferences -> Dock.
Getting Started: macOS has a few built-in utilities to customize the dock. You can access these settings by going to System Preferences -> Dock.
Size & magnification
You can adjust the display size of the dock. There is also an option to enable the Magnification effect. It also lets you choose how much it zooms into the icons.
You can adjust the display size of the dock. There is also an option to enable the Magnification effect. It also lets you choose how much it zooms into the icons.
Position on screen
You can arrange the dock at the right, left or bottom portion of the screen. If you are moving from something like Ubuntu, you may like the left position for Dock.
You can arrange the dock at the right, left or bottom portion of the screen. If you are moving from something like Ubuntu, you may like the left position for Dock.
Auto-hide Dock
If the dock is distracting you all the time, you can enable Auto-Hide feature. This way, the dock will be hidden upon no activity. You can move the cursor to the bottom of the screen to reopen the dock.
If the dock is distracting you all the time, you can enable Auto-Hide feature. This way, the dock will be hidden upon no activity. You can move the cursor to the bottom of the screen to reopen the dock.
Icon management
By default, dock shows the most-used apps on the bar, right? Well, you can remove individual icons from a context menu. Or, just hold the icon and put it on the Trash icon. Simple enough, isn’t it?
By default, dock shows the most-used apps on the bar, right? Well, you can remove individual icons from a context menu. Or, just hold the icon and put it on the Trash icon. Simple enough, isn’t it?
Miscellaneous
Dock Preferences also lets you change a few things like Minimizing Effect, double-click action on windows and what all icons are shown on the dock.
Dock Preferences also lets you change a few things like Minimizing Effect, double-click action on windows and what all icons are shown on the dock.
If you think these customization tips can solve your issues, you don’t need a dock replacement app. However, if you need more control over how the dock looks and performs, let’s continue.
Top apps to replace Dock on Mac
These apps basically replace the default dock on macOS.
This way, these apps can offer a rather new way to manage your windows, icons and more.
Shall we have a look at them?
The pick: uBar 4
uBar is the best choice when you want a complete dock replacement app for macOS. It’s quite rich when it comes to features and offers a revamped navigation experience as well. If you are looking for some radical change from what the default macOS dock offers, uBar is a great choice. It offers the perfect blend of cooler features and maximum control.
Getting started
It’s really easy to get started with uBar 4 on your Mac. Once the installation is done, you can open uBar and see the brand-new taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Yes, the basic design resembles the Windows task-bar you have seen before. However, uBar is cleaner and minimalistic.
By default, uBar would show the running apps on your Mac. You can click on the icon to move to the correct window as well. Depending on the application, uBar can offer Window Previews as well. It’s a feature you’d have missed while shifting from Windows to macOS, right?
On the left side of the taskbar, you can see a uBar icon as well. This feature is aimed to resemble the Start Menu in Windows. You can access a variety of material using this UI, such as applications, files and some part of system controls as well.
In short, uBar is offering a navigation experience that is quite different from that of macOS dock. Interested in the best part? uBar can practically hide the default macOS dock. Throughout our testing, we did not find the default dock popping up.
Altogether, it feels really easy to install and get started with uBar 4.
Window management
uBar 4 is the best shot when you want to manage multiple windows from multiple apps. This is where one of the best features of uBar comes in handy.
Window Grouping refers to the option of bundling multiple windows from a single app. For instance, if you have two windows open in Chrome, both of them will be displayed side-by-side.
Window Previews are also helpful here. This is something we’ve missed in the default macOS dock for long. You can place the cursor on an application window name to see what’s going on.
So, you can click on one window to jump straight into that.
There are also a few other cool things when it comes to window management. For instance, uBar shows a few icons to represent the state of the window. You can see a hatched red background if an application isn’t responding.
Similarly, uBar supports a few keyboard shortcuts as well. For instance, you can hold Shift button and press on a window to instantly close it. These keyboard shortcuts can be quite handy once you master it. Last but not least, you get features like App Progress, App Flashes and App Activity.
It feels really easy to manage multiple windows and apps when you have uBar.
Customization
uBar is undoubtedly the most customizable dock replacement app for Mac. You can change almost anything from the interface. Most importantly, you can configure uBar in two ways — as a task bar or as a dock. You just have to change a few settings to enable each of these modes.
Customization is available in almost every sector of the app. Generally, you can change how uBar appears on the screen. For instance, you can enable Window grouping, change the position of the task bar, enable or disable pinning and adjust the size of the task-bar.
You can also choose between different themes and color schemes. It’s wonderful that you can change even the accent color of the dock. uBar also lets you decide which elements are present on the bar. For instance, you can remove the clock and battery bar if you want more space for window management.
Last but not the least, you can also decide which entries appear in the menus. It’s great if you just want the most important entries in the menu. As far as customization is concerned, uBar can do everything Dock does. It also does more than what Dock hasn’t managed to do.
Additional features
There are a few additional features in uBar that we loved.
- Multi-Monitor Support is great when you have multiple displays connected to the Mac. Each display will have its own uBar, where the respective windows will be available. It’s a great way to take care of the apps conveniently.
- The Dock-Less Mode is easy to enable and disable. It practically removes dock from the macOS view, meaning that you can focus on what uBar has to offer.
- uBar comes with a built-in Clock and Calendar. You can hover over the icon to view both these things in an easy manner. In the long run, you will save a lot of time.
All these features go well with the minimal UI and design of uBar, which is great.
What could be better
Best Linux Alternative To Macos
There aren’t many flaws or bugs in uBar. However, we think the following aspects could be better.
It’d be great to have some pre-sets for uBar customization. Now, changing from taskbar to dock will require a few clicks. It would be great to get that done in a single click.
While the UI is great and cool, it’s surely a transition from the native design philosophy of macOS. At times, you may feel a little out of place.
Apart from these, everything’s perfect.
Apart from these, everything’s perfect.
Availability & pricing
uBar is available for Mac devices running macOS 10.10 or later. You can try uBar free of cost for 14 days.
Personal license of this dock replacement app is available for $30 while you can get the Commercial one for $50. uBar is also available on Setapp.
Verdict
We still believe that uBar is the best dock replacement app for macOS devices. It’s a complete transition to something that looks like Microsoft Windows, but the features are worth it. By upgrading to uBar, you can enhance your overall productivity for sure. We think that’s something that matters.
Also great — ActiveDock
If you are looking for something different, ActiveDock is a great consideration. Unlike uBar, ActiveDock does not feel like transitioning towards the Windows User Interface. Instead, ActiveDock works as if your default macOS dock is on steroids. In other words, this dock replacement app brings some of the cool features we’ve always wanted in the default dock package.
Compared to uBar, ActiveDock focuses on how you can arrange different resources on the dock. You will be able to create folders and groups on the dock, for instance. You can bring in files and apps inside the groups for quicker access. There is also a start-menu-like system, where you can find the apps and other locations in your Mac.
ActiveDock is more customizable than the other dock replacement apps we have covered here. You will be able to change almost every aspect of the dock. For instance, you can change the icons present on the dock as well as the background colors and stuff. There are also a number of ActiveDock themes you can check out for the best performance.
Coming to Window Management, ActiveDock checks all the boxes. You have window previews and the whole management endeavour is pretty smooth. Despite being a third-party program, ActiveDock gels well with the macOS system. It should be noted, however, that ActiveDock is creating another dock and not making changes to the existing dock.
Long story short, ActiveDock is great if you need a dock replacement app that resembles the default dock. In this case, you are getting a lot of features in a simple package as well. We’d recommend this if you can’t handle such a steep shift we found in uBar.
ActiveDock is available for macOS and is priced at $49.99 for a lifetime license. You can get a one-year license for $19.99 as well.
Other options we considered
Now, let’s have a look at some other dock replacement or dock customization apps we considered. Though they didn’t make it to the top position, you can count these apps on for dedicated needs.
HyperDock is one of the coolest dock replacement apps in the market for sure. The best part about this app is that it does not remove your dock. Instead, it makes changes to your existing dock. For instance, it brings the much-awaited Window Preview feature to the default lock. This makes HyperDock the best choice when you don’t want to leave the good-old dock.
It’s true that HyperDock does not have many features. You have the basic things cleared for managing many windows and popular apps like iTunes. HyperDock can also show you quick details from Calendar app. If you ask us, this app makes it really easy to live with the default dock. Nevertheless, you end up paying an amount that could actually buy you a fully-featured tool.
HyperDock is available for macOS and costs $9.95.
Do you know that you can customize the function of dock using Terminal commands? Well, the Dockey app for macOS brings all these features into a simple UI. Dockey is not the typical dock replacement app we have covered above. It just lets you make changes to the dock in a few clicks. For instance, you can change the position and animation style of the dock.
As far as advanced dock preferences are concerned, Dockey gets the job done. Once you have changed the settings, you can save them and everything will come into effect. It’s pretty great that you can even adjust the animation delay and animation speed in the package. If you are looking for a rather polished dock in your Mac, Dockey should do the job.
![Linux Linux](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126592924/994789368.jpg)
Dockey is available for macOS and is completely free to use.
Overflow 3 is not a dedicated dock replacement app for Mac. Instead, we are looking at a visual launcher for macOS devices. It has been designed to help you easily launch programs and other content you want. Since you have the complete freedom to set things up, you will have a custom-made place to start everything. For instance, you can add your favourite apps as well as some important files.
Flexibility is the reason why you should consider something like Overflow 3. Once set up, you will have one centralized place to focus on. If you use multiple apps and files for work, you can add everything into one page in Overflow 3. Because the designs can be customized in the long run, you have complete control also. In addition, Overflow 3 comes with full keyboard support and URL compatibility.
Overflow 3 is available for macOS. You can try it for free, but the license costs $14.95.
The final verdict
We have talked about more than a few ways to deal with your under-efficient macOS dock. You can either move into a better dock replacement app like uBar or ActiveDock, for a smoother performance. On the other hand, if you need more control over how the default dock behaves, we’d recommend HyperDock or Dockey.
Linux is the open platform, and you can choose the best distro by considering every single element of the distribution. Furthermore, you can also change a number of useful elements within your Linux distribution, which is yet another cool aspect of using a Linux distro. But, if your first priority of getting a Linux distribution with best and beautiful UI (user interface), there are a handful of Linux distributions that you can choose from. Depending upon what exactly you are looking for, you can get a Linux distribution that resembles the user interface of Windows and Mac, the two most popular proprietary operating systems in the market.
But, there are also a number of Linux distributions that sport a completely different user interface, which most people also love. But at the core, every single distribution is running the Linux kernel, and thus, even if you switch from one distro to the other, you will always feel at home, as everything else, other than the user interface is the same. Instead of switching to a new distro altogether, you can also install another desktop environment and start enjoying a different flavor of Linux. But, I will talk about the top Linux distributions with the best user interfaces that you can start using now.
List of Linux Distros with best UI
So, without any further delay, let’s get started with the top Linux distributions with the best UI. However, the most popular Linux Distros share common Linux desktop environment or user interface such as GNOME, KDE and more… Apart from this list, you can go for most stable Linux distro. Looking of penetration testing? Then go for Linux distribution for hacking, Not want to use Windows 7 then see the Linux alternatives for Windows and last for those have an old computer and wants lightweight Linux distros.
Zorin OS
The name starts with Z, but it is the first one in the list of the Linux distributions with the best user interface. With the familiar installation method, and is based on Ubuntu, Zorin OS is one of the best Linux distributions that have the most stunning user interface, you will immediately fall in love with. As it is based on Ubuntu, you can download all your favorite apps on Zorin with the regular commands, once you are on the Terminal. Did I forget to say, Zorin OS also comes with the Wine compatibility mode to run all your useful Windows programs!
Zorin OS Linux distro with windows like best UI
In spite of all, Zorin OS also comes with a rich set of applications most users will need, and it comes with GNOME desktop to run on your new, as well as run of the mill hardware. The user interface might not be the same as that of Windows, but you can find a lot of similarities with the user interface of Windows, which is worth mentioning. The distribution is quite stable if you are worrying, and there is a large community of users, who are always willing to help you, just in case you face problems running Zorin OS.
KDE Neon
If you find yourself familiar with the KDE desktop environment on Linux, KDE Neon is the one the Linux distribution with the best UI for you. Just like most other KDE-based distributions of Linux, you can find the most useful software packages that come pre-installed with most other KDE-based distributions of Linux. Furthermore, KDE Neon is based on the LTS-based distribution of Linux, and the flat themes also take the user interface to a whole new level. The additional advantages of KDE Neon include some useful widgets to take care of your productivity even after being user-friendly.
There are actually a handful of widgets that you can choose from that include everything from a clock to sticky notes, activity bar, and everything else that you will need, all with the option to even get new widgets from time to time. As the distribution is based on Ubuntu LTS, it comes with all the modern functionalities, and you will never have to worry about the stability of the distro.
As the software packages that you get from this particular Linux distribution are pretty amazing, and you can get updates for all the software bugs from time to time, there is no doubt KDE Neon is the best suit as your daily driver, if the best user interface is always your priority.
Deepin distro with best Linux UI
Deepin is another popular Chinese Linux distribution that also offers a beautiful user interface and they keep developing the distribution from time to time to add new features and make the operating system easier to use. If you run Deepin on relatively powerful hardware, you can find out how beautiful the operating system is as it comes with a glass-like user interface that offers transparency and blurring effects like no other distributions of Linux. Rabbit also comes with its own individual desktop environment, the Deepin Desktop Environment, aka. DDE.
Deepin Linux with best user-friendly interface distro
Furthermore, Deepin comes with a number of other useful UI tweaks that come with support for gestures to make the user interface the best ever. Additionally, there is also the option to use hot corners like that of Windows 8, which can help you carry out a number of useful tasks right from the corners. The easy installer also makes sure that you will never face any kind of problem at the time of installation and the Deepin Store comes with the number of Hidden Gems that you can’t even find in the Ubuntu Store. If you are looking for an innovative set of features in your distribution with those cool visuals, just close your eyes and go for Deepin.
Elementary OS
If you are a normal user, who is willing to give up on Windows or Mac and is planning to switch to Linux, but your top priority is the best ever user interface, elementary OS is the one that you can count on. I will not brag about the developer-friendly features available on the elementary OS as this particular Linux distribution is targeted towards normal users who want to use their computer for normal day to day tasks, and do not look out for advanced features most other Linux distributions has to offer. You can choose from and a wide array of themes and you can also download the apps available for Ubuntu.
Elementary OS as Linux replacement of macOS and windows GUI
The wide selection of Ubuntu apps and themes make elementary OS one of the most functional Linux distributions of the generation. You can call elementary OS the best replacement for both macOS as well as Windows. Unlike most other distributions of Linux, which is based on Ubuntu, elementary OS does not come with a number of pre-installed Ubuntu apps, but it packs in a number of useful alternatives which is far lightweight compared to that of the same apps available for Ubuntu.
Elementary OS comes with the Pantheon Desktop Environment that might not be the lightweight desktop environment, but it should easily run on most modern computers even if it doesn’t have the cutting edge hardware. Just give elementary OS and try and you will love it.
Solus OS
If you are fond of trying out new Linux distributions from time to time and you keep track of the modern Linux distributions with the best ever user interface, you can try out Solus OS. It is one of the fastest-growing Linux distributions even after offering a minimalistic yet beautiful user interface that offers the modern flat look most users adore. The Budgie Desktop Environment is one of the best ever Linux desktop environments. Solus OS is based on GNOME, but the shell isn’t there. There is a regular menu, where you can get access to all the applications available within the distribution.
Solus OS Linux distro UI
Just like Ubuntu, on the top right corner of the screen, you can get access to a few of the most useful system applets like Wi-Fi and network connectivity, battery, notifications and everything else that you want to quickly access. Apart from the official repository, you can also download apps from Snap repository which also comes with a number of Windows and other useful apps, that is something most users will find in handy. Solus OS should work exactly the way you want, right out of the box, and thus, you will never have to make a lot of modifications before you can get started with Solus OS.
Feren OS
If you are familiar with Linux Mint, you will feel at home with the Feren OS distribution, which is based on Linux Mint and has similar kind of Linux distro UI. However, unlike Linux Mint, Feren OS is a better distribution of Linux which has been developed by tweaking the Cinnamon desktop environment which is used on Linux mint. If you are switching from Windows and you never have used the Linux Mint distribution, you will still feel at home with the Feren OS distribution. Just like Windows, you can also find a start menu alternative along with the taskbar icons and a system tray displays a lot of information about your system.
Best Linux Replacement For Macos Windows 10
Even if you are coming from Mac OS, the user interface will not disappoint you come as well, as all the items in the menu, which is similar to the start menu on Windows also have submenus, where you can find additional options associated with a particular item. You can change the icons, background, and everything else just like most other Linux distributions.
If a modern look is something that you look for within your Linux distribution, Feren OS is exactly where your search ends, as it has a familiar desktop environment that features a clean and flat design which will be a treat to the eyes for most users.
Pop!_OS
If you are fond of using Ubuntu but are going to play games, Pop!_OS is the perfect and the youngest Linux distribution that you can use. As I am talking about the most beautiful distributions of Linux, Pop!_OS is also not an exception to that. Pop!_OS is based on the GNOME Desktop Environment Linux user interface, which offers a completely new desktop experience to the users, even after being based on Ubuntu. The distribution has some of its issues, but Pop!_OS keeps getting new updates, which promises potential bug fixes from time to time.
Pop!_OS is a fantastic distribution of Linux which comes with a lot of new color themes and if you are into gaming, it is optimized for the latest AMD and Nvidia graphics cards to offer you a great giving performance. If you are familiar with Ubuntu you can feel at home with Pop!_OS, even after Pop!_OS being based on GNOME.
POP OS with GNOME User interface
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After offering a fresh look to the users, Pop!_OS also comes with the most useful programs which will be handy, and the existing set of apps with Pop!_OS makes the operating system ready to use out-of-the-box. Pop!_OS doesn’t come with unwanted user interface elements, which is yet another reason you can easily get started with Pop!_OS distribution of Linux.
Maui Linux
Another beautiful Linux distribution in my list is Maui Linux, which was first developed back in 2016 by the developers of the Netrunner. The team of developers converted the Netrunner distribution of Linux based on Ubuntu to Maui Linux and the present distribution is based on KDE Neon. When it comes to the software part, the software packs come from KDE Applications, KDE Plasma, Frameworks, and Qt libraries. Even though Maui Linux is based on KDE Neon, there are also certain applications, which are not based on KDE that include Firefox, Thunderbird and a number of other popular applications.
Maui Linux is an LTS version of Linux, which ensures, the distribution gets security updates for a long time, which is something most users look out for. Talking about the user interface which is the most basic element, when it comes to the most beautiful distributions of Linux, Maui Linux comes with an alternative to the Start menu on Windows, and there are also desktop icons which you can rearrange or add as per your requirements.
Just like Windows, you can also get a system tray, where you can get access to the most important settings of the distribution very quickly with just a single click. Maui Linux might not be a very popular distribution of Linux but you should definitely try out to find out whether it suits you.
Maui Linux distro based on KDE neon
So, that was my list of the top 10 distributions of Linux with the best user interface. But if you are new to Linux you should not prioritize a beautiful user interface over everything else as you should also look at a number of other aspects, when it comes to choosing a distribution. However, if you are familiar with Linux, you are at liberty to choose the most beautiful distribution of Linux from the list given here.
Nitrux
Nitrux Linux distro’s UI is somewhat similar to Elementary OS but with new tint. It is also powered by Ubuntu and uses the KDE desktop environment along with QT to give the best possible user experience. It uses the Calamares, a system independent installer, and NX Desktop with NX Firewall on top of the KDE Plasma 5 desktop.
Out of the box, the Nitrux comes with all tools that we need in our daily usage, from PDF reader to photo editor everything is there.
Another thing worth to mention that it uses a free and modular front-end framework which allows it to adopt the screen size seamlessly. Furthermore, to install various packages without thinking much about dependencies it uses AppImage.
eXtern OS – A NodeJS Based
Do you want to try out some new Linux desktop environment user interface then laid down your hands on eXtern OS?
It is yet in the beta stage however with an interface that derails from the traditional operating system UI path. eXtern OS is powered by Javascript and has complete support for Node.js APIs thus providing unique a Linux distro with one of the best GUI.
However, it is still in the beta stage thus refrain from using git in production but worth giving one try at least.
Antergos
The next one in the list is Antergos, which is yet another beautiful Linux distribution, but this time it is based on Manjaro Linux, which is an Arch-based distribution of Linux that you can count on.
Note: This Linux discontinued in 2019 and here just for knowledge purpose…
With the first look of the operating system, you can find out it is one of the most visually appealing distributions of Linux and talking about the desktop environment that comes pre-installed, it is GNOME 3 that is liked by a number of users in the Linux community for its beauty, and the ease of usage. Simplicity is the key aspect that the developers had kept in mind while developing Antergos.
Antergos linux How to get keynote for free on mac yosemite.
Antergos is ready out-of-the-box, and you will not have to carry out a lot of additional tasks to make it usable, and the distribution also comes with some exclusive icons and themes, derived from the Numix project. Antergos is a very simple-to-use Linux distribution and you can get rolling updates which is something most users look for. Just like most other Linux distributions, Antergos is backed by a huge community of enthusiasts, the out of the box experience is pretty good, and in most cases, you will never even need to install any additional programs to get started on this distribution.
Do you want to add any other great distribution of Linux which is really beautiful? Feel free to comment on the same below.