Arch easy enough even for Buster!

[buster]

Have been running Archman for a few weeks now in virtual.

Advantages of Archman over Arch:

- Number of times I used the command line - zero
-install time - about 20-25 minutes
-method for finding updates - the need pops up on the screen
-installing new software - similar to Synaptic
-getting full screen and drag and drop with host - install open-vm-tools

Disdvantages:

-most of the forums in a language I can't read
-updates occur regularly

Seems very similar to most popular Linux distros. Nice.

[ssfc72]

Thanks for the review, Buster!  Does Archman have a one click, shutdown icon?

[fox]

You might want to try Manjaro; also an Arch-based point and click distro. You could compare it to Archman. Manjaro is a controlled rolling release distro. They hold back Arch updates a few days (maybe a week?) to make sure they're OK before releasing them. I did get a bad update from them once, but that was years ago. I haven't tried it since then.

[buster]

"You might want to try Manjaro; also an Arch-based point and click distro."

Tried it about a year ago. After awhile it broke down. Maybe their delayed updates. Don't know but I think the held back update system might be to blame. Gives two places to have errors with updates instead of one. Anyway it broke and I deleted it. So far Archman very smooth.

[fox]

Another Arch-based distro of potential interest is EndeavourOS, which uses the Calamares installer and XFCE desktop. They just came out with an update. Looks to be point and click.

[buster]

EndeavourOS is the successor to Antegros I think. Found this review. The review's one weakness is the fact that he ignores there should be a graphical 'Synaptic' somewhere for Pacman stuff. That would make life easier for a mouseketeer.

So far it is miles down the popularity hit list on DistroWatch. Bears watching I guess because of the Arch cult. (Reminds me of the AirStream fascination in rvs). And it's an easy way into Arch.

https://cubiclenate.com/2019/08/20/endeavour-os-review-from-an-opensuse-user/

[buster]

Removed ArchMan. It's pretty good. Worth a try. I found it sometimes had memory problems during drag and drop with host. Small files were ok, but not large.

I might have been able to find a repository with the specific file open-vm-tools-desktop. That might have made the difference. This file wouldn't matter on a full install if you wish to try it.

Nice looking. Easy install.

[Jason]

Thanks for the review, Buster!  Does Archman have a one click, shutdown icon?

Found out that Plasma does, Bill. You have to configure it so but it's there. I can do another post that walks you through it if you're interesting in trying a Plasma-based distro like Kubuntu. I'm using it right now. I click shutdown in the menu and it does it right away, no confirmation needed.

Linux Mint no longer has a Plasma edition although there are websites that tell you how to turn one of the other editions into Plasma. I just don't know how buggy it is.

[buster]

Archman got a review in Distrowatch. Jesse had more problems than I did apparently. If you wish to  know what it's like running Arch without doing any work, it's worth a try. (You don't have to tell anyone how you installed it.  )

https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20191014#archman