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Elegance is a Linux distribution derived from the highly popular Manjaro platform. This particular system follows a rolling-release model and arrives richly equipped with a wide range of pre-installed software applications, enabling users to begin working immediately after installation without the need to spend additional time searching for and installing essential tools. Moreover, it is freely downloadable and installable, in keeping with the spirit of open-source accessibility.
Manjaro itself is an exceptional Linux distribution built upon the sturdy and respected foundation of Arch Linux. It has earned its dedicated fan base by refining Arch’s minimalist and sometimes complex nature into a system that remains powerful yet remarkably approachable. Manjaro’s creators set out to make Arch more user-friendly—retaining all its dynamic potential while softening its learning curve—and most would agree they have succeeded admirably.
However, in every corner of the open-source world, innovation tends to ignite additional experimentation. There are always developers who believe existing excellence can be refined even further. That belief led a small but ambitious group of contributors to take Manjaro’s powerful framework, fork the project, and begin shaping their own vision—this evolution is now known as Elegance.
The true allure of Elegance is not solely determined by its visual interface, although the development team has taken significant care to enhance the Cinnamon desktop environment, giving it a more contemporary and aesthetically refined appearance. Rather, its deeper appeal lies in the thoughtful and extensive selection of software that comes pre-loaded—tools that turn the system into a practical workstation right out of the box.
To clarify the division of roles, Manjaro provides the operational backbone of the distribution—its underlying core, the Cinnamon desktop framework, the package management infrastructure, and the essential system utilities. Everything beyond that foundational layer—the visual refinements, the added functionality, and the impressive bundle of applications—represents the unique contribution of Elegance’s developers.
As a result, the final product lives up to its name. It is indeed an elegant Linux distribution. Typically, when one thinks of the Cinnamon desktop, the first association that comes to mind is Linux Mint, a distribution that has long been celebrated for its balance of usability and stability. My distinguished colleague, Steven Vaughan-Nichols, an expert in the Linux and open-source landscape, is himself a devoted Linux Mint enthusiast. Nevertheless, I have often found Cinnamon’s standard implementation to lean somewhat toward simplicity—functional, yes, but perhaps visually monotonous and somewhat uninspired.
Elegance takes Cinnamon and breathes new life into it. It refreshes the traditional interface, transforming it into something far more stylish and modern. The default setup welcomes you with a dark theme—an increasingly common choice among contemporary Linux distributions, though users can naturally switch to a light theme if they prefer greater brightness. This theming flexibility ensures that Elegance can visually adapt to different personal tastes and working conditions.
Those familiar with Cinnamon will know that it isn’t the most adaptable desktop environment available. Customizing and extending it requires some additional effort. For instance, converting the conventional bottom panel into a dock-style launcher might require third-party tools such as Plank Reloaded. While it’s entirely feasible to tailor Cinnamon to your needs, it typically demands a bit of persistence and experimentation. Despite that, many users still favor Cinnamon precisely because of its intuitive, accessible design, which streamlines everyday use.
Yet what truly distinguishes Elegance is not primarily its interface, as attractive as it may be, but rather its substance—the breadth, quality, and relevance of the software environment provided to the user from the moment of installation.
Among all of Elegance’s characteristics, the most striking is its comprehensive collection of preinstalled applications. The installation process is as straightforward as any modern Linux distro setup, although users might notice that the system initially defaults to French, a minor factor that can easily be changed during configuration. Once you reach the desktop, you will find an impressively complete assortment of applications waiting for you—sufficient to handle virtually every typical computing task without needing to access external package repositories immediately.
Within the Sound & Video category alone, the lineup is extensive: it includes powerful audio tools such as Ardour for professional-grade recording, Audacity for sound editing, Avidemux for video manipulation, Brasero for disc creation, along with numerous others such as Aegisub, amsynth, Ciano, Easy Effects, Hydrogen, Kdenlive, and LMMS. These programs serve everyone from hobbyists to serious multimedia producers. There is even room for creative software such as FreeCAD and LeoCAD, extending the system’s usefulness beyond sound and video production into the realm of 3D modeling and design.
What’s remarkable is that Elegance accomplishes this without overwhelming users with redundant or outdated software. The curation feels purposeful and modern, avoiding both unnecessary bloat and legacy tools that have little relevance in today’s workflows. The developers clearly made these selections with a thoughtful understanding of what contemporary users, especially creators, truly need on a daily basis.
Ironically, amid all these thoughtful inclusions, the only area that feels somewhat underdeveloped is the wallpaper selection. While it may seem minor, many Linux distributions distinguish themselves visually through an assortment of striking desktop backgrounds—some, such as Pop!_OS, even commission custom artwork to mark their identity. Elegance keeps things simpler here. Of course, users can always expand the wallpaper collection manually if they wish.
Determining who Elegance is best suited for reveals its sweeping versatility. With the user-friendly Cinnamon interface and its vast range of preloaded software, this distribution is well-positioned to serve nearly anyone—from casual computer users to professionals. However, its ideal audience probably consists of multimedia creators: musicians, video editors, graphic designers, and other digital artists who need a ready-to-use creative environment.
For those who produce or manipulate media, Elegance offers a natural fit. Its combination of production-oriented tools and ease of use means that users can immediately dive into recording audio, cutting video, or crafting visual projects with minimal setup. That said, creators might wish to install a low-latency kernel to improve audio responsiveness and ensure optimal performance when working with real-time applications. Beyond that small adjustment, Elegance stands as a well-rounded system that enables users to begin creating digital masterpieces almost as soon as the installation process finishes.
Nonetheless, even those who do not consider themselves artists will find Elegance highly capable. Whether the goal is day-to-day office work, media consumption, or gaming entertainment, this distribution performs confidently. The inclusion of both Lutris and Steam right out of the box further enhances its gaming potential, offering access to vast libraries of titles across genres.
To summarize, Elegance is a sophisticated and comprehensive Linux distribution that merges the stability and modernity of Manjaro’s foundation with a carefully selected suite of applications designed for real-world productivity and creativity. For anyone intrigued by the idea of a refined, ready-to-go Linux experience, downloading the official Elegance ISO and installing it on spare hardware or within a virtual machine is a worthwhile experiment—it could very well become your next favorite operating system.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/manjaro-elegance-linux-distribution-hands-on/
