Why I Switched to Pop!\_OS as My Daily Driver: 5 Key Reasons

Why Pop!\_OS Has Been My Go-To Linux Distribution for Years

For nearly a decade, Pop!\_OS has been my Linux distribution of choice—with the occasional detour. My journey began when I bought my first System76 desktop, the Leopard Extreme (RIP), after spending years happily using elementary OS. One day of testing Pop!\_OS convinced me it was the perfect match for my needs. Since then, I haven’t looked back. Here’s why Pop!\_OS has kept me loyal, and perhaps you’ll consider giving it a shot too.

1. Seamless Hardware Integration

This is the single biggest reason why Pop!\_OS stays firmly rooted on my systems. System76 has crafted a partnership between hardware and software that’s unmatched elsewhere. Installing other distros like Ubuntu Budgie on my System76 hardware always felt like forcing a square peg into a round hole. For instance, when I first tried Ubuntu Budgie on my Thelio, the fans wouldn’t stop spinning. Turns out, the OS wasn’t optimized for the hardware, and it took extra driver tweaks to bring it anywhere close to Pop!\_OS’s performance. System76 has achieved what Apple does with macOS—seamless integration without locking you into proprietary ecosystems. Pop!\_OS runs beautifully on their hardware, and that’s a rarity in the Linux world.

2. Built on Ubuntu’s Solid Foundation

Ubuntu powers countless Linux distributions because it’s simply rock-solid. Its hardware detection is second to none—you plug something in, and chances are Ubuntu recognizes it. Sure, there are still edge cases (like scanners), but overall, it’s impressive. Combine that with Ubuntu’s apt package manager and Snap/Flatpak options, and managing apps becomes a breeze. Ubuntu’s stability underpins Pop!\_OS’s reliability.

3. The Upcoming COSMIC Desktop

System76’s vision for Pop!\_OS just keeps getting better. The upcoming COSMIC desktop is poised to replace GNOME, and trust me, it’s shaping up to be something special. Built in-house using Rust, COSMIC looks familiar at first glance but isn’t just a rehash of GNOME. It features a dock, top bar, workspace overview, and app launcher. The real game-changer? The app store. Unlike previous iterations, COSMIC’s app store feels polished and functional. While it’s still in alpha, the final version scheduled for Pop!\_OS 24.04 LTS promises to deliver.

4. Tailored ISOs for NVIDIA and AMD

Pop!\_OS stands out by offering separate ISOs tailored to your GPU. If you’re rocking an NVIDIA card, grab the NVIDIA-specific ISO. For AMD users, stick with the default release. This eliminates much of the hassle involved in manually installing drivers, something few distros bother with. Kudos to System76 for making life easier.

5. Recovery and Refresh Features

One feature that sets Pop!\_OS apart is its OS recovery and refresh tools. Found under Settings > OS Upgrade & Recovery, these options allow you to restore your system to factory settings without losing your data. It’s like having a safety net if something goes south. I’ve used this tool once, and it worked flawlessly. After refreshing, I logged in, and all my files were intact. That kind of peace of mind is invaluable.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need System76 hardware to enjoy Pop!\_OS—it works great on other setups too. However, if you’re shopping for a new machine, System76 deserves serious consideration. Their hardware is reliable and built to last. My old Thelio stayed strong for seven years, and I’m confident their current offerings will hold up just as well. Give Pop!\_OS a try—you might just find it clicks with you like it did with me.

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