Manjaro FAQ
General Linux
What is Linux?
Linux is an open-source operating system, meaning that it is completely free to use and free to distribute. Originally developed in 1991 by Finnish Programmer Linus Torvalds, Linux is an exceptionally robust and reliable system most commonly used for internet servers, mobile phones, and tablets (e.g. Android). However, the use of Linux as an alternative operating system for personal computers has also been growing over the years, with several million users having already discovered the benefits of it.
What are the benefits of Using Linux?
There are quite a few. Linux is free, highly efficient, and very fast; The 64 bit version of Manjaro with the XFCE desktop boots up in only a few seconds, and uses only 200MB of memory to run. Linux systems are also very secure, and are not affected by the huge amount of Windows viruses, trojans, worms, or malware out there. Anti-virus software is not required. And as for the tens of thousands of software applications available - including fully compatable equivalents of popular Windows software such as MS Office - these are also completely free. It is also possible to easily run many popular Windows applications on Linux using compatability software such as Wine/PlayonLinux.
Why is Linux Free? What's the catch?
There isn't one. Linux operates on a completely different philosophy than those of for-profit corporations such as Microsoft and Apple. Linux systems and software applications are funded through sponsorship, donations, and of course, the hard work of many, many enthusiasts. Linux has a dedicated and highly enthusiastic user-based for a good reason.
Why are there so many different distributions?
Different distributions have been developed fo different types of users, for different purposes, and for different hardware capacities. For example, distributions such as Mint or Zorin are specifically designed to apply to newcomers or those without technical expertise. At the other end of the scale, distributions such as Arch are designed for computer enthusiasts. Manjaro is designed to bridge that gap.
Manjaro Specific
Is Manjaro just an easy-to-install version of Arch?
No. Manjaro is not like other Arch-based distributions such as Archbang or Bridge Linux, which are. While there are numerous subtle differences between Manjaro and Arch, the most obvious examples - including the use of our own dedicated software repositories - are covered in the About Manjaro page.
Can Manjaro use the Arch Software Repositories?
No. Manjaro is configured to use its own dedicated software repositories, although you can still access the community-maintained Arch User Repository (AUR) for additional software, if you wish. In addition, if you want to access the very latest bleeding-edge software, Manjaro's own testing repositories are also available.
Can Manjaro be converted into a full Arch system?
Yes. However, this course of action is not recommended, and the Manjaro team cannot offer support for a converted system. Still, a conversion script to test out in VirtualBox is available on our forum here
What is the Manjaro Forum like?
Very friendly! Both newcomers and experienced users are more than welcome to participate, ask questions, and just talk to other members of the Manjaro community, as well as the developers themselves. You don't even have to register to post on the forum. Even though Manjaro is a new distribution, there are already many dedicated Manjaro Community members who will be more than happy to answer your questions and help you out.
Manjaro only seems to come with XFCE. Are other desktop environments available?
Yes. This includes KDE, Cinnamon, Gnome 3, Openbox, and Razor-QT. Any and all of these desktops can be downloaded from the official Manjaro software repositories. Manjaro presently only comes with the XFCE desktop environment pre-installed as it is a brand new distribution at the beta release/testing stage. Once Manjaro develops from 0.8.x to version 1.x onwards, it will be available with a range of pre-installed desktop environments.