Pop!_OS Linux For Linux

Pop!_OS Linux is a free Ubuntu-based GNU/Linux distribution built around the widely used GNOME desktop environment and optimized for the desktop and laptop computers created by Linux computer retailer System76. It is based on the popular Ubuntu Linux operating system.

Pop!_OS Linux comes in two flavors, for System76 computers with either hybrid Intel and AMD or Intel and Nvidia graphics cards. Only 64-bit systems are supported, and you can install the operating system on other computers not manufactured by System76 too, considering you download the right ISO image.

Taking about the ISO image, Pop!_OS Linux offers a live and installable image that's about 2GB in size, which means you can write it to a USB flash drive and use it to install the operating system whenever you want. There's no boot menu on the live images, and the installer prompts the user immediately after loading the live session.

The installer is forced on the user when running the live session, but you can always minimize it in a corner if you only want to give Pop!_OS Linux a test drive on your personal computer and see what the fuss is all about. You'll have unrestricted access to the entire graphical environment and pre-installed applications.

Pop!_OS Linux features a highly customized GNOME desktop environment with beautiful artwork, yet a traditional experience with a single panel located on the top of the screen, from where you can access the pre-installed apps, running apps, and the system tray area.

There's only a minimal set of apps available in the Pop!_OS Linux live image, including the Mozilla Firefox web browser, Geary email client, LibreOffice office suite, and a few standard GNOME utilities, such as a calculator, system monitor, calendar, contacts, terminal emulator, text editor, whether client, and others.

Bottom line, Pop!_OS Linux is a GNU/Linux distribution designed and optimized by System76 for its own customers, in case they to reinstall the operating system if something goes wrong. However, nothing stops you from using System76's in-house built operating system on your personal computer from a different manufacturer.