Q4OS Forum

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

Since we occasionally answer questions about Q4OS and Debian, we have compiled a few reasons to use Q4OS Plasma. We would like to emphasize that we love Debian and honor its approach. The policy of Q4OS is to stick to Debian and offer additional tools and perks.

So here are the reasons in short for those wondering what else Q4OS Plasma edition offers over pure Debian Plasma.

- Installation profiles predefined - Pure, Live, Basic, Desktop and more custom profiles possible, see https://www.q4os.org/dqa016.html#boome . The Basic setup is optimized and very lightweight.

- Dual desktop Plasma + Trinity possible and preconfigured, see https://www.q4os.org/dqa015.html#ddskr

- Dedicated Debonaire theme preloaded https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G0pIg0GWEAA … ame=medium , for those who love Q4OS brand.

- S4-snapshot application to create live media from your running system even with an integrated installer https://www.q4os.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4510

- Lookswitcher application with variuous visual themes - prepared to install in the Software center.

- Lightweight and uncomplicated Q4OS update manager - prepared to install from the Software center.

- Firefox release, Google chrome - non-flatpak applications prepared to install from the Software center.

- Other non-flatpak applications https://www.q4os.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3624 . Vivaldi, Opera, Virtualbox, Teamviewer, Spotify and more. Testing status, but safe to install.

- Qsi installers for newcomers or not so experienced or experienced but workshy users.

- Desktop profiler tool with custom profiles option https://www.q4os.org/dqa016.html

- Active and friendly support forum https://www.q4os.org/forum/index.php 

Last edited by q4osteam (2026-01-04 14:40)

bin

Member

From: U.K.

Registered: 2016-01-28

Posts: 1,560

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

...and whilst not limited to Plasma, don't forget the QSI installer - very neat for newcomers who may not understand how to install single deb files.

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

Qsi added, thanks @bin

Midas

Member

Registered: 2017-12-15

Posts: 263

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

Nice and well rounded list.

Layperson doubt about the first point: which profile (if any...) is the closer correspondent to a default Debian?

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

... which profile (if any...) is the closer correspondent to a default Debian?

If we take Debian live Plasma as a reference, the closest is the “Desktop” profile. In addition you can create your own profile to match the default Debian live installation, or any arbitrary profile you like.

PotentialUser

Member

Registered: 2025-11-08

Posts: 20

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

Shall I succeed with following?
$ sudo qrepoadd mx-tools
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install q4os-mxtools-plasma
or
$ sudo apt install q4os-mxtools-trinity

philc

Member

Registered: 2017-03-24

Posts: 35

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

Is there a distinction between Q4OS and Debian in general in the non-free-firmware included in the installation (e.g. Broadcom), as well as the NVIDIA and HP drivers easily added  from the Q4OS Software Centre?

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

Q4OS includes a "non-free-firmware" component of Debian repositories in the same way as Debian.

GuestStar

Member

Registered: 2022-06-15

Posts: 7

Re: Why to use Q4OS Plasma ?

Q4OS includes a "non-free-firmware" component of Debian repositories in the same way as Debian.

A side note to the uninitiated: these days Debian itself has the non-free included by default, unlike a few years ago.

And to add my answer to the subject line question: Q4OS is a very simple way of installing a slick and optimized Debian with Plasma (and some extras I don't mind having). I could relatively easily do it myself, but I've become a bit lazy and you guys make it easy. Instead of installing Debian with Plasma and then fiddling with it I can just install Q4OS and be happy with the result, almost no tuning needed. It's good OOB and it suits me well.