If you’re interested in turning your Mac, Windows or Linux computer into an Android computer, perhaps it’s a good idea to look over all the reasons outlined in this article as to why Remix OS is a good choice.
What Makes Remix OS Special?
Above all, what sets Remix OS apart from many of the other operating systems is the fact that it’s built on top of Android and by extension the Android-x86 project. It’s an interesting attempt to turn Google’s infamous mobile operating system into something that you could run on your desktop or laptop. Remix OS is based on a forked version of Android Lollipop. When you install it you’re getting the ability to install APK files (Android packages) by side-loading them. You also have the ability to use the Google Play Store. When you’re using Remix OS, you’re using it like a regular operating system. If you’ve installed Skype, Hangouts, or one of the many, many other first-rate applications available in the Play store, they’ll appear as a normal windowed application.
Everything is very traditional when it comes to Remix OS, and it comes with everything you’d expect an operating system to ship with (file manager, video player and other basic tools), along with everything expected out of a vanilla Android installation. Not to mention, since this is Android (which is built with Linux), you have instant support for various keyboards and other devices out of the box.
The design for the desktop is like Chrome OS and even close to Windows 10. You have a traditional task bar and some stuff pinned to it. Of course, open windows show up there, too. To the right-hand side of the screen you have a Windows 10-like notification center.
The UI is nice and traditional, but it’s not what’s impressive about the operating system overall. Perhaps the best feature is the way it handles applications. For starters, nothing is fullscreen. Instead, things can be maximized, minimized or arranged however you like. This leads to multi-tasking on Remix OS being very cohesive.
Installation
Installing Remix OS is pretty easy. It can run directly off of a USB stick. This is how the developers intend Remix to be used at the current time. It’s technically possible to install it directly to a hard drive, but you’d have to do some research on that.
Once you have downloaded Remix OS: Windows users: head over to this article here. It explains how to make a live disk using the LiLi tool. Mac users: Want to try Remix OS on your Mac? Head over to this article to learn how to make a live USB disk. Linux users: A live USB image for Remix OS can be easily created directly from the command line. Head here to find out how.
Conclusion
Overall, Remix OS brings a fresh spin on Android. It’s a very exciting project. There really aren’t many negative things to say about it. There are only a few things that comes to mind. One is the fact that because it’s a desktop operating system, some Android apps will not work correctly with it. That’s just a fact when you’re working with Android though. Another issue is the fact that this is the early days. Most eager consumers will rush to try this out, only to be let down by how buggy and unstable it can be. Sure, Remix OS has some real, tangible potential when you look at it, but how long will it take before the bugs are ironed out? Only time will tell. Do you like the idea of a user-friendly operating system based on Android that you can easily install on your home computer? Let us know below!
