Robolinux: great Linux distribution for new users who need Windows

If there is one drawback that I would put to Linux operating systems in general, it is their compatibility. Most Linux distributions are free, which usually means little money for companies and most popular software ending up on Windows or macOS. Thus, the users of the penguin systems, especially the «switchers» (almost all of us) have to learn to use GIMP when we were already using Photoshop, for example. Unless we use a virtual machine, something for which in its day it was born Robolinux.

Robolinux is an operating system that I have read that is based on Debian, but testing it I have seen that it downloads part of its software from Ubuntu repositories. We could say that it is actually based on Ubuntu, although Canonical's system is based on Debian. The good thing about this operating system is that it has ALMOST everything you need to be able to virtualize Windows in Virtualbox. What it lacks is, of course, the operating system, something that would be prohibited from offering free or pirated.

How to install Robolinux

This operating system has no special installation method. It is as simple as it is, for example, Ubuntu and derivatives. We will do it with these steps:

1. We download the Robolinux ISO from your download page.
2. We can burn it to a CD or create a Live USB. If you create a Live USB, say that on some PCs it does not work if we use the boot disk creation tool. Other software such as UNetbootin is recommended.
3. We start from the CD / USB.
4. We choose «live-boot Live System»
5. We double click on the installation icon (Install Robolinux).
6. The installation process is simple:
   1. We indicate the language.
   2. We tell you if we want to download updates and third-party software (to play .mp3, etc). I always check both.
   3. The type of installation between installing next to the existing system, removing and installing Robolinux or "More" if we have several partitions and we want to respect them.
   4. We click on "Install now" and confirm the following message by clicking on "Continue".
   5. We indicate the time zone.
   6. We indicate the language of the keyboard.
   7. We create a user and wait for the installation to finish.

Software included in Robolinux (MATE)

Robolinux is a complete operating system. It has absolutely everything you need to be able to do anything like other more famous operating systems. Basically we will find all the applications of the graphical environment that we choose and below you have a list of everything that the MATE version has.

• Accessories
  • Backup tool.
  • Characters map.
  • Discs.
  • Engrampa file manager.
  • Calculator.
  • MATE search tool.
  • Medit text editor.
  • Password manager.
  • Plank (dock).
  • Pen text editor.
  • Synapse (application launcher, etc).
  • Screenshot tool
• Graphics:
  • Eye of MATE image viewer.
  • GIMP.
  • MATE color picker.
  • Shotwell (photo organizer).
  • Tool for scanning documents.
• Software installers:
  • Various popular apps.
  • BleachBit.
  • Drive C to VM.
  • Clam Antivirus.
  • Google Chrome.
  • Google Earth.
  • I2P.
  • Opera.
  • Steam.
  • Tor browser.
  • Tor Chat.
  • Wireshark.
• Internet:
  • Deluge (torrent)
  • Firefox.
  • HexChat.
  • Tutorial to use the desktop in 3D (Compiz).
  • pidgin.
  • Private Internet Access.
  • Robolinux News.
  • Thunderbird.
  • Transmission.
• Repair Shop:
  • Lectern document viewer.
  • LibreOffice (Calc, Writter, Draw and Impress).
  • MATE Dictionary.
• Sound and video:
  • Brazier.
  • Cheese
  • Kazam.
  • rhythmbox.
  • Sound control.
  • VLC.
• Stealth VM apparatus to install Windows virtual machines.
• System tools:
  • Additional drivers.
  • Auto update Robolinux64.
  • Avahi Zeroconf browser.
  • Box.
  • dfconfEditor.
  • Gdebi.
  • Htop (task manager).
  • Log file viewer.
  • MATE disk usage analyzer.
  • MATE system monitor.
  • MAT Terminal.
  • virtualbox.
  • Energy statistics.
  • Terminator
• Universal Access:
  • on-board.
  • Magnifying glass.
  • Screen reader.
• Administration:
  • GParted.
  • Networks.
  • Printers
  • Software and updates.
  • Software Boutique (MATE software center).
  • Software Updater.
  • Bootable disc creator.
  • Synaptic package manager.
  • Time and date
  • Users and groups.
• Preferences.

Available in 5 flavors

Robolinux is available in 5 different flavors: MATE, Cinnamon, GNOME, LXDE, and Xfce. Each of the flavors will have the characteristic applications of its graphical environment and all of them include the necessary software to be able to create the Windows virtual machine with Virtualbox.

And how do I use install Windows?

Robolinux has everything you need to create a Windows virtual machine that can run alongside the operating system, for which it uses Virtualbox. The Windows installation process (XP, 7 and 10) would be like this:

1. In the start menu of the different environments in which Robolinux is available we have Stealth VM. Within that menu we have the different versions of Windows that we can create in a virtual machine. Before we can install one of them, we have to download the Stealth VM file, which is marked with a "1".
2. We leave it in the "Downloads" folder or the one that comes by default. If we download it in another route, it won't work. We also don't have to extract anything. We download it and move on to the following.
3. We go back to the start menu / Stealth VM and choose Robolinux Stealth VM Installer.
4. When asked, we put the password. If we use a Live Session, the default password is "robolinux", in lowercase and without the quotes.
5. We accept the message that appears by clicking on «Yes».

1. We enter our password again so that our user can be added to the "vboxusers" group.
2. The next thing will be to configure the RAM that we want to assign to the virtual machine.
3. A window will appear for us to make a donation. We can make it or close it and move on to the next step.
4. The next thing is to put in a Windows installer (DVD) that matches the virtual machine that we just installed. If we have an ISO, we can add it from Configuration / Storage / Driver: IDE / Empty and displaying the menu near the DVD icon.

10. To finish the installation, we click on "Start" and everything will be like being inside Windows.

If you use Virtualbox: Why use Robolinux?

Well, many of the users who are reading this post will already know how to use Windows from Virtualbox, but many don't know how to create that virtual machine. Robolinux uses the best of the settings for each team, in theory. Also in theory, it makes things easier, but I think it does it for those who have never touched this type of software.

Personally, as a user who first touched a virtual machine many years ago (I used Ubuntu within Windows and it was the beginning of everything for me), I prefer to do it on my own, that I even see it simpler. In fact, I don't use Windows at all. Are you a user who is part of the "target" of Robolinux?