Remix OS review: a desktop Android that can replace Windows

The Android operating system is installed on almost all electronic devices, including cars, refrigerators and kettles. It seems that desktops should be at the top of this list, but they are not. Android-x86 enthusiasts were the first to work in this direction, but their project is still entertainment for a narrow layer of geeks.

Remix OS is the most successful attempt to bring the desktop Android to the masses. The developers managed to create a stable, comfortable and functional system that everyone can use.

Interface

Remix OS uses a proprietary shell that repeats the basic elements of desktop operating systems. At the bottom is the taskbar, which displays icons of running applications. On the left is an analogue of the "Start" button, which calls the main menu with installed programs.

The programs in this list can be sorted by name, date, or frequency of use. There is also a search bar and shutdown menu.

On the right side of the taskbar is the system tray with indicators for brightness, network, volume, time, and so on. Tooltips with a slider or additional information will appear if you tap on any of these indicators.

Pay attention to the icon in the form of three horizontal stripes. If you click on it, a pop-up notification panel will appear on the right. Here you will find information about all system events, new messages, installed applications.

Settings

I don't understand why it was necessary to completely rewrite the settings system, but it turned out not very well. The small settings window looks ugly, and it is inconvenient to use it. However, all the essentials remained, although not always in their usual places.

Anyone familiar with smartphones or tablets running Android can easily figure out the settings of this operating system.

Multitasking

Multitasking is the core of Remix OS. This function looks impressive. Users can run several applications at once in windowed mode, move them around the screen, change their size.

Each window has a header with control buttons: minimize, maximize and close. When connecting a keyboard, you can use hotkeys that are familiar on desktop systems. It seems to be the perfect Android desktop.

But for all the advantages of Remix OS, there are also disadvantages in it. Some apps only work in full screen mode, others behave strangely when trying to resize. Although this is most likely the fault of the program developers, who did not provide for the possibility of resizing the windows.

conclusions

Overall, Remix OS makes a good impression. It is a convenient stand-alone operating system that can be used on desktops and laptops. By installing it instead of Windows, you will not feel any discomfort. If you are so attracted by the Android ecosystem that you are ready to immerse yourself in it completely, then Remix OS was created just for you.