How to try out over 85 Linux distros, no installation required – with DistroSea

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DistroSea allows you to test several Linux distributions.
There are currently 85 distros to test.
DistroSea is free and works on any web browser.

I recently wrote about the Virtual OS Museum, which let me reunite with the very first Linux distribution I’d ever tried. It was a fabulous walk down memory lane, and even allowed me to test other, now-defunct, Linux distributions, all from the convenience of my web browser.

The only caveat to the Virtual OS Museum is that it’s truly a museum — you won’t find current distributions available to test.

That’s where DistroSea comes into play.

Also: This is my favorite Linux distro of all time – and I’ve tried them all

Unlike the Virtual OS Museum, DistroSea allows you to actually test several new distros. Currently, there are 85 distributions available, including AerynOS, Alpine Linux, AnduinOS, Arch Linux, Arco Linux, Bazzite, Big Linux, BlendOS, Bodhi Linux, BunsenLabs Linux, CachyOS, Chimera Linux… the list goes on.

The distributions range from the all-too-familiar to the obscure. In fact, I scrolled through the entire list looking for distributions that I’d never heard of. I found just one — Primtux. So I decided to give it a whirl.

To fire up Primtux — or any of the distros — you click its associated icon, select a desktop (if that option is available), and wait in line. Depending on how busy DistroSea is, the wait can be anywhere from nearly instantaneous to a few minutes. Once the wait is over, click Continue and wait for the distribution to boot.

You’ll also notice a small handle on the left edge of the display. Click that handle to reveal the VNC toolbox, which clearly indicates that the distributions are viewed via VNC (noVNC to be exact). Because of that (and because these distributions are rendered via a network and a web browser), you can expect them to perform slower than if they were installed locally.

Also: The easiest way to try out Ubuntu Linux

The VNC toolbox lets you (from top to bottom) view the desktop full-screen, open the VNC settings, and disconnect from the distribution. From the Settings section, you can adjust the quality and compression and change the scaling mode from Remote to Local. You’ll most likely find the default settings work just fine.

Turns out Primtux is a French distribution that seems to be decidedly educational.

Also: How to connect to a VirtualBox virtual machine from your LAN

I then decided to test one of my favorite distributions on the list, elementary OS 8.0. I was able to test elementary OS in demo mode, but there was an option to install. Unfortunately, the installation stalled at selecting a drive, which is something I’ve experienced with elementary OS on virtual machines.

On to my next test.

This time around, Bodhi Linux and I went straight to the installation.

Also: 5 of the easiest, quickest Linux distros to install – and I’ve tried them all

No dice. Because the virtual drive didn’t have enough space, I had to drop into live mode and test Bodhi Linux without installing it. It’s a good thing that live Linux works well. Bodhi Linux worked very well via DistroSea, which came as no surprise. Bohdi Linux is a lightweight distro that runs exceptionally well, even on older hardware.

Although I didn’t experience the same kind of nostalgia as with the Virtual OS Museum, I could imagine anyone wanting to see how a particular Linux distribution looks and behaves would find this website an absolute treat. After all, testing distributions via a website is much faster than downloading an ISO, creating a live USB drive with the ISO, booting from the USB device, and trying out a live instance.

Also: I joyfully reunited with my first Linux distro at the Virtual OS Museum

If you’re considering giving Linux a try, hop over to DistroSea to see if there’s a distribution that speaks to you.

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Bree Lambert

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Recent Reviews

3 exciting Netflix thrillers to watch this week (May 4-10)

Another week has passed, and Apex is still the top thriller on Netflix and the No. 1 movie in the streamer’s current top 10. Audiences are loving the cat-and-mouse battle between Charlize Theron’s rock climber and Taron Egerton’s serial killer. It will be interesting to see what movie inevitably knocks it down to second place.

If you’re searching for more thrillers, then you’ve come to the right place. Our top recommendation is the fifth entry into one of Hollywood’s iconic horror series. The other movies on this list include a little-seen survival thriller with an A-plus cast and a feature film adaptation of a post-apocalyptic novel. Stream all three of these movies on Netflix in the U.S.

3

Eden

Survival on the island

What the heck happened to Eden? The survival thriller premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and entered limbo immediately after due to its lack of distribution. Nearly a year passed before Vertical finally released Eden in theaters on August 22, 2025. You would think that this movie had an easy sell—recognizable actors stuck on an island, with chaos ensuing. I’m still baffled as to why a major studio didn’t pick it up in the United States.

Eden is inspired by true events surrounding the residents of Floreana Island in the 1930s. Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) leaves Germany and moves to Floreana Island with Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby). They are eventually joined by Margret Wittmer (Sydney Sweeny), Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl), and Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas). Tensions rise as the competing families vie for control of the island, resulting in fatal decisions that lead to multiple tragedies. Eden certainly has some Lord of the Flies elements in its story.

Again, I’m shocked this movie was dumped in August instead of receiving a traditional rollout from a popular studio. Admittedly, Eden has its flaws and heavily leans into melodrama much to its detriment. Still, it’s an entertaining thriller supported by a stacked cast that is much better than it’s given credit for.

2

Leave the World Behind

Technology becomes the villain

What would happen if the collapse of technology led to the end of the world? That’s part of the premise of Leave the World Behind, Sam Esmail’s 2023 psychological thriller for Netflix. The movie is based on Rumaan Alam’s novel of the same name. Right when an oil tanker crashes on the shore, something is not right in Leave the World Behind.

Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) is on vacation with her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and two children when inexplicable occurrences, like the oil tanker crash, begin happening. The root of the issue is a nationwide blackout that has caused widespread panic. Amanda and Clay are forced to grapple with their trust issues after the arrival of the vacation home’s owner, George H. “G.H.” Scott (Mahershala Ali), and his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la).

Some may view Leave the World Behind as a warning to humanity, which feels ill-equipped to handle a devastating cyberattack. Others might watch strictly for its entertainment purposes. I fell somewhere in the middle. There are some relevant messages about the apocalypse, social inequality, and societal standards. It’s also a great cast of talented performers who elevate the source material. I don’t think the film depicts what actually would happen in a disaster, but it’s certainly fun (and scary) to predict the future.

1

Scream

I would like to play another game

To clarify, I’m referring to 2022’s Scream, informally known as Scream V. It’s a nightmare scenario for anyone like myself, who has to write an article about the fifth Scream installment. For bookkeeping purposes, I’m calling it Scream V. Part of the reason for the similar title to the first movie is because Scream V restarted the franchise after an 11-year hiatus. It’s not a reboot or a remake, but a continuation of the series.

The film opens with a similar sequence to 1996’s Scream, where an unsuspecting high school student, Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), is attacked by a new Ghostface killer in Woodsboro. Tara’s half-sister, Sam (Melissa Barrera), returns to town and learns that Tara’s friend group is now being targeted by Ghostface. If you’re dealing with Ghostface, there’s only one person to call for help: Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who has survived the killer’s multiple attempts at her life.

I was surprisingly impressed with Radio Silence’s take on Scream. These reboots are typically cash grabs and a way for studios to exploit the IP of a popular entity. Scream V plays the hits—close calls, gory kills, and a propensity for dark humor. For me, it works as one of the franchise’s best entries. I thought Scream was done following Scream 4. Now, you’re probably going to get Scream VIII in a few years.

More Netflix movies to watch

Two new Netflix movies, My Dearest Assassin and Remarkably Bright Creatures, arrive at week’s end just in time for the weekend. You can also stream classic Oscar-winning movies, including Roma and Glory. No matter what you choose, chances are you’ll be occupied for the foreseeable future with Netflix content.