Jack Wallen’s imagined paid tiers for five free Linux distributions would target very different frustrations: getting software and games running, learning Linux, customizing a desktop, connecting Android devices, and handling specialist hardware or media workflows. These are proposals from Wallen’s September 24, 2026, opinion piece—not announced products, confirmed plans, or services you can currently buy.
Wallen, a ZDNET writer who says he has used Linux since 1997, frames the idea with a familiar question: “Why doesn’t X distro have a paid version?” His answer is less about charging for Linux itself than paying for setup, guidance, and convenience.
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What a “premium version” means here
The five distributions below are elementary OS, Linux Mint, MainstreamOS, Bazzite, and Ubuntu. Wallen’s suggestions are hypothetical additions to those projects; they should not be mistaken for current editions, subscription plans, roadmaps, or project commitments. The value he imagines paying for is practical help or a more complete out-of-the-box experience—not simply access to a different Linux license.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThat distinction matters: the article is a personal opinion, not a survey of Linux users or product documentation. It does not establish that any of the proposed tiers exist.
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Which problem each imagined tier would solve
| Distribution | Hypothetical paid benefit | Main problem addressed |
|---|---|---|
| elementary OS | Preconfigured Bottles/Wine and Steam, plus automatic GPU detection and driver installation | Software and game setup |
| Linux Mint | Installation and first-steps support, possibly through chat or a members-only forum | Beginner onboarding |
| MainstreamOS | Guidance for using and customizing Hyprland | Desktop personalization |
| Bazzite | Waydroid ready to use, with KDE Connect and simpler Android/Linux syncing | Android and gaming integration |
| Ubuntu | Better hardware setup, professional media support, and creator-oriented editions | Drivers, devices, and creative workflows |
This comparison describes Wallen’s proposed benefits, not available packages or verified project features.
elementary OS: configure Windows apps and games ahead of time
Wallen’s idea for elementary OS is a setup that reduces the work of bringing Windows software and PC games to Linux. He imagines Bottles/Wine configured for Windows applications and Steam installed and ready for games. Automatic GPU detection and driver installation would further reduce setup friction.
The appeal is convenience: instead of finding compatibility tools, configuring them, and sorting out graphics support individually, a user would start with more of that work done. These are Wallen’s suggested additions, not a claim that elementary OS currently provides them as a paid bundle.
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Linux Mint: pay for a human guide through the first steps
For Linux Mint, Wallen proposes support focused on installation and the early learning curve. Possible formats in his idea include chatbots or members-only forums. The underlying need is different from preinstalled software: a new user may want help when a real installation or configuration question arises.
The article does not identify a provider, verify a Linux Mint paid support plan, or confirm an affiliate program. Its mention of paid Linux support in general is not evidence that a particular Mint-specific consumer service is available.
MainstreamOS: make Hyprland customization easier to approach
Wallen’s imagined MainstreamOS tier would offer assistance with Hyprland, both to newcomers who need help getting started and to experienced users seeking deeper desktop customization. The paid value would be guidance, not merely the presence of another application.
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This, too, is a proposed service rather than a verified support offer. The idea is useful to distinguish from beginner installation help: it addresses tailoring a desktop environment to personal preferences and workflows.
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Wallen describes Bazzite as gaming-oriented and notes that Steam is preinstalled. His hypothetical paid additions would make Android integration easier: Waydroid ready to use, KDE Connect, and a simpler way to synchronize Android and Linux devices.
The proposal combines two related conveniences—Android apps or games and communication between devices—rather than suggesting that Bazzite has announced an Android-focused premium edition. The article’s Android additions are Wallen’s ideas.
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Ubuntu: reduce friction for hardware and creator workflows
Wallen’s Ubuntu proposal is the broadest. It combines hardware setup with support for media and creative work, areas where a user can encounter friction before getting to the task itself.
Hardware and drivers
He imagines improved OEM hardware support, help with driver and firmware setup, better handling of hybrid graphics, and support for fingerprint readers. These would be proposed improvements, not a description of a newly announced Ubuntu tier.
Media and tablet workflows
For creators, Wallen suggests professional codecs and camera RAW format support. He also imagines Ubuntu editions for Android tablets with stylus support. These ideas point toward a more prepared workflow for media work and pen input; they are not confirmed Ubuntu products or commitments.
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Why these ideas are not interchangeable
The proposals address separate kinds of effort. A preconfigured software stack could reduce compatibility and setup work; installation help could support a first-time user; Hyprland guidance could assist with customization; Android integration could connect devices; and Ubuntu’s proposed changes could focus on hardware and creator tools. Which idea seems worth paying for depends on the obstacle a user actually faces.
Wallen’s piece offers no prices, named service providers, verified subscription terms, or evidence of broader demand. It is best read as a set of personal product ideas—not a buying guide or announcement of paid Linux editions.
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