Rock64 Desktop OS for...

[AkiraSensei]

Well, I've spent hours through the forum but I can't seem to find posts that would help with my setup. I hope someone can help me by making this thread.

I ordered a Rock64 that may arrive today or tomorrow. Problem is that I still don't know what OS to install! Here are my needs:

1. Needs the desktop. I want to be able to browse the internet on it through VNC. For minor, periodic browsing throught the day.

2. I want it to be able to run Kodi (through HDMI) and play HVEC videos at 1080p. I don't want OpenElec since I can't web browse on that.

3. I despise Android. Please, no Android recommendation.

I am able to do this on a Raspberry Pi 3 but the hardware is so limited and it can't play HVEC videos at all.

I see Debian on the OS list but they're all stretch versions (that means they're beta, right?). Do they take advantage of Mali so I could play said video types I've just mentioned? Should I go for Ayufan's version? What about Xenial Mate?

Who uses a Rock64 for similar purposes? Much appreciated for any input!

[ansic]

These are the reasons for I purchased a Rock64 in the first place.  I had used a Raspberry pi 3 for a while and concluded that if it had just a little bit better hardware I could use it as a everyday computer.  I searched the Internet and compared single board computers with each other, only looking at the "specs" which does not mean a lot if you do not have the software support (read: video/X11 hardware acceleration in GNU/Linux).  The Rock64 is not what I believed it would be but its still a great machine for other tasks.  As for now I will use the Rock64 as a NAS & headless server, it has fast I/O and a lot of RAM which makes it very useful.

[AkiraSensei]

These are the reasons for I purchased a Rock64 in the first place.  I had used a Raspberry pi 3 for a while and concluded that if it had just a little bit better hardware I could use it as a everyday computer.  I searched the Internet and compared single board computers with each other, only looking at the "specs" which does not mean a lot if you do not have the software support (read: video/X11 hardware acceleration in GNU/Linux).  The Rock64 is not what I believed it would be but its still a great machine for other tasks.  As for now I will use the Rock64 as a NAS & headless server, it has fast I/O and a lot of RAM which makes it very useful.

Got one for the same reason, huh. But unlike you, my Odroid XU4 is already my NAS, so now, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my Rock64 now. :/ I may just have to bite the bullet and go the Android way...

[Vasant]

Android works way better than Linux desktop on ARM for browsing and media playback.

[AkiraSensei]

Android works way better than Linux desktop on ARM for browsing and media playback.

I have no choice but to try it though I honestly don't think one could just run it off a hard drive by moving the root folder like on Debian. :/