Raspberry Pi launches Pixel desktop that is bootable on Windows PCs and Macs

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released an x86 version of Pixel, its desktop environment it makes for its own Pi mini computers. The desktop environment is bootable from CD-ROM or USB stick on systems with Windows and macOS.

The foundation says it is releasing the Pixel desktop for PC and Mac for two reasons. First, schools can run Pixel on regular computers, allowing students to work with the same tools they do at home on their Raspberry Pis. In addition, it would be easier to spot weaknesses in the interface if it runs on more systems and not just on Pis.

If there is enough interest, the Raspberry Pi Foundation will make a version that can be installed on a hard drive and if there is enough interest there will also be an x64 variant. Booting Pixel on the PC or Mac requires downloading the image. After that, users have to put it on a bootable USB stick or burn it to a disc. Pixel is then ready to be booted from the stick or disk. It can also run in applications like VirtualBox.

As a desktop environment, Pixel is the successor to LXDE for the Raspberry Pi. Pixel is a retrospective abbreviation for Pi Improved Xwindows Environment, Lightweight. The desktop environment was released in September for the Pi computers.