Showing headlines posted by linuxseekers

Mandriva Linux is a predominantly KDE-centric Linux distribution originating from France. This desktop-oriented Linux distribution which began its production in 1998 owes its popularity to its ease of installation and graphical productive draktools. I decided to review Mandriva Linux 2008 Spring (aka Mandriva Linux 2008.1) when I got to know that, this new Spring edition has a full support for the Asus Eee PC and also improved support for mobile device synchronization.

As I look at the new PC-BSD 1.5 (Edison), I cannot help but flashing back to the days when Linux desktop was not that mature as it is today. The PC-BSD project commenced 3 years ago with user-friendliness in mind. Since then, efforts have been put into making PC-BSD desktop operating system as usable as possible for the casual desktop PC users. The challenge was pioneered by Kris Moore, the lead developer, and a few volunteers in bringing the open-sourced and BSD-licensed Unix-like FreeBSD (famed for being a very secure and stable server operating system) to the desktop of normal or casual PC users. Interestingly, this project was acquired by iXsystem, a leading provider of high-end hardware solution in October 2006.

Parted Magic 2.0 is a 42MB Live CD/USB/PXE with the main goal of providing disk drive partitioning software. This new edition of Parted Magic 2.0 is designed for use on x86 hardwares and was released two days before this year's Valentine's Day. This GPLed specialized Linux distro is currently ranked at number 60 at DistroWatch.com. It originates from the U.S. and it is based on the Linux From Scratch. The easily noticeable new features, besides the new Linux kernel 2.6.23.13, Xfce 4.4.2, X.Org 7.3 and various other software updates , are the availability of Firefox 2.0.0.4 and the simple but capable Start Network tool.

Zenwalk Linux 5.0 for desktop was released on the 18th of January 2008 with the continued focus on simplicity and optimum performance. This major release also boasts the out-of-the-box availability of three Intel Pro Wireless and one Intel Wireless WiFi Link firmwares. This is also the first time that the modern HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) will be implemented thus replacing the old Zenwalk hotplug system. In keeping with tradition, the latest softwares are provided.

What was Warren thinking about? Abandon the ship! I suppose Warren Woodford has some very strong reasons to adopt the Debian Etch core as the engine for SimplyMEPIS 7.0 after having explored the Ubuntu-land! SimplyMEPIS 6.0 and 6.5 were based on Ubuntu. Dapper to be more precise! The interview with Warren Woodford, the founder of MEPIS LLC by DesktopLinux.com on 30th of July 2007 brought out the reason why it was difficult to base his distribution on a non-rolling-release Linux distribution like Ubuntu Linux. SimplyMEPIS 7.0 which was released on 23rd of December 2007, has been logically based on the immensely stable Debian Etch and will be synchronized with Debian Lenny (when it is released).

With seven stable releases of VectorLinux Standard Gold edition under their belts, the developers of VectorLinux have released the much-awaited VectorLinux 5.9 Standard Gold edition on the 21st of December 2007 to the joy of many Vectorians. Well, in case you are not aware of VectorLinux, it is another immensely popular Xfce-based Linux distribution in the GNU/Linux world. It originates from Canada and focuses on speed, stability and choice. It's designed to run well even on low-resources compatible Intel or AMD x86 hardwares. Other than the announcement of the new release, its website, vectorlinux.com also provide many screenshots of the new VectorLinux 5.9 Standard Gold or just called VectorLinux 5.9. While you are there, you may want to check out its CD store for the Deluxe version.

As far as the good old days of computing with x86 PCs is concerned, Robert Shingledecker and his team have been tirelessly evoking that nostalgic moments. Unsurprisingly, there is much more sweetness in this new version of Damn Small Linux 4.2. This timely-released version will definitely add more cheers to the New Year and Christmas festivities.

As a standard practice since Zenwalk Linux 2.6 (with the exception of 4.0), a live CD for Zenwalk Linux will be released, usually 4 to 6 weeks after the release of the standard Zenwalk Linux edition (the installation CD). With a Zenwalk Linux live CD aka Zenwalk Live or just ZenLive, you can also enjoy the goodness of the standard Zenwalk Linux edition without installing it to your hard disk. Like its standard Zenwalk Linux edition, the live CD also comes with a broad spectrum of applications but without the bloat. It's one application for one task! Right now, I will review the latest offering from Zenwalk.org, the Zenwalk Live 4.8.

In the 2007 Desktop Linux Survey, VirtualBox ranked number 3, after Wine and VMware. As for me, I used VirtualBox OSE almost exclusively when taking screenshots for my reviews. It's fast and easy to use! In this mini how-to, I will also show you some interesting screenshots.

Even when you're not the follow-the-crowd type of Linux user, who can resist the plethora of new features on this new incarnation of Ubuntu 7.10 aka Gutsy Gibbon. If my memory serves me right, there were only a few new features in Ubuntu 7.04 aka Feisty Fawn, like the emerg- ence of the Windows migration tool, landmark multimedia support, avahi, etc. My affair with Ubuntu 7.04 was an off-and-on kind of thing. I use Ubuntu 7.04 only when my wife uses it for writing her blog. She had to use the Ubuntu 7.04 on her Shuttle PC with Pentium 4 processor because of the very erratic wireless connection when using Windows XP.

I had the chance to do an upgrade-dist of Ubuntu 6.10 ppc (PowerPC edition) recently when my 3-year-old daughter corrupted her Mac OS X Panther on her PowerPC-based Mac mini. She uses the Mac Mini mainly for Movies playback and learning on how to type. I decided to dual-boot Mac OS X Panther on my daughter's 2-year-old Mac mini a few months ago with Ubuntu 6.10 ppc, because of the fear that she may destroy her Panther and I do not have the time to fix the Panther. I called it the "911 strategy". The reason why I chose Ubuntu 6.10 ppc instead of its counterparts ( Fedora, Yellow Dog or openSUSE) was a very simple one. My daughter could turn off the Ubuntu 6.10 ppc even though it was her first time with Ubuntu 6.10 ppc. Maybe it's something that she has acquired while playing with Mac OS X and Windows XP.

There is still hope for users of PowerPC-based Macs out there even though Apple has left us. PowerPC-based LInux distribution is our hope even though Gnash, the open source flash is still almost a hit-or-miss application.

As the sales of notebooks surpass the sales of desktop computers, any Linux distributions will have to support the wifi component of the notebooks. The best so far is Sabayon Linux version 3.4f.

Sidux 2007-03 is a Sid-based Live CD. For those who need a "more-friendly" and more stable Debian sid, then Sidux is for you. I think Sidux would also appeal to those users who prefer a rolling-release type of Linux distro, so that they don't have to reinstall the resident Linux distro whenever the "hot cake" arrives every 4 to 6 months. Other Linux distros taking such approach are Debian Etch, Gentoo Linux, Arch Linux, etc. By the way, MEPIS LLC is going to to implement the same rolling-release approach in its much awaited SimplyMEPIS 7.0 too.

If you need XFCE desktop with window eye candy, speed and reliability, checkout Zenwalk Linux 4.8 Beta.

openSUSE 10.3 has reached its Beta 2 stage of development cycle. It was released on the 23rd of August 2007, 2 weeks after the release of the Beta 1 iso images. According to the openSUSE 10.3 release roadmap, the stable/distribution release of openSUSE 10.3 is scheduled for 4th of October 2007. The openSUSE 10.3 Beta 2 is offered in a 1-CD GNOME, a 1-CD KDE, and a 1-DVD iso images, covering the i386, x86_64, and PPC architectures.

Pardus Linux is funded by the Turkish government. With the support from the government, I hope that Linux and open source software would be given more emphasis by the newly elected Turkey government. As Microsoft Windows is the dominant operating system in Turkey, I hope that this relatively new desktop-centric Linux distribution (Pardus) will slowly capture a portion of the desktop operating system market share and thus release the Turkish people from the grip of Microsoft Windows. Actually, I decided to review Pardus Linux 2007.2 when I got to know of its security model that has raised many eyebrows. Another 2 reasons were the very gratifying wifi experience and of course the Pardus Linux's innovations.

KDE 4 shall rule the desktop graphical interface world and MEPIS will make sure that its future Mepis 7.x is KDE 4 ready!

Another beautiful creation of SimplyMEPIS from MEPIS LLC is on the way. Here is the screenshots of this SimplyMEPIS 7.0 prebeta.

Sidux 2007-03 preview, the Debian sid based Live CD, looks better and better.