Last time I was here I said that I would try to remember to comment on PCLinuxOS after I get a chance to install the final version. I have also previously tested at least two of the earlier test versions. The first test version would not load for me; I was disappointed; ALL previous PCLinuxOS versions, whether test or not, worked great. The second test version I tried, test 3, was better. Apps worked fine; wireless did not work.
The final version works a lot better. I installed it a few weeks ago on my Gateway PA6A laptop, then gave it to my son to use. I got wireless working fairly quickly on that one. This week I installed it on my Lenovo Y410 laptop and it was, if anything, even easier. I have not found any serious defects on either machine.
Just about everything you need for routine computing is on this system. The live CD boots in a reasonable amount of time, but if you load it completely into RAM then install from there, it is one of the fastest hard disk installations I know of. Only sidux is faster.
This is one of three really easy systems to use, and one of the few I would recommend to first time users. My two children use PCLinuxOS regularly when they spend time with daddy. On my GRUB bootloader menu, I put their names, followed by PCLinuxOS to make it easy to see in my multi-distro boot menu. They find it easily and have no problems using it. Is that enough of a testimonial to PCLinuxOS?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
PCLinuxOS 2009.1 has been released this week
PCLinuxOS 2009.1 has been released this week
Another version of PCLinuxOS has been released. I have downloaded it but not yet installed it. The last FULL KDE based version was released in May 2007. A GNOME version was released in 2008, and an implementation called "MiniME" was also released in 2008, plus a number of community offshoots of the main project, mainly in the "Tiny" series, have been released, but the main version, from which the others drew their initial following, has not been updated, at least as far as a release goes, in quite some time.Past versions of PCLinuxOS have been extremely easy to install, and they contain virtually everything you may need, at least for routine desktop computing. My only criticisms of past releases have been that the package manager has been very slow - when there are updates, it can take orders of magnitude longer to download and install them than comparable distributions based on Debian, such as sidux, antiX, and SimplyMEPIS. The software is very good, but it is not kept up to date very often either.
If you mainly just use it, don't worry and don't bother. However, it was a broken Flash player that eventually took me away from PCLinuxOS 2007, much as I had liked it prior to that. I changed repositories to the PCLinuxOS testing repos in an attempt to get newer software and ended up ruining the sound system, and ultimately replaced it with MiniME.
I will try to remember to come back here with my thoughts and impressions after I install PCLinuxOS 2009.1.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Fast and Light AntiX 8.0 is Released!
Fast and Light AntiX 8.0 is Released!
The excellent family of easy to use desktop systems from MEPIS has a new product announcement today, and it is an exciting one. The Fast, Light, Flexible AntiX M8.0 has been released today. I wrote about it at http://usalug.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14090
There is an announcement about it at http://antix.freeforums.org/antix-m8-goes-final-t1411.html
I also wrote to DistroWatch to let them know about it, and wrote to their comments page.
Why do I like AntiX so much? Well, it is very easy to install. It uses the same installation program as SimplyMEPIS, which means that you can first try it out as a Live CD to see if it works for you. It is lighter than SimplyMEPIS, which means that it loads even faster than SimplyMEPIS, so it makes a great Live CD to carry around.
You can install it to a small USB device and carry it around with you. If you want, there are tools available to create your own custom, remastered version. There are the excellent smxi family of tools that originally come from the Kanotix and sidux projects. There are excellent tools from the SimplyMEPIS and Absolute Linux projects as well.
All of this is not just thrown together, it is crafted into a nicely integrated set of packages that complement one another very well. The art work is very good and comes from a community of very talented artists. The localization work comes directly from the AntiX community. This is truly a collaborative work. It functions amazingly well. It is smaller than the usual full, often bloated versions of software available elsewhere, and it works exceedingly well - fast and functional. I highly recommend it!
There is an announcement about it at http://antix.freeforums.org/antix-m8-goes-final-t1411.html
I also wrote to DistroWatch to let them know about it, and wrote to their comments page.
Why do I like AntiX so much? Well, it is very easy to install. It uses the same installation program as SimplyMEPIS, which means that you can first try it out as a Live CD to see if it works for you. It is lighter than SimplyMEPIS, which means that it loads even faster than SimplyMEPIS, so it makes a great Live CD to carry around.
You can install it to a small USB device and carry it around with you. If you want, there are tools available to create your own custom, remastered version. There are the excellent smxi family of tools that originally come from the Kanotix and sidux projects. There are excellent tools from the SimplyMEPIS and Absolute Linux projects as well.
All of this is not just thrown together, it is crafted into a nicely integrated set of packages that complement one another very well. The art work is very good and comes from a community of very talented artists. The localization work comes directly from the AntiX community. This is truly a collaborative work. It functions amazingly well. It is smaller than the usual full, often bloated versions of software available elsewhere, and it works exceedingly well - fast and functional. I highly recommend it!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Still sticking with sidux in 2009!
The sidux site often shows reviews of their software, and I never mind it when they point to one of my blog entries, which often extol the virtues of using sidux. There has not been a new sidux release in Q1 2009 yet, but that does not stop me from continuing to use sidux every day and writing enthusiastic reviews about it. At the USALUG http://usalug.org/phpBB2/index.php where I hang around a lot, they know my opinions about Debian software in general and sidux in particular - that sidux is an awesome distribution that really tames the frequently out of control Debian Sid beast, turning it from a cutting edge, but sometimes bleeding distribution into a razor sharp, "smooth shave" that leaves your face feeling smooth and your system running equally smoothly.
The "Cool Yule" edition of sidux 2008-04 was simply the latest in the line of sidux releases, which come out on approximately a quarterly basis. There really is no need to constantly grab the ISO images - you can get one and stick with it for a couple of years. On one of my older, once stable laptop systems, I did just that, installing the 2007-04.5 "Christmas Edition" of sidux, and I simply updated it periodically, sometimes choosing to grab newer themes from the sidux repositories without having to go through the hassle of reinstalling and reconfiguring everything over and over again.
At the same time, I enjoy testing, so I also typically grab each new version and install it on at least one of my systems. The Gateway PA6A laptop that I am using now has the latest version, sidux 2008-04, and it is running so smoothly that it is easy to forget that this is quite a volatile, ever changing system. That fact never disturbs this system one bit. I can update daily, if I want, or I can go a week or a month without updating. I tend to prefer keeping things as current as I can. On most other systems, that can cause certain things to break, at least for a while, and in a few cases, it can break the system entirely. NEVER with sidux! I have been using sidux since the middle of 2007 on a regular basis, and I've been using sidux instances as my main desktop system since late 2007. While there is always the possibility of a problem emerging in any system, especially one that frequently changes, my personal experience has been perfect with sidux, despite constant change.
I can think of other systems (Debian based ones in particular) that offer me similar stability, but I have not encountered any other system of any type that offers me both the latest software coupled with an excellent working environment that I can count on, and that is why sidux continues to be my favorite cutting edge desktop system.
The "Cool Yule" edition of sidux 2008-04 was simply the latest in the line of sidux releases, which come out on approximately a quarterly basis. There really is no need to constantly grab the ISO images - you can get one and stick with it for a couple of years. On one of my older, once stable laptop systems, I did just that, installing the 2007-04.5 "Christmas Edition" of sidux, and I simply updated it periodically, sometimes choosing to grab newer themes from the sidux repositories without having to go through the hassle of reinstalling and reconfiguring everything over and over again.
At the same time, I enjoy testing, so I also typically grab each new version and install it on at least one of my systems. The Gateway PA6A laptop that I am using now has the latest version, sidux 2008-04, and it is running so smoothly that it is easy to forget that this is quite a volatile, ever changing system. That fact never disturbs this system one bit. I can update daily, if I want, or I can go a week or a month without updating. I tend to prefer keeping things as current as I can. On most other systems, that can cause certain things to break, at least for a while, and in a few cases, it can break the system entirely. NEVER with sidux! I have been using sidux since the middle of 2007 on a regular basis, and I've been using sidux instances as my main desktop system since late 2007. While there is always the possibility of a problem emerging in any system, especially one that frequently changes, my personal experience has been perfect with sidux, despite constant change.
I can think of other systems (Debian based ones in particular) that offer me similar stability, but I have not encountered any other system of any type that offers me both the latest software coupled with an excellent working environment that I can count on, and that is why sidux continues to be my favorite cutting edge desktop system.
Monday, December 29, 2008
sidux 2008-04: a GREAT cutting edge desktop system
I've been promoting three different desktop Linux systems this year. All three of them are based on Debian software. Two of them are based on Debian Lenny, soon to be the latest "stable" repository of Debian binary software images. The third one is based on Debian Sid, the "unstable" one. (In Toy Story, the movie from which the Debian project code names are derived, Sid is the kid who takes pleasure in mutilating, destroying, torturing, and blowing up toys. Understandable why he is called "unstable?"). Well, Debian Sid is anything but unstable in the software that results for the desktop, but the packaging behind it certainly is volatile enough to deserve the name.
Debian Sid is awesome, but if you are busy and you do not have a lot of time to tinker with it, you may want to examine a few alternatives that are available to tame it. I've done just that over the years. The one that consistently stand out, and makes itself worthwhile to use, rather than just coping with the peculiarities of Debian Sid is a great distribution called sidux.
First organized in November 2006, the sidux project was already producing regular updates for public consumption by early 2007, and has adopted a practice of producing rolling updates, not surprising, given the Debian Sid roots. For convenience, and also for variety, plus the fact that the sidux project is always actively supporting new hardware, there are new releases available about once a quarter.
In December, just before Christmas, the sidux project, once again, gave us a green themed version of sidux, the 2008-04 implementation. This version uses a current version of the Linux kernel - which was 2.26.27.9-1, if I remember correctly, at the time of the release. My personal version has already been updated to 2.26.28.0.2, and will probably have another update real soon, maybe by the next time I get home to get my hands on it.
What is so nice about sidux is that you can just routinely use it every day, if you'd like, but you can also update it on a daily basis if you are crazy about current software. I can't even keep up with the changes, there are so many of them.
Lest anyone get overly concerned about that, you do not have to update every day, but you may do so, and you are likely to see changes to at least a few packages every day, and often one or two kernel changes as well. I have, on more than one occasion, seen at least two kernel package changes within the same day, and both worked. I recommend updating at least weekly, and if you are ultra busy, at least monthly. Daily updates are one of the things that make sidux fun, though.
Harold Hope, known as h2 on the sidux forums, is one of the active tool developers that works on optional sidux tools. He has one of my favorite tools, smxi, which is used to tame the wild Sid repositories, and easily get large groups of packages installed with a few easy menu commands.
sidux has a number of other handy tools as well. There is the siduxcc Control Center, the meta-package installer, and in addition, one of the finest up to date manuals around, which is regularly updated to keep it current, accurate, and relevant.
sidux has an excellent forum and a responsive #irc chat room where you can discuss questions or even concerns with the sidux software.
I've found sidux to be excellent software, and the latest release is simply the latest update to one of the best kept secrets around. I recommend any Linux desktop enthusiast to at least try out sidux, especially if you are already fond of Debian based systems. sidux falls neatly into a niche somewhere between easy and flexible. A really leery new user might find it intimidating, but frankly, it is not hard to handle, though it is best suited to those who enjoy a moderate amount of system tinkering. A person with moderate to strong system experience, who wants the latest software, knows how to use systems, but still wants conveniences, is the perfect match and the sweet spot for this software. That's me, and that is why I love sidux. This release is one of their best efforts yet. Check it out soon!
Debian Sid is awesome, but if you are busy and you do not have a lot of time to tinker with it, you may want to examine a few alternatives that are available to tame it. I've done just that over the years. The one that consistently stand out, and makes itself worthwhile to use, rather than just coping with the peculiarities of Debian Sid is a great distribution called sidux.
First organized in November 2006, the sidux project was already producing regular updates for public consumption by early 2007, and has adopted a practice of producing rolling updates, not surprising, given the Debian Sid roots. For convenience, and also for variety, plus the fact that the sidux project is always actively supporting new hardware, there are new releases available about once a quarter.
In December, just before Christmas, the sidux project, once again, gave us a green themed version of sidux, the 2008-04 implementation. This version uses a current version of the Linux kernel - which was 2.26.27.9-1, if I remember correctly, at the time of the release. My personal version has already been updated to 2.26.28.0.2, and will probably have another update real soon, maybe by the next time I get home to get my hands on it.
What is so nice about sidux is that you can just routinely use it every day, if you'd like, but you can also update it on a daily basis if you are crazy about current software. I can't even keep up with the changes, there are so many of them.
Lest anyone get overly concerned about that, you do not have to update every day, but you may do so, and you are likely to see changes to at least a few packages every day, and often one or two kernel changes as well. I have, on more than one occasion, seen at least two kernel package changes within the same day, and both worked. I recommend updating at least weekly, and if you are ultra busy, at least monthly. Daily updates are one of the things that make sidux fun, though.
Harold Hope, known as h2 on the sidux forums, is one of the active tool developers that works on optional sidux tools. He has one of my favorite tools, smxi, which is used to tame the wild Sid repositories, and easily get large groups of packages installed with a few easy menu commands.
sidux has a number of other handy tools as well. There is the siduxcc Control Center, the meta-package installer, and in addition, one of the finest up to date manuals around, which is regularly updated to keep it current, accurate, and relevant.
sidux has an excellent forum and a responsive #irc chat room where you can discuss questions or even concerns with the sidux software.
I've found sidux to be excellent software, and the latest release is simply the latest update to one of the best kept secrets around. I recommend any Linux desktop enthusiast to at least try out sidux, especially if you are already fond of Debian based systems. sidux falls neatly into a niche somewhere between easy and flexible. A really leery new user might find it intimidating, but frankly, it is not hard to handle, though it is best suited to those who enjoy a moderate amount of system tinkering. A person with moderate to strong system experience, who wants the latest software, knows how to use systems, but still wants conveniences, is the perfect match and the sweet spot for this software. That's me, and that is why I love sidux. This release is one of their best efforts yet. Check it out soon!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Visiting the Library with my kids
I am visiting the Concord Public Library with Karsten, Katelyn, and their friend Hayley. They got Goosebumps books, browsed the Web at the library, and searched around the library. Given their short attention spans, the girls are ready to go, but the boys are "bloggin" on the 'Net!
Monday, November 17, 2008
sidux, antiX, and SimplyMEPIS
sidux 2008-03 has been an excellent release in the third quarter of this year. I wonder what Q4 will bring to sidux 2008-04? Last year, we got a 2007-04 and a 2007-04.5 Christmas Edition. Will we see that again? Great software, this is my daily default desktop system, cutting edge, fast, flexible, yet surprisingly solid.
Nevertheless, I have an extremely solid desktop system to back up sidux, the always stable (even in TEST form!) SimplyMEPIS. I have 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and now the 8.0 Beta 5 versions on my systems. I believe that 8.0 will be released before the end of the year. Even if it is not, it is solid enough to be used every day, even now. Get SimplyMEPIS for a great, stable desktop system.
If you want fast and flexible, another community MEPIS project is for you - the antiX project. M7.5 is the current release and the motto: "Lean and Mean" certainly applies. you have the choice of either Fluxbox or IceWM as a window manager to use with antiX. In the upcoming M8.0 release, the default window manager is changing from Fluxbox to IceWM to improve initial ease of use. Very early in the testing cycle, antiX M8.0 is, nevertheless, shaping up as a VERY GOOD release.
Nevertheless, I have an extremely solid desktop system to back up sidux, the always stable (even in TEST form!) SimplyMEPIS. I have 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and now the 8.0 Beta 5 versions on my systems. I believe that 8.0 will be released before the end of the year. Even if it is not, it is solid enough to be used every day, even now. Get SimplyMEPIS for a great, stable desktop system.
If you want fast and flexible, another community MEPIS project is for you - the antiX project. M7.5 is the current release and the motto: "Lean and Mean" certainly applies. you have the choice of either Fluxbox or IceWM as a window manager to use with antiX. In the upcoming M8.0 release, the default window manager is changing from Fluxbox to IceWM to improve initial ease of use. Very early in the testing cycle, antiX M8.0 is, nevertheless, shaping up as a VERY GOOD release.
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