 DistroWatch Weekly |
| DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 442, 6 February 2012 |
Welcome to this year's 6th issue of DistroWatch Weekly! Dreamlinux may be one of the more overlooked distributions on the market, but the attractive design of its default Xfce desktop has been appreciated by many loyal users over the years. But how does the recently released version 5 stack up against other popular desktop choices available today? Jesse Smith investigates what is perhaps Brazil's prettiest Linux distro in a first-look review. In the news section, Red Hat extends official support of its enterprise Linux products from seven to ten years, PCLinuxOS founder hands over development of the distribution while taking a leave of absence, and Linux Mint continues to promote Cinnamon as a GNOME Shell alternative for change-averse users. Also in this issue, a fresh perspective on Cannonical's claim over the Ubuntu user base and a plethora of new distribution options, including an OpenIndiana-based Illumian with a Debian touch and a CentOS remix with a desktop focus. Finally, we are pleased to announce that the recipient of the DistroWatch.com January 2012 donation is the GnuPG project. Happy reading!
Content:
- Reviews: I dream of Linux - Dreamlinux 5
- News: Red Hat introduces 10-year support, Texstar takes leave of absence, Mint banks on Cinnamon
- Questions and answers: Revisiting Ubuntu market share numbers
- Released last week: Linux Mint 12 "KDE", PCLinuxOS 2012.2, DEFT Linux 7, KahelOS 020212
- Upcoming releases: Chakra GNU/Linux 2012.02, Frugalware Linux 1.6, openSUSE 12.2 Milestone 1
- Donations: GnuPG receives €260.00
- New distributions: Brasa OS, Byzantium Linux, Illumian, Linux Ogigia, RebeccaBlackOS, SolusOS, Stella
- Reader comments
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| Feature Story (by Jesse Smith) |
I dream of Linux - Dreamlinux 5
 Dreamlinux is a distribution which was seemingly asleep for a few years. Back in early 2009 the team released version 3.5 of their distro and then we didn't see another release until January 2012. Now, with version 5 available, it is once again time to take a look at this dreamy distribution.
Dreamlinux is based on Debian's 'Testing' branch. Unlike many projects these days, Dreamlinux keeps downloading simple by providing a single edition, a one-size-fits-all 32-bit build. The DVD image is approximately 965 MB in size and is available via direct download and via BitTorrent. Booting off the DVD brings up a graphical login screen where the default username and password are displayed so we can login. The Debian derivative comes with the Xfce desktop and the environment has been given a slightly OS X styled interface. Along the top of the screen we find the menu bar and task switcher. At the bottom we see a long launch bar filled with colourful and (when clicked) bouncy icons. Something I immediately noticed about the launch bar is that it doesn't display the name of an icon when we hover the mouse over it. This made the first several minutes of launching programs very much like the proverbial box of chocolates. On the desktop we find icons for opening the install guide and launching the installer.
Dreamlinux 5 - browsing the web
(full image size: 729kB, screen resolution 1024x768 pixels)
The Dreamlinux installer is unusual in that it is a graphical installer, but all of the steps are presented on one page. The installer's window expands downward rather than having us proceed through pages. There aren't many steps and I found the approach worked well. At first we're asked if we need to set up partitions and, if the answer is affirmative, the GParted disk partitioning tool is opened for us. Once we're done with GParted we select which partition to use for the root file system. We're also given the option of placing our home directories on a separate partition. We have the option of installing a boot loader and, from there, the installer copies its files to the local drive. A few times it appeared as though the installer had stalled, but eventually it completed its steps and then I rebooted.
Once the machine reboots we're bought back to the Dreamlinux desktop and presented with another dialog box. This one asks us to set a hostname for the computer, create a user account and set a password for the root user. With those steps completed the computer reboots once more and we're brought to a graphical login page.
The distribution comes with a small, yet well-rounded, collection of software. We're given the Chromium web browser, the Foxit PDF reader, the GNU Image Manipulation Project, the Imagination slide show maker and Inkscape. We're also provided with the Orage calendar app, Planmaker (a spreadsheet application), MPlayer for multimedia, Shotwell for handling photos and a disc burner/ripper. There are also copies of SoftMaker Presentation and TextMaker (a word processing program). I hadn't used the SoftMaker office suite before and I found it to be similar to using OpenOffice.org, but with regular requests for registration. Also in the application menu we find a file manager, archive manager, calculator, GParted and the Synaptic package manager. The full range of Xfce configuration tools are included. Java is present, as is the GCC. When browsing the web we have a Flash plugin provided and, behind the scenes, we're running version 3.1 of the Linux kernel.
Dreamlinux comes with a few other small utilities which can be found in the application menu. These are generally terminal tools which can be launched from the GUI. One, for example, attempts to perform a Debian dist-upgrade. Another launches the Midnight Commander text-based file manager. Since I brought this up during my look at VectorLinux I think it's only fair I bring it up again here. If developers want to present a program like Midnight Commander to users (either by placing it in the application menu or mentioning it whenever a terminal window is opened) I think it's important they make sure the terminal they use to open the program doesn't use conflicting short-cut keys.
Dreamlinux 5 - browsing files and using the media player
(full image size: 391kB, screen resolution 1024x768 pixels)
I ran Dreamlinux on two machines, a desktop box (2.5 GHz CPU, 2 GB of RAM, NVIDIA video card) and my HP laptop (dual-core 2 GHz CPU, 3 GB of RAM, Intel video card). On the desktop computer all my hardware was detected and utilized out of the box. Performance was good and the desktop was responsive. On my laptop I found things worked well. Again, everything functioned, including my Intel wireless card. I found my laptop's touchpad wouldn't treat taps as clicks under the default configuration, but otherwise everything performed as expected.
Software management on Dreamlinux is handled by the Synaptic package manager. The old, yet trusty, application allows us to search for software, install, remove and upgrade packages. Usually Synaptic lets users manage repositories, but I found whenever I tried to do this on Dreamlinux Synaptic would tell me that changes had occurred and I would have to reload my repository information. This message continued to appear after the package information had been refreshed. Fans of the command line can make use of the apt-get family of tools. Being based on Debian, Dreamlinux has a large collection of software, over 35,000 packages are available in the repositories. The one thing I missed with regards to packages was any sort of available updates notification. The user is expected to update repository information and manually check for updates.
Dreamlinux 5 - running office software and upgrading packages
(full image size: 101kB, screen resolution 1024x768 pixels)
At this point I've only been using Dreamlinux for a few days and so this is really just a first-look review. I don't think I can fairly judge the distribution's performance one way or the other. That being said, my impression so far is of a distro which presents a nice design, but which I feel needs to polish the implementation further in order to see the benefits of that design. There are a number of little differences in Dreamlinux which stand out - it has an unusual installer, a different method of organizing the application menu, a slight variation on the bottom launch panel. And, while all of these design differences take some getting used to, I found they had good ideas behind them, they just needed some more work. For example, the application menu could probably benefit from either a little restructuring or renaming items to reflect task rather than application name. The launch panel should probably display the name of a program when the mouse moves over it, otherwise the user is playing icon roulette by clicking on unfamiliar pictures.
I liked the everything on one page approach to the installer, but I wasn't crazy about having to reboot an extra time to complete the setup. Synaptic is a good package manager and Debian provides a good base, but I missed having update notifications. And I found it strange that the developers went with the software they did. Why use Foxit when there are so many good open source PDF viewers? Why use SoftMaker office software rather than a more common suite like OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice? Given my brief exposure to the included software I found it worked much the same, but being greeted with requests for registration isn't something I welcome in an open-source operating system. In short, Dreamlinux supported my hardware well and comes with Debian's large repository of software, but it could use a 5.1 release to round out the interface and add a different office suite.
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| Miscellaneous News (by Ladislav Bodnar) |
Red Hat introduces 10-year support, Texstar takes leave of absence, Mint banks on Cinnamon
 Over the years Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has become, by far, the most widely deployed enterprise Linux distribution. Pushing the support limits to the extreme, the company has now decided to extend the life cycle of RHEL versions 5 and 6 from seven to ten years: "Today Red Hat is pleased to announce that it has extended the life cycle of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, 6 and future releases from seven to 10 years, effective immediately. This announcement is in response to the widespread adoption of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 since its introduction in 2007, and the increasing rate of adoption of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 since its launch in 2010. During the life cycle of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, customers take advantage of a multitude of benefits, including feature enhancements, critical bug and security fixes, as well as award-winning support from Red Hat's Global Support Services team." As the announcement emphasises, "the result of the extended life cycle is that customers will enjoy all of the benefits of their subscription over a longer period of time." With this new development, the official support for RHEL 5 will end in March 2017, while RHEL 6 will be reach end of life in November 2020.
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 Bill Reynolds, aka Texstar, the overworked founder of PCLinuxOS, has been a well-known force in the open-source community for well over a decade - first packaging software for Mandrake Linux, then working on his own distribution. Unfortunately, the endless and thankless task of a distro maintainer has taken a toll on Texstar's health. Posting a brief message on the project's user forum, he explains, in his typical jargon-like writing, that he is about to take a "leave from the project for medical reasons": Making some changes around here. The Dr. says no more PCLinuxOS for me for a while cuz I've been doing way too much and ran out of gogo juice. Sooo I'm turning over lots of duties to others. Neal and Old-Polack will be taking care of business and others in the community will be stepping up to handle packaging, ISO's and other goodies. Please be patient until everyone can get up to speed on things ok? I'll continue dropping in on the forum from time to time, and helping the team if they have questions or need advise, but for now I'll be leaving the day to day management of PCLinuxOS to Neal, Old-Polack, and the rest of the team. Please treat them all with the kindness and respect you've always shown me. I'd appreciate it. Thanks a lot! Tex."
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 Cinnamon, a fork of GNOME Shell initiated by the developers of Linux Mint and designed to bring back the GNOME 2 look & feel to the GNOME 3 desktop, has been attracting much interest from users who find it hard to change their desktop usage habits. ZDNet's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols takes a look at the new software in "Mint's Cinnamon: The Future of the Linux Desktop?" "There are also some bugs in Cinnamon. For example, the Pidgin icon disappears from time to time. A more noticeable example is that I couldn't add some applications to 'Favorites' from within the menu or by using the dconf-editor. Curiously, I could add them to the Desktop or Panel. This is a known problem, and it has already been fixed in the source code. I also see display quirks such as oddly overlapping windows from time to time. What concerned me the most though is that some applications, the Evolution e-mail client and LibreOffice would sometime freeze up under Cinnamon. I can forgive a lot, but having my e-mail and word processor lock up on me is close to unforgivable. It doesn't happen very often at all, but even once a day or so is really vexing. Still, these are very early days for Cinnamon, so I'm willing to give this desktop a good solid B."
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| Questions and Answers (by Jesse Smith) |
Revisiting Ubuntu market share numbers
About-those-numbers asks: In DistroWatch Weekly number 434 of the 5th of December 2011 (Lies and Statistics), Jesse Smith interviewed Gerry Carr, Director of Communications at Canonical. Here is the excerpt that took my attention: "I was able to get firmer numbers from Ubuntu and the results were interesting. In early 2010, around the time Ubuntu 10.04 was released, Ubuntu had an estimated install base of 12 million users. About a year ago, after the launch of Ubuntu 10.10, it was estimated there were 16 million users. Now, in the wake of version 11.10, Ubuntu has an estimated 20 million users. Gerry Carr, Director of Communications at Canonical, says these figures come from a variety of places: 'It's a combination of things -- active connections to our security servers being one of the most prominent. We also get other connection data, we look at downloads and a small number of other checks, So it's robust.' Mr Carr also informed me that over one million Ubuntu One accounts have been created since the service launched."
When I read that, I thought how, on earth, after such a hectic year as 2011, could Ubuntu increase its user base by 25% (from version 10.10 to 11.10)? I first thought it was just a marketing boast. Then, I realized that, maybe, there could be another explanation to this miracle. Here it is. I am an average Linux Mint 12 user. Reading the above quoted paragraph, I realized that, maybe, I was also counted as a Ubuntu user by Canonical because my computer also connects to the Ubuntu security server under my own IP. This also was probably true for all Ubuntu derivative users, either official or non-official derivatives like Linux Mint. If we take this into account, the suspected 25% increase looks credible. And, after all, why would they take out the Linux Mint numbers? They are true users registered to their systems. What would be their advantage not to do it?
DistroWatch answers: I suspect you're right as far as Mint installations being counted as Ubuntu machines. In the past I've stated that Linux Mint qualifies as a separate entity, a separate distribution, not just another Ubuntu edition. And I think the moves we've seen by the Mint team to make their own desktop environment and spread their Minty layer over a Debian base confirm that point. However, that being said, Mint (and other Ubuntu-based projects) do use Ubuntu's repositories, they use the same packages, they are binary compatible. This means that one machine contacting the Ubuntu repositories to grab update information is probably going to appear much the same as any other machine contacting the repositories.
In short, I do think Canonical's numbers do include some (maybe all) of Ubuntu's children, and why wouldn't they? Does it really matter if you installed an operating system branded as Mint or Kubuntu or Peppermint if your machine is running and downloading packages built and provided by Canonical? It becomes more of a philosophical question rather than a technical one. If you install Mint's Main edition and remove the Mint-specific repositories, are you then running Ubuntu? If you install Ubuntu and add the Mint repositories, are you running Mint? Is there any reason why Canonical shouldn't count Ubuntu-based distributions as Ubuntu machines, since they do provide most of the support and repository infrastructure for those spin-off distributions? For that matter, could Canonical separate Ubuntu installs from the derivatives based on the information sent to the servers hosting the repositories? Vincent Vermeulen, a moderator on the Linux Mint forums, did some checking and this is what he had to say on the subject.
"I've had a chat with the other mods about this. First, there are at least 60 other Ubuntu derivatives using these repositories. And considering that, is it even incorrect if Canonical is counting all the users using the Ubuntu repositories? But let's leave that to others to consider. I've tested [the apt-get user agent string] on a Linux Mint 12 live session. Running sudo ngrep -eq tcp and port 80 to snoop on outgoing traffic. Then I did a sudo apt-get update. And I see the following GET request going to the security servers of Ubuntu: GET /ubuntu/dists/oneiric-security/InRelease HTTP/1.1..Host: security.ubuntu.com..Connection: keep-alive..Cache-Control: max-age=0..User-Agent: Debian APT-HTTP/1.3 (0.8.16~exp5ubuntu13).... The version of the apt package installed is being sent, and this is indeed the package from Ubuntu. I imagine this is no different for any of the other Ubuntu derivatives. Now, what this actually means and how it is being used over at Canonical, no clue."
I contacted Canonical to see if they could shed some light on the matter. At the time of writing I have not received an answer.
The original question suggests that 2011 was a hectic year, which I suspect is a reference to the introduction of the Unity desktop environment. And I won't deny that Unity is a dividing issue. However, I don't think it's nearly as widely disliked as its vocal opponents make it out to be. Partly because whenever any change happens in any operating system there are people who don't like it and claim it's terrible. I remember when KDE 4 was held up as the end of the KDE project and when Red Hat discontinuing their free distribution in favour of Fedora was a signal that the company was sinking. Rarely does the hype live up to reality. And I think that's reflected in the numbers. Let's say Ubuntu + Kubuntu + Lubuntu + Xubuntu + Mint + all the other dozens of Ubuntu-based derivatives which use the Ubuntu repositories make up about 20 million users. According to the installation stats on the repositories Unity is installed on over 12% of those machines, and it has only been available for two releases, neither of which was an LTS release. Considering that Unity is only offered as the default desktop on the main Ubuntu distro and considering that it has been out for less than a year, it has gained a respectable following.
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| Released Last Week |
Clonezilla Live 1.2.12-10
Steven Shiau has announced the release of Clonezilla Live 1.2.12-10, a new stable version of the project's utility live CD designed for disk cloning tasks: "This release of Clonezilla Live (1.2.12-10) includes major enhancements and major bug fixes: the underlying GNU/Linux operating system was upgraded, this release is based on the Debian 'Sid' repository as of 2012-01-27; the Linux kernel was updated to 3.2.1-2; PartClone was updated to version 0.2.45; Syslinux was updated to 4.0.5; a better mechanism was implemented in ocs-update-syslinux - 'syslinux -i' will be run only when the files to be updated are found on the system; a better mechanism was implemented to keep the MS Windows boot reserved partition size when option '-k1' is chosen; a better mechanism to deal with UFS partitions in a GPT table when saving FreeBSD 9.0...." Read the rest of the release announcement which includes a full changelog.
Endian Firewall 2.5.1
Endian Firewall 2.5.1, an updated version of the Red Hat-based firewall distribution, has been released: "An update for Endian Firewall Community to version 2.5.1 is now available. This release introduces a number of new features. Connectivity - support for most modern UMTS/3G USB dongles. By adding new drivers Endian Firewall 2.5 now supports most modern UMTS/3G dongles. Once plugged in they appear as serial devices and can be configured by choosing Analog/UMTS modem as uplink type. System - performance improvements. The whole system start-up procedure has been rewritten. Endian's new jobs engine decreases the start-up by 50 percent. Additionally major improvements have been made in memory usage. A fully configured system's memory footprint has been reduced by more than 200 MB." See the full release announcement for additional information and a complete list of new features.
DEFT Linux 7
Stefano Fratepietro has announced the release of DEFT Linux 7, an Ubuntu-based distribution and live DVD containing a collection of tools for penetration testing and forensic analysis: "The DEFT team is pleased to announce the release of the stable version of DEFT Linux 7, a toolkit able to perform computer, mobile and network forensics, incident response and cyber intelligence. DEFT 7 comprises of a GNU/Linux-based system optimized for computer forensics and cyber intelligence activities, installable or able to run in live mode, and DART (Digital Advanced Response Toolkit), a graphical user interface that handles the execution of incident response. Main features: based on Lubuntu 11.10; installable distro; Linux kernel 3.0, USB 3 ready; Libewf 20100226, Afflib 3.6.14, TSK 3.2.3, Autopsy 2.24, Digital Forensic Framework 1.2, PTK Forensic 1.0.5 DEFT edition...." Read the rest of the release announcement for a full list of included utilities.
DEFT Linux 7 - an Ubuntu respin with tools for penetration testing and forensic analysis
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SalineOS 1.6
Anthony Nordquist has announced the release of SalineOS 1.6, a Debian-based distribution and live DVD featuring the Xfce desktop: "SalineOS 1.6 images are now available for download. This brings SalineOS in line with the recent 6.0.4 release from Debian GNU/Linux. New in this release is a set of Thunar custom actions and scripts to greatly increase the functionality of the Thunar file manager. These include: open a directory as root, open a root terminal here, mark as executable, run an MD5SUM, convert stupid image formats (NGG, MDF) to standard ISO images, a simple disk usage utility, mount/unmount an ISO, convert to ODT, Export to PDF, search for files or folders using Catfish, rotate resize scale and convert image files, write an ISO or IMG file to a USB key and edit a text file as root. You can get all these custom actions on any previous release of SalineOS by running a command in a root terminal." The release announcement.
IPFire 2.11 Core 56
Michael Tremer has announced the release of IPFire 2.11 Core 56, a new stable release of the project's specialist distribution for firewalls: "Today, we are releasing Core Update 56 for IPFire 2.11. It is a minor bug-fix and security update. The most exciting new feature can be found in the pre-installed images that automatically scale up the partitions at first boot. If you use a 8 GB SD card, you install the 2 GB image and it will grow the partition sizes to use all space that is available on that SD card. Note: The minimum required size of Flash media has changed from 1 GB to 2 GB. This is because the / partition was too small for installing bigger add-ons. An update of OpenSSL to version 0.9.8t fixes a security flaw that could be exploited in a denial of service attack." Continue to the release announcement for a list of bug fixes.
Tails 0.10.1
Tails 0.10.1, an updated version of the Debian-based live CD designed for anonymous Internet surfing, has been released: "The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails), version 0.10.1, is out. This is a bug-fix release mainly aimed at fixing serious bugs and security issues. All users must upgrade as soon as possible. Notable user-visible changes include: make Startpage the default web search engine, Scroogle does not look reliable enough these days; upgrade WhisperBack to 1.5.1 (update link to bug reporting documentation); update MAT to 0.2.2 (fixes a critical bug in the GUI); upgrade Linux kernel to 3.2.1; time synchronization - serious rework that should fix most, if not all, of the infamous time-sync bugs some Tails users have experienced recently; make htpdate more resilient by using three server pools, and allowing some failure ratio...." See the release announcement for a full changelog.
PCLinuxOS 2012.2
Bill Reynolds has announced the release of PCLinuxOS 2012.02, the latest stable update of the project's mainstream distribution. There are no major new features as the Linux kernel remains at version 2.6.38.8 and the KDE desktop at 4.6.5. From the release announcement: "PCLinuxOS KDE and KDE-MiniME 2012.02 are now available for download. These are 32-bit quarterly update ISO images which can also be installed on 64-bit computers. Features: Linux kernel 2.6.38.8bfs kernel for maximum desktop performance; full KDE 4.6.5 desktop; NVIDIA and ATI fglrx drivers support; multimedia playback support for many popular formats; wireless support for many network devices; printer support for many local and networked printer devices; Addlocale allows you to convert PCLinuxOS into over 60 languages.... See also the download page for a list of main applications and system requirements.
Linux Mint 12 "KDE"
Clement Lefebvre has announced the release of Linux Mint 12 "KDE" edition: "The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 12 KDE. Linux Mint 12 KDE comes with updated software and brings refinements and new features to make your desktop even more comfortable to use. This edition comes with the latest and recently released KDE 4.7.4. This is the first release of Linux Mint using Hybrid ISO images. Traditionally, tools such as 'Startup Disk Creator' or 'UNetbootin' were needed to install Linux Mint via USB. With hybrid images, you can simply use the 'dd' command or a graphical front-end to make a bootable USB stick with no efforts which acts exactly like a live DVD. Consult the release announcement and the what's new page for more information and system requirements.
Salix OS 13.37 "Live Xfce"
Cyrille Pontvieux has announced the release of Salix OS 13.37 "Live Xfce" edition, a Slackware-based live CD featuring the latest Xfce desktop: "The Live team is proud to present the final release of Salix OS Live Xfce 13.37. After some months developing, testing and improving a lot of little details, this version is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit variants. It will serve as a base for all other editions of Salix Live, namely KDE, LXDE and Fluxbox. This version is build using SaLT (Salix Live Technology), a new system of live tools for Slackware-based distributions, developed in-house, to build live CDs in a more dynamic fashion with very little modifications from the host system. This includes the same applications and packages as the regular Salix OS Xfce 13.37. Read the rest of the release announcement for a full changelog.
KahelOS 020212
Meric Mara has announced the release of KahelOS 020212, a desktop Linux distribution and live DVD featuring the GNOME 3 desktop and based on Arch Linux: "Following the release of KahelOS 111111 last November is today's launch of KahelOS 020212. KahelOS 020212 improves on what the earlier installer can offer. It caters to advance Linux users who wish to have the freedom in the first step of installing an operating system, i.e. a manual partitioning system which also has the ability to resize (stretch and shrink) both NTFS and Linux partitions. Graphically, this enhanced installer is still GUI-friendly plus the automatic 'dual boot with Windows' option is an added feature for those who are technology neutral. Fresh features: updated Bluefish to 2.2.1, Dia to 0.97.2, Evolution to 3.2.3, Filezilla to 3.5.3.... Read the rest of the release announcement for a full changelog.
KahelOS 020212 - an Arch-based distro with GNOME 3
(full image size: 727kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
Netrunner 4.1
Clemens Toennies has announced the release of Netrunner 4.1, the latest update of the project's Kubuntu-based desktop Linux distribution featuring the KDE 4.7.4 desktop - now also available in a 64-bit variant: "Accompanying the release of Netrunner 64-bit edition, we today release version 4.1 for 32-bit systems with the following changes compared to 4.0: switched to hybrid ISO images; Linux kernel 3.0, KDE 4.7.4 (latest stable); Muon 1.2.95; kde-gtk-config module for easy GTK+ 2/3 configuration under KDE; several bug fixes, including system freezes during automatic update. Since 4.0 had a critical bug related to the automatic package updating, we suggest that users of 4.0 manually upgrade to 4.1. Here is the brief release announcement.
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Development, unannounced and minor bug-fix releases
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| Upcoming Releases and Announcements |
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Summary of expected upcoming releases
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| DistroWatch.com News |
January 2012 DistroWatch.com donation: GnuPG
We are happy to announce that the recipient of the January 2012 DistroWatch.com donation is GnuPG, the GNU project's complete and free implementation of the OpenPGP standard The project receives €260.00 in cash.
Although GnuPG is perhaps a more low-profile open-source project than those developing visible end-user applications, it is nevertheless included in just about every Linux distribution and other free operating system. In other words, all of us use it, often without realising it. From the project's website: "GnuPG allows to encrypt and sign your data and communication, features a versatile key management system as well as access modules for all kinds of public key directories. GnuPG itself is a command-line tool without any graphical stuff. It is the real crypto engine which can be used directly from a command prompt, from shell scripts or by other programs. Therefore it can be considered as a back-end for other applications. However, even when used on the command line it provides all functionality needed - this includes an interactive menu system. The set of commands of this tool will always be a superset of those provided by any front-ends." Here is GnuPG's features page if you'd like to learn more.
Launched in 2004, this monthly donations programme is a DistroWatch initiative to support free and open-source software projects and operating systems with cash contributions. Readers are welcome to nominate their favourite project for future donations. Those readers who wish to contribute towards these donations, please use our advertising page to make a payment (PayPal and credit cards are accepted). Here is the list of the projects that have received a DistroWatch donation since the launch of the programme (figures in US dollars):
- 2004: GnuCash ($250), Quanta Plus ($200), PCLinuxOS ($300), The GIMP ($300), Vidalinux ($200), Fluxbox ($200), K3b ($350), Arch Linux ($300), Kile KDE LaTeX Editor ($100) and UNICEF - Tsunami Relief Operation ($340)
- 2005: Vim ($250), AbiWord ($220), BitTorrent ($300), NDISwrapper ($250), Audacity ($250), Debian GNU/Linux ($420), GNOME ($425), Enlightenment ($250), MPlayer ($400), Amarok ($300), KANOTIX ($250) and Cacti ($375)
- 2006: Gambas ($250), Krusader ($250), FreeBSD Foundation ($450), GParted ($360), Doxygen ($260), LilyPond ($250), Lua ($250), Gentoo Linux ($500), Blender ($500), Puppy Linux ($350), Inkscape ($350), Cape Linux Users Group ($130), Mandriva Linux ($405, a Powerpack competition), Digikam ($408) and Sabayon Linux ($450)
- 2007: GQview ($250), Kaffeine ($250), sidux ($350), CentOS ($400), LyX ($350), VectorLinux ($350), KTorrent ($400), FreeNAS ($350), lighttpd ($400), Damn Small Linux ($350), NimbleX ($450), MEPIS Linux ($300), Zenwalk Linux ($300)
- 2008: VLC ($350), Frugalware Linux ($340), cURL ($300), GSPCA ($400), FileZilla ($400), MythDora ($500), Linux Mint ($400), Parsix GNU/Linux ($300), Miro ($300), GoblinX ($250), Dillo ($150), LXDE ($250)
- 2009: Openbox ($250), Wolvix GNU/Linux ($200), smxi ($200), Python ($300), SliTaz GNU/Linux ($200), LiVES ($300), Osmo ($300), LMMS ($250), KompoZer ($360), OpenSSH ($350), Parted Magic ($350) and Krita ($285)
- 2010: Qimo 4 Kids ($250), Squid ($250), Libre Graphics Meeting ($300), Bacula ($250), FileZilla ($300), GCompris ($352), Xiph.org ($250), Clonezilla ($250), Debian Multimedia ($280), Geany ($300), Mageia ($470), gtkpod ($300)
- 2011: CGSecurity ($300), OpenShot ($300), Imagination ($250), Calibre ($300), RIPLinuX ($300), Midori ($310), vsftpd ($300), OpenShot ($350), Trinity Desktop Environment ($300), LibreCAD ($300), LiVES ($300), Transmission ($250)
- 2012: GnuPG ($350)
Since the launch of the Donations Program in March 2004, DistroWatch has donated a total of US$30,540 to various open-source software projects.
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New distributions added to waiting list
- Brasa OS. Brasa OS is a Brazilian desktop Linux distribution based on Debian's stable branch. The project's website is in Portuguese.
- Byzantium Linux. Byzantium Linux is a live distribution of Linux designed to fulfil a crucial role in the evolution of the Internet. That role is a rapidly deployable ad-hoc wireless mesh network which can augment or replace the current telecommunications infrastructure in the event that it is knocked offline (for example, due to a natural disaster) or rendered untrustworthy (widespread surveillance or disconnection by hostile entities).
- Illumian. Illumian is an operating system that combines the Illumos (OpenIndiana) kernel with Debian GNU/Linux software and packaging utilities.
- Linux Ogigia. Linux Ogigia is an Italian distribution based on Puppy Linux. The project's website is in Italian.
- RebeccaBlackOS. RebeccaBlackOS is an Ubuntu remix dedicated to Rebecca Black, American pop singer and dancer. Besides a custom theme, the live CD also offers an opportunity to try out the Wayland display server.
- SolusOS. SolusOS is a lightweight Debian-based desktop Linux distribution with integrated multimedia software and functionality.
SolusOS 043 - a Debian-based desktop distribution with GNOME 2
(full image size: 562kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
- Stella. Stella is a remix of CentOS with a desktop focus. It is available as installable live media and contains standard CentOS software, the GNOME 2 desktop and some multimedia and desktop additions.
Stella 6.2 Test 12 - a CentOS-based desktop distribution with GNOME 2
(full image size: 467kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
* * * * *
DistroWatch database summary
* * * * *
This concludes this week's issue of DistroWatch Weekly. The next instalment will be published on Monday, 13 February 2012.
Jesse Smith and Ladislav Bodnar
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| Reader Comments • Jump to last comment |
1 • Just facts (by macias on 2012-02-06 09:01:45 GMT from Poland)
"whenever any change happens in any operating system there are people who don't like it and claim it's terrible. I remember when KDE 4 was held up as the end of the KDE project"
So you remember also (per analogy -- "WHENEVER"), then when KDE3 where introduced and even years later, KDE2 was used by many users, right?
Because, strange thing, about KDE4 is nothing to remember -- KDE4.8 is the current version, all shiny and great, and yet, KDE3 packages are pretty popular (I am one among hard-die user of KDE3 and I don't intend to move to KDE4 simply because it does not solve any issue KDE3 doesn't solve).
And this is exactly the problem of Linux "progress" -- making a lot of mess, changing wallpapers, with zero impact of productivity. New "solutions" solve imaginary problems. Knowing about this, Linux users (in general) are more like lemmings shifting to newer versions, just because the number is higher.
2 • Ubuntu 12.04 Alpha 2 & Dell Vostro 360 (by Gavin R. Putland on 2012-02-06 09:24:15 GMT from Australia)
Ubuntu 12.04 Alpha 2 (released last week) still won't give full HD resolution on a Dell Vostro 360 with its integrated HD2000 graphics and eDP display interface: see http://www.grputland.com/2011/12/ubuntu-1204-alpha-1-sandy-bridge.html for details.
Has anyone managed to get full HD resolution on a Vostro 360, with or without the optional Nvidia graphics card, under any version of Linux or BSD?
3 • SolusOS (by tdockery97 on 2012-02-06 10:24:47 GMT from United States)
It's great to see SolusOS on the DistroWatch waiting list. This one is going to be a winner.
4 • About PDF Readers in Linux (by Oz on 2012-02-06 11:44:11 GMT from Germany)
You write
"And I found it strange that the developers went with the software they did. Why use Foxit when there are so many good open source PDF viewers?"
I am sorry to tell you, but there are aren't that many. While Okular does an EXCELLENT JOB, GNOME dev's where busy porting Evince from GTK2 to GTK3, while there are still open bugs regarding usability of Evince and popler (the engine behind). So, basically every pdf reader that uses popler can't do reasonable text selection from 2 columns PDFs, and the search of PDF document is Horribly slow. Evince has 634 bugs!
I happen to follow this bug https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=325189
Look how long this is there, and what gnome dev's are busy with.
Foxit is an excllent choice, it is SMALL (3.6 MB) comparing to Adobe reader (~60MB) or Okular which has KDE dependencies. And ... Foxit reader can select text in two columns, see my attached document in the bugzilla and try it with Foxit reader.
I know I should "shut-up and code", but I can't, yet code in GTK, so I am reporting bugs.
And I have a constructive suggestion. If you want to Dreamlinux Dev's to exclude Foxit, let's make a bounty to close evince bugs. I suggest this, if you contribute 200 Euro from the distrowatch weekly contribution to that purpose, I'll top and add 75 Euro more. However, I do suggest that the money won't be given just like that, rather it should be given directly to the developer who will close that bug I mentioned.
Cheers,
Oz
5 • just leaving my email (by Oz on 2012-02-06 11:46:12 GMT from Germany)
I just want to make sure you know I am serious about that bug.
6 • 10 years of support from Red Hat (by LiQuidKermit on 2012-02-06 11:52:56 GMT from Indonesia)
Their business must be going really good for they to extend the support by 3 years. 10 years is indeed is miracle considering that the current evolution process in the software world going much faster. I believe most system administrators would upgrade to recent major version after 5 years or so. Still, it's gonna be interesting to see servers still using Red Hat 5.x in the 2016. Cheers
7 • SolusOS (by IkeyDoherty on 2012-02-06 12:19:32 GMT from United Kingdom)
To anyone downloading the SolusOS ISO's, the servers been
absolutely hammered this morning. Server's nearly dead
from the downloads
Currently talking with HEAnet to resolve the issue by
gaining a mirror.
N.B Thank you DW for putting us on the waiting list :)
8 • Ubuntu user numbers (by cba on 2012-02-06 13:07:05 GMT from Germany)
As long as the Canonical team does not explain how they count their user base, it is impossible to take any of their "results" as real.
The problem ist that counting the users of a distro by their IP addresses during contacts with the own update servers in a reliable way is almost impossible, because one user could contact the Ubuntu update servers ten or twenty times a day via changing dynamic IP addresses, something that is quite normal in our days.
Here is an example how you could deal with this problem:
http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Statistics
"The tables so far are purely based on IPs visiting the download server. As many users use DSL connections with changing IPs, guessing the number of users from the numbers of IPs is basically impossible. So our updaters starting with 11.1 send a random cookie to the server, so the server does not count changing IPs. Based on this data we get more qualified statistics and shoot in direction of number of installations out there."
In my opinion the high Ubuntu user numbers could be a result of a "simple IP counting". But as you can see from the openSUSE statistics example, this is very inaccurate.
By only counting IP addresses contacting the openSUSE update servers openSUSE would have around 25 million users. This is obviously wrong. By means of the above-mentioned cookie method openSUSE gets more real results and avoids multiple and therefore useless counts of the same user with changing dynamic IP Addresses. The result is that there are about 2,5 to 3 million openSUSE users, not 25 million.
So, please ask Canoncial how they count their user base. Otherwise their results are completely useless.
9 • @1 Just Facts (by DavidEF on 2012-02-06 13:13:12 GMT from United States)
I agree with Jesse that people seem to be generally change-averse. The old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to be the trumpet call for a lot of folks, including yourself. I don't have a problem with people wanting to stick to the familiar. In fact, I think it's great what Red Hat is doing for its customers who like to stick with the older, familiar releases, supporting them for 10 years.
What I disagree with is the cry of outrage that comes from certain "vocal opponents" when a change is made. Why is that necessary? The old ways are still there. And there are even people working to bring the old ways into the new software, so it can remain that way for the foreseeable future. So, why all the whining and complaining? Just use what you like, and let others do the same.
It is technically impossible at this point in history for Linux and other open source O/S to close up and become like Those two proprietary O/S that don't give you choice. With that being the case, what does a new interface do to you? It only ADDS TO your plethora of choices. Being change-averse is your choice as well. Ironically, it is the "vocal opponents" who are seemingly intent on limiting choice, by actively pursuing the defamation and ultimate destruction of anything new that "they" don't like.
Can't we all just get along?
10 • Just facts -- who cried? (by macias on 2012-02-06 13:25:32 GMT from Poland)
@DavidEF, I have to admit, I am the one who cried -- I thought we are all open-source community, and the quality, productivity is important for all of us. Please note that at that time I used term "we". However it became clear that is not the fact -- ego is dominant, now I use term "I" and "they".
So I stop "crying", arguing, caring, whatever. Now, majority of FLOSS is just free (as beer) for me. If KDE5 will introduce triangular windows, and Gnome4 will require buttonless mouse, I couldn't care less. I cannot be guilty just because I am educated, I know what accessibility means, what are the principles of design, etc.
The biggest failure of Linux, that community-promise was broken. After that, nothing really matters.
11 • Thank you TexStar! (by Leo on 2012-02-06 13:36:11 GMT from United States)
All the best to Texstar, hope you get well soon. Thank your for a decade of love!
Cheers
Leo
12 • Illuminan and DW bias (by Koroshiya Itchy on 2012-02-06 13:39:36 GMT from Belgium)
Illuminan seem to me like a very interesting initiative. It would be good seeing something like that also in the BSD world.
The review of DreamLinux 5 seems to me rather biased, as usual. In spite of the fact that the author needs to concede that the system works smoothly out-of-the-box, something that seems quite unusual in these series of DW reviews, the author prefers to focus on a few irrelevant pseudo-problems to give the impression that the distro is kind of troublesome. Most of the false issues that the author found, I would consider them to be as nice features. For instance, the lack of an update manager which can be added in a trivial way, if desired) is very positive for me for several reasons, such as the fact that it makes the DE more light-weight.
More bias in the Cinnamon DE comment, from which the author of the comment claims that "has been attracting much interest from users who find it hard to change their desktop usage habits". Ok, we have to admit that people in general may me reluctant to changes. But for many people it is not a matter of "habit", but a question of inadequacy. Gnome 3 and Unity may be great for that 90% of users who use the computer mostly for surfing the internet and watching films. However, for the ones who multi-task, those DEs are just inadequate. It is reasonable to target the 90%, but there is no need imply that the other 10% are just dumb conservative people unable to evolve. Evolution is for better, changing for worse is involution ;-)
13 • Red Hat (by Mathew John Roberts on 2012-02-06 13:42:14 GMT from United Kingdom)
10 years support? I wonder if that means they'll have to maintain gnome2 for all that time. I doubt they'd transition to MATE. Looks like this might be a break for those gnome2 die-hard fans.
14 • #8 and Ubuntu Counting (by vw72 on 2012-02-06 14:02:55 GMT from United States)
#8, Ubuntu states their main metric is downloads from their security updates, not simple IP counting.
As for the notion in the growth numbers (from the article), It seems the majority of Mint's grown has been former Ubuntu users making the switch. As such, that would be a wash is Mint is being included in Ubuntu's numbers as the Mint increase would only offset the Ubuntu decrease.
Personally, I don't have a problem with derivatives being included, whether officially sponsored ones or external ones that are still dependent on Canonical. Obviously, any derivative can set up their own repositories, including security if they want to be totally Ubuntu-free, but until then, if they need Ubuntu to be complete and up to date, well, then they are still part of Ubuntu's installed base.
Ultimately, this is good, because Ubuntu's numbers draw the attention of other firms (software and hardware). For these derivatives that stay compatible with Ubuntu's repositories, they can reap the benefits of any technology produced that recognizes Ubuntu.
In the end, everybody wins.
15 • Re: #9 Just Facts ... (by Coffee on 2012-02-06 14:07:37 GMT from France)
> What I disagree with is the cry of outrage that comes from certain
> "vocal opponents" when a change is made. Why is that necessary?
Maybe people are pissed off because some of these changes are not the result of careful research about what's wanted, what's needed, what's desirable in a GNU/Linux desktop but the dictates of a small number of self-appointed "designers" who don't give a flying duck about the users who have to put up with their creations? Unfortunately these "designers" have armies of talented young coders at their disposal.
Maybe people are pissed off because they're given no choice in the matter? People usually don't like to be shoved around like that. Most people resent being told to take it or leave it. Only people devoid of critical faculties, conformists and bootlickers welcome any change that's forced upon them, no matter what.
16 • Dreamlinux 5.0 (by rich52 on 2012-02-06 14:19:26 GMT from United States)
I found Dreamlinux to work quite well despite it's shortcomings with 'Plank' and your inability to drop your own programs of preference into this Menu bar. A quick solution was to just remove it completely with Synaptic and install 'Docky' and drop my own menu items onto this menu bar. (i.e. Googlechrome, Libreoffice etc.) Other than this I found v5.0 as good as 3.5 . It works well on my Netbook and the graphics look very good.
Rich:)
.
17 • Linux Market share (by Jimbo on 2012-02-06 14:22:41 GMT from United Kingdom)
estimating 300 Million Microsoft OS installs, (no idea where I got that figure) and 16-20 Million Ubuntu/Mint and derivatives (note - read the article again - NOT just by IP counting) that makes the Ubuntu-derived GNU/Linux market share about 5-6% or so?
THEN add in Debian (but non-Ubuntu, for the purposes of this count) Fedora, Suse, RHEL.
I'd say that was well above the oft-quoted "1% market share is GNU/Linux".
(it would be cheating, I know, but add in all the Linux kernel devices (Android, etc) and it's well over 50% haha)
[assumes 300M Android devices, 300M Windows (7?) installs, 16-20M Ubuntu derivatives ,etc etc]
someone care to full research and figure this out more accurately and push it out to the press?
18 • whoops (by Jimbo on 2012-02-06 14:26:00 GMT from United Kingdom)
I forgot Mac devices, so add them in (10%?) so that dilutes the 300M+20M a little.
320+30=350M non GNU/Linux
Ubuntu(-s et al) 4.5% > 5.7%
amirite?
19 • Texstar (by Dave Postles on 2012-02-06 14:36:04 GMT from United Kingdom)
Truly a star of the greatest firmament. I use PCLinuxOS with Gnome on my 32-bit notebook and it works a treat. Hope he recovers quickly.
20 • Separate distros, derivatives or remixes? (by MK on 2012-02-06 14:55:31 GMT from Israel)
IMHO, all the so called Ubuntu derivatives, like Mint, are, in fact, Ubuntu remixes, kind of like the netbook remix that Ubuntu used to have. Why are they considered separate distros? Is it because they use Ubuntu repositories, or have codecs along with 4 media players pre-installed? Is it because they ship with different themes, wallpapers, panels and docs, or because they have a Debian remix? What else is there?
21 • @17 Linux market share (by Alexandru Popa on 2012-02-06 15:10:46 GMT from Romania)
I use personalized statistics. I have a project at sf.net and public versions for Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and Solaris (well, also sources) and watch what part of Linux version downloads are there. It is constantly 25 - 30 %, significally greater then FreeBSD and Solaris and about 1/2 or 1/3 of Windows version downloads.
22 • Divide and conquer, Thank you Texstar (by RayRay on 2012-02-06 15:17:34 GMT from United States)
Each one of those remixes do provide value and choice. Of course the reason to choose one application over another is in the hands of the developers, but one can always replace it with your favorite app.
Case in point, I was a little frustrated with Unity, the dashboard added to many steps to accessing certain apps (I didn't want to keep adding to the sidebar), I added LWN and had a regular menu at my disposal. There are other choices like docky, but the at least we have the ability to choose.
This month I choose to use Debian last month it was openSUSE, next month maybe PCLinuxOS.
Texstar stay strong and take care of yourself, you really are star!
23 • New KDE release (by Jesse on 2012-02-06 15:26:57 GMT from Canada)
A bit off topic from this week's articles, but has anyone else tried KDE 4.8? I gave it a go this weekend and it seems to be an improvement over 4.7. Some little bugs are gone and it's not popping up as many notifications. On my machine the speed seems to be about the same. Anyone else have a chance to try it?
24 • Netrunner 4.1 64-bit is fantastic (by tek_heretik on 2012-02-06 15:28:47 GMT from Canada)
Was using Linux Mint 10 64-bit (no Windows, period) and avoided the newer versions because they wouldn't install to my 4 drive hardware Raid 0 properly and I wasn't thrilled with the new smart-phone-ish GUI(s). Although LM 10 was functional, etc, the kernel was aging and the support for it is ending soon. Netrunner is pretty, solid and if you are a control freak like me, settings up the wahzoo compared to a Gnome based desktop. I can see this distro's popularity rising fast if the author doesn't get in to a 'fix it even if it isn't broke' funk like most do. Just my $0.02. =)
25 • @10 and @15 (by DavidEF on 2012-02-06 15:32:19 GMT from United States)
Guys, I know how it feels to have change forced upon by the "bosses" who control change, not always in the "users" interest. The point I'm trying to make is that nobody is taking away your choice to use Gnome2 or KDE3 or any other DE or WM. In fact, some projects have been formed just for the purpose of keeping the oldies-but-goodies alive, such as MATE, Cinnamon, and Trinity. If the latest-and-greatest doesn't seem so great to you, you can still use the oldies-but-goodies, and/or change to another DE/WM altogether.
The Windows interface changes almost every release, and they don't make it nearly so easy to revert back to the recently-deceased interface of the prior version of Windows. I'd say the linux community is doing a great job, and MATE, Cinnamon, Trinity, and others prove that to be true.
I'm starting to realize now that some people are just plain spoiled. They are not content in knowing that the choice is there, they want THEIR favorite DE to be the default DE, and they complain loudly simply because it isn't. It took me about 3-5 minutes to install Gnome3 Shell on my computer so my wife can use the fallback mode. I happen to like Unity and use it every day. We don't fuss, fight, or complain. We simply use what works best for us. What is everyone's problem?
26 • Re 4: PDF readers on Linux & Windows (by hobbitland on 2012-02-06 15:34:34 GMT from United Kingdom)
Hi, I use evince on Linux and even evince on Windows. Do you trust Foxit & Adobe Reader not to spy on you? How about security? Adobe Reader runs script which can have all sorts of secuirty issues. Evince deos not run these scripts.
I recommend evince for people still addicted to Windows. Just to avoid Adobe spying is good enough reason not to use it. I will only use Adobe Reader if the PDF requires it but have not came across a PDF like that for a long time.
27 • Re: 23 • New KDE release (by Jesse) (by Leo on 2012-02-06 15:43:56 GMT from United States)
Hi Jesse
I did upgrade my main desktop, mostly because I needed the new Kate version, that allows to search/replace various documents at the same time, a feature present in KDE-3 but lost in the KDE-4 series
It is running fine, but I had had so many issues with KDEPIM (Kmail2 being the very recent fiasco) that I removed the whole PIM suite, and I mostly use Plasma with Akonadi/Nepomuk turned off. So, I am not a great test case.
BTW, I moved to Thunderbird for email. Not as pretty, but it works. No surprises.
Cheers
28 • Magnet Links (by Frederick on 2012-02-06 16:01:38 GMT from Hong Kong)
I am unable to open any magnet links with various Linux Programs. Could somebody advise me how to do it ? Thanks in advance.
29 • Dreamlinux... not what used to be (by TanKe on 2012-02-06 16:32:06 GMT from Mexico)
I was one of those who used Dreamlinux years ago and have to say that this new version feels like a joke. Dreamlinux was amazing then but the dev never managed how to avoid the destroying dist-upgrade process. Maybe that's why the project almost died (don't know). Dreamlinux was heavily twisted but that was the idea, be different and... wow... shure it was!
Now... we have a simple XFCE with a nice icon set, that's all.
30 • Dreamlinux (by kc1di on 2012-02-06 16:48:31 GMT from United States)
I've tried Dreamlinux several times and always have come away with the feeling it's just never quite there. That's just my feeling of it not anything you can put your finger on but thought you did a good job in the review of it Jesse.
Thanks for the review
31 • Texstar (by kc1di on 2012-02-06 16:51:38 GMT from United States)
Sorry to hear about Bill's set back our prayers will be with him and hope he's back in the saddle soon. PCLinuxOS has always just worked for me will little effort on my part and Texstar is the reason. Hope the crew can take up the work load.
32 • Dream Linux and SoftMaker (by David McCann on 2012-02-06 16:52:53 GMT from United Kingdom)
The choice of SoftMaker Office is even stranger than Jesse thought, as this is commercial software. What has been provided is the 2008 version that the publishers made available as a demo, which is why it asks you to register; then they can invite you to buy the 2012 version for €70.
33 • Re: #25 (by Coffee on 2012-02-06 18:10:03 GMT from France)
> The point I'm trying to make is that nobody is taking away your choice to use
> Gnome2 or KDE3 or any other DE or WM. In fact, some projects have been formed
> just for the purpose of keeping the oldies-but-goodies alive,
You're putting things on their head. All these projects sprung up as a reaction to the radical and for many unacceptable changes that came with the KDE 4 and the Gnome 3 desktops. Neither the KDE nor the Gnome project ever intended to give their users a choice in the matter, which is particularly galling since user opinions were also ignored during the design and specification phases of the new desktops. I'm glad there are some who will continue to take care of the older and more mature desktops. But I'm wondering to what degree this will be possible over time. Will the Gnome 2 code basis be carried over to Gtk3 (which is an awful lot of work)? I doubt it. Will Gnome 2 be maintained, patched and carefully improved for years to come? I doubt that, too. But who knows, maybe I'm just too pessimistic ...
34 • @25 Choice? (by fernbap on 2012-02-06 18:25:14 GMT from Portugal)
I think people should stop to look at gnome 3 or Unity or KDE 4 as "progress" and at those that don't like it as "just people who are afraid of change".
Things can go wrong, and the reasons why i don't like KDE 4 have nothing to do with it being still under development or not having the time to polish. The reason is simply because i think it is based on a set of wrong concepts and polishing a wrong concept will not make it a right concept. I can say the same about Gnome 3 and Unity.
It is not being afraid of change, it is finding the concept wrong and considering that a certain project is going the wrong way. Better stop, reexamine the concepts, and start doing it right.
And no, in the case of Gnome, there is no choice, no turning back. GTL 2 will in time be deprecated, and for as much as you want to keep an "oldie but goldie" alive, you will just not have anything to work with anymore.
Gnome 3 is just giving no choice. The only way is to try to make gnome 3 usable, which is what Mint is doing. The MATE project will eventually lack the base to stand on.
35 • RebeccaBlackOS (by NeverSummer on 2012-02-06 18:41:55 GMT from United States)
As a long time follower (2001ish) of distrowatch, I've maybe commented on here once. But this distro just made me LOL.
"RebeccaBlackOS. RebeccaBlackOS is an Ubuntu remix dedicated to Rebecca Black, American pop singer and dancer. Besides a custom theme, the live CD also offers an opportunity to try out the Wayland display server."
36 • 12 • Illuminan and DW bias (by mandog on 2012-02-06 19:10:32 GMT from Peru)
@12More bias in the Cinnamon DE comment, from which the author of the comment claims that "has been attracting much interest from users who find it hard to change their desktop usage habits". Ok, we have to admit that people in general may me reluctant to changes. But for many people it is not a matter of "habit", but a question of inadequacy. Gnome 3 and Unity may be great for that 90% of users who use the computer mostly for surfing the internet and watching films. However, for the ones who multi-task, those DEs are just inadequate. It is reasonable to target the 90%, but there is no need imply that the other 10% are just dumb conservative people unable to evolve. Evolution is for better, changing for worse is involution ;-)
I use Gnome3 shell and I multi task 8 virtual desktops with 3-4 apps open on each what is the problem with people. I use a nice extension that allows me to scroll virtual desktops using the mouse wheel.
That is the evolution that's gnome shell can't do something download or write a extension
37 • @23 New KDE (by vw72 on 2012-02-06 19:12:35 GMT from United States)
I've upgraded KDE to 4.8 on Kubuntu 11.10 and it a very worthwhile upgrade. Many little fixes and tweaks. Resource usage is down and the over all performance seems improved (highly subjective, I know). This is while running the netbook plasma interface on an ASUS Netbook with 1gb RAM using the regular "fat" settings vs the "low fat" settings.
I have seen no regressions and would recommend it to anyone running an earlier KDE 4.x. The only caveat would be to backup your data before upgrading (a good practice, any time) particularly if you use kmail2 (as I have not had the opportunity to test it's conversion process in 4.8, but it didn't work correctly for many with 4.7.x).
vw72
38 • Ubuntu vs. Mint (by Don Manyette on 2012-02-06 19:12:44 GMT from United States)
I offer another (or additional) argument to this numbers game. I'm still running 10.10 Ubuntu, because while I approve of what Mint is doing, and intend to switch to it, I won't switch until Mint is ready for Prime Time, which in my opinion it is not as yet. I detest the direction the Benevolent Dictator is taking for Ubuntu, and consider it a bid for more commercial software users rather than any real improvement in Ubuntu. If that is the goal, he is welcome to it, but it does not suit me, and I suspect many others as well. As far as I am concerned, it only needs a START button ti achieve his apparent goal.
Don
39 • ePDFviewer (by Jozsef on 2012-02-06 19:32:42 GMT from United Arab Emirates)
This works not too bad also:
http://trac.emma-soft.com/epdfview/
40 • Ububtu market share (by Daffy Schmuck on 2012-02-06 19:43:54 GMT from United States)
I don't care much if Ubuntu includes derivatives in their count. Makes sense anyway, because they are Ubuntus.
However, I thought the whole genesis to this geek slap fight was whether Ubuntu is losing market to other distros, largely because of Unity. In that sense, it would be nice to be able to separate out the "canonical" Ubuntus (no pun intended) from the rebellious ones.
41 • Mint (by HO on 2012-02-06 20:42:07 GMT from Ireland)
Linux Mint banks on Cinnamon and yes, I know that the upcoming Mint will feature it, but there's a lot of work to do Mint people ... for example I coldn't write a DVD in Brasero without hanging the app. I also had issues with other apps that complete disappeared and refused to reinstall ....
Before going live with Cinnamon, please develop properly ... thanks. H
42 • Sorry, really not trying to make a flame war, but... (by DavidEF on 2012-02-06 21:15:24 GMT from United States)
@33
I know and agree that these other projects were started as a reaction to "the radical and for many unacceptable changes that came with the KDE 4 and the Gnome 3 desktops". Really, that proves my point that nothing in open source is ever really dead and no choice is ever really taken from you. It would be technically impossible.
Maybe the leaders of the parent projects royally screwed up and took Gnome3 and KDE4 in stupid directions. Maybe they maliciously chose to disregard their user communities and move forward with something very few wanted and nobody needed. So what? That's why we use open source software! So that we don't have to take what is given us! We can change direction whenever we want, or refuse to follow any change of direction any time we want, because the old code is still there and still free and still able to be developed without the original authors' or devs' help! My point all along has been that we take all this stuff for granted, and whine about changes we don't like, as if we're truly stuck with them. I'm all for complaining in proper ways to effect positive change. What I'm tired of is all the whining and complaining I see that doesn't lead anywhere but more discontent. The situation is not hopeless, that's all I want people to see and realize.
@34
Everything I said above, plus this: the word "deprecated" doesn't really apply to anything in the open source world that people still want or need, no matter what anyone in any position in any company decides. The Cinnamon, MATE, and Trinity projects prove this. It may not be as easy if the original devs "deprecate" your favorite DE, but it is always possible to keep the fires burning. The base can live as long as there are people who want it to.
43 • @42 (by Pierre on 2012-02-06 22:18:06 GMT from Germany)
You're so right. It's pure satisfaction to see others having the same opinion.
Open Source is what gives us the opportunity of choice. It's not like Windows, when a new version is out you will have to follow because everything will become incompatible.
Your beloved DE can live forever, may it be because others too decided it's the best of all and continue development, or may it even be that you yourself start tinkering and developing on base of the open source code.
Just stop whining because something isn't branded as before any more. You're not buying a Rolex that is suddenly no Rolex anymore and labeled Bollex or something. Call it MATE, call it Trinity, what does that matter? Nothing! Because it is just a new name for the good old product. We have to free ourselfs from thinking in brands and labels.
Deprecated is impossible in the open source world, as long there are people still wanting the product.
44 • @35, Mint/Ubuntu (by mz on 2012-02-06 23:05:01 GMT from United States)
@35,
Agreed, I was actually about to post how #22 was all wrong and that there are some completely wasted efforts such as the RebeccaB. OS, then I noticed what it said about being able to test Wayland. If not for that saving grace it would be a super niche distro of a niche OS that would truly be wasted effort IMHO.
--------------
Oh, and on the topic of Unity users and Ubuntu user numbers vs Mint user numbers, how many other people out there with Mint/some other Ubuntu derivative have installed Unity just to kick it around every now and then? I'd never consider myself a Unity user because I just hate the dash so much that I have barely gone into Unity, but its there on my laptop none the less and apparently being updated through Ubuntu servers. Anyone else have it installed and not use Unity? I wonder how much that type of thing could skew that 12% figure.
Oh and best wishes to Texstar, he & his crew make the only thing out there that I think beats Mint.
45 • @42, @12, @15 (by Patrick on 2012-02-06 23:38:00 GMT from United States)
@42
I appreciate your effort, but I think you might as well be arguing against a wall. I've tried making the same arguments before. There is a toxic crowd here that doesn't understand how free software works, and how it provides freedom to both users AND developers. Freedom for users to keep using the software they like. And freedom for developers to change their software however the heck they please.
@12
"""Gnome 3 and Unity may be great for that 90% of users who use the computer mostly for surfing the internet and watching films. However, for the ones who multi-task, those DEs are just inadequate."""
This is just not true. Multitasking works wonderfully in Gnome Shell. There is nothing wrong with it. That's my opinion. Our opinions differ, I know. But it proves that for some heavy multitaskers, the new DE's are more than adequate, they're in fact desirable.
"""It is reasonable to target the 90%, but there is no need imply that the other 10% are just dumb conservative people unable to evolve."""
There's also no need to imply that the 90% who are happy are just people fooling around and not doing any useful work.
@15
"""Maybe people are pissed off because some of these changes are not the result of careful research about what's wanted, what's needed, what's desirable in a GNU/Linux desktop but the dictates of a small number of self-appointed "designers" who don't give a flying duck about the users who have to put up with their creations?"""
And how would you know, self-appointed "voice of the user community"? There are many users that find the new DE's very desirable. And we are sick and tired of all the whining and name calling, as in:
"""Only people devoid of critical faculties, conformists and bootlickers welcome any change that's forced upon them, no matter what."""
Ooh, now we need to be insulted too, do we? Just because I happen to like what someone "forced on me", I am devoid of critical faculties, a conformist and bootlicker?
Now tell me, how much say did you ever have in how Gnome 2 was designed? Did they ask you how you wanted it to work? Or did you just happen to like what was forced on you at that time? Did that make you a conformist and bootlicker lacking critical faculties? Think about it.
46 • @41 • Mint (by mandog on 2012-02-06 23:49:38 GMT from Peru)
Mint is coming on very nicely the latest Cinnamon-git is working very well on arch, most of the bugs are gone and its updated 2-3 times a week, saying that it does not compare with Gnome shell proper with the correct extensions installed in my mind. Also some of the freezes are not down to cinnamon shell but to firefox if installed.
47 • PCLinuxOS 2012-02 (by Joe on 2012-02-07 01:45:45 GMT from United States)
I tried PCLinuxOS 2012-02, KDE, and was very happy with the experience. I installed the distro on a 16GB flash drive (full install), updated the distro, installed a few applications that I like to use (like LibreOffice and Basket); then, used the flash drive to boot my HP 6910p and Gateway M-7818u laptops and a Dell GX-280 desktop. The distro found all of my hardware and configured it automatically. The links to documentation via the PCLinux Documentation Portal are a very nice feature and I made use of the links to visit their web site, forums, read PCLinuxOS Magazine, and learn a few new Unix/Linux commands.
The only problem I experienced was Sky-FM audio streams not running in Clementine because GStreamer was missing a plug-in. A little trial and error, and I found that installing the gstreamer faad plug-in fixed the problem. Nothing like Sky-FM for a little Smooth Jazz.
I like having my OS with me where I can plug it in and access my apps and files wherever I happen to have access to a computer (home, shop, visiting the kids, etc.). Granted, I don't have a lot of room for files on a 16GB flash drive (although I actually have 8.5GB free after all my apps were installed); but, now I have an excuse to go out and pick up a few higher capacity flash drives or a couple of external hard drives to add to my IT inventory.
The only thing I'd like to see added so far is an upgrade to Thunderbird 10.0.
Thanks Texstar and crew. Nicely done.
48 • Ubuntu Nos. (by LuxPro on 2012-02-07 05:03:55 GMT from India)
@8 Here in India, surprising the "Dynamic IP addresses" don't change even after weeks, sometimes months. I wonder if it is just about my ISP or whether it is about a country specific policy!
@14 Positive thinking in a sea of "I, Me, Myself, and You" Somewhere we are forgetting (or relegating) the we and "our purpose."
49 • Ubuntu vs Linux Mint on DistroWatch (by Chuck R. Bell on 2012-02-07 08:38:16 GMT from United States)
I'm sure this has occurred to many but I'd like to point out something regarding the DistroWatch page-hit rankings and summary lists.
I see Ubuntu has separate distribution entries not only for Ubuntu but for Kubuntu, and Xubuntu, not to mention Lubuntu, UbuntuStudio and MythUbuntu.
In contrast, Linux Mint is listed, presumably, as one lump distribution for all the
various Linux Mint variations: Linux Mint, Linux Mint KDE, and Linux Mint Debian
Gnome Edition and Linux Mint Debian XFCE edition.
This hardly seems a fair way to compare Linux Mint and Ubuntu.
At the very least I'd love to see Linux Mint Debian Edition to have its own listing,
as, unlike Linux Mint and Linux Mint KDE edition, it doesn't even use Ubuntu for its
upstream. And I'd love to be able to see the summary of it's component packages.
Why doesn't at least LMDE have it's own entry? Is it simply that the 'page hit'
stats are from separate pages for the various Ubuntu variations and those for
Linux Mint are not separate pages?
Just curious, and just a suggestion. Thanks for all the hard work you put into DistroWatch. It is one of my favourite and most used resources!
Chuck Bell
50 • Another numbers game... (by John Moore on 2012-02-08 01:07:58 GMT from United States)
Why is it everyone is hung up on the numbers. I use Ubuntu, Mint and Fedora.
I know there are a lot of Arch, Centos users, but they don't mention their distro numbers.
They just use there computers!
It appears those that count numbers and page rankings are just watching while those that don't are actually _using_ their computers for work.
Why not include some novel "Questions & Answers" once in a while, instead of flamming the counters again and again.
51 • DE Choices and things.. (by buntunub on 2012-02-08 01:41:09 GMT from United States)
Firstly, nobody is forcing anyone to do anything here, nor could they on a Forum like this one. Sure, there are an awful lot of long standing users who are downright irate about the state of GNOME, Unity, KDE, etc.. There also are some who actually like these new shiny DE's and are quite satisfied with the direction those teams took. It is what it is. There simply is no reason to flame each other over it, like doing that will change anything at all...
Personally, I am quite happy with KDE4.6+ but it took me a long time to come to that conclusion. I am one of those that is currently very dissatisfied with what happened to GNOME and will no longer give that DE a space on any of my machines again. While I was not real happy with how the KDE team handled the transition to 4+, I think they have done a fantastic job of handling what followed and in the way they dealt with their irate community just after. The GNOME team could learn a thing or ten from that experience. The fans they lost are not likely to forgive them because of that - ever. Same can be said of Ubuntu and Unity. I think its more of a case where these teams not only decided to shift the paradigm most likely because they had paid sponsors directing them to do so, but also because of the willful and flagrant disregard for their longstanding and once very loyal community. Enough said about that as the lid on that coffin has been closed on the community for good and nothing can ever change that now. So sad, at least for those who care.
As far as Cinnamon, well, I think its heartening to see Clem and crew take on this monumental task entirely for the sake of their community, who they actually listen to. Its in the early stages and bug riddled, sure, but holds great promise as being the only truly community driven and innovative project to come to light in quite some time. I have no doubt it will proudly carry the torch away from Ubuntu in the near future. I think the next step will be to move away from Ubuntu completely. They did have a hugely popular LMDE project, and I hope this is strongly considered as the new base to build upon except that Debian Stable should be used rather than testing.
For those of you unhappy with the direction their old Distro's have taken, Debian Squeeze awaits you.
52 • Disclaimer + RE: 49 - 51 (by Landor on 2012-02-08 02:26:32 GMT from Canada)
Disclaimer:
I intend to comment in regard to some earlier comments,I'll get to those either tonight, or later this week. :)
#49
I'm not a spokesperson for DistroWatch.com but I have a pretty good understanding about how things work around here. You think it's unfair to not have every distribution listed individually? Where does it start and stop? If I make 52 variants (and that could easily happen) of a distribution, releasing one a week, every week, every year, should Ladislav have to list them all individually then, to satisfy your need to have Mintuntu Equality? But anyway, to my understanding of the way things work. Variants such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu are pretty well separate projects. They even have their own separate sites. This creates individuality. Ubuntu/Canonical only recognizes them officially. Mint does not separate its projects in this way, and in fact, Clem, from my understanding is taking a more active role in the creation of the variants.
I do find it funny though that on one hand we usually see people saying that Mint's PHR here is a multiple of all its projects and Ubuntu's is not (rightly so by way of thinking too, which puts Ubuntu above Mint in numbers (here only of course). Then there's you that's saying it's unfair that Mint doesn't have separate entries. In fact, I actually in further thought agree with you. I for one think Ladislav should indeed split Mint up, and separate all the numbers as best he can. Then we'll get to see the true numbers for the main edition and all this hyperbole will finally come to an end.
#51
Clem's main incentive is to keep money rolling in, period. It's not some massively gracious boon that's based solely on the well-being of its community. There's a very good chance that he was going to end up losing a massive amount of his income (said community) when push came to shove and he was forced to either go with GNOME 3 or Unity 5? 6? To think otherwise is far from the truth of the matter. He has no real choice, and if he doesn't get this Shell built properly, all of you could very well see the effort fall to the wayside, just as I believe the Debian Edition inevitably will eventually.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Landor
53 • @45,43,42 (by JR on 2012-02-08 03:44:21 GMT from Brazil)
If you are tired of complaints about gnome3 and unity just skip these comments.
Do you ever think that maybe your complaints about these comments are getting as well tiresome?
I make this comment this week: what future will have PCLinuxOS?
54 • hope you get well soon (by neodjary on 2012-02-08 04:24:32 GMT from Indonesia)
i'm linuxmint user, but few years ago i used PCLINUXOS for a while, and still updating information about it from web site,... so sad to hear that bill get ill........Hope you get well soon .and pray all the best for you
55 • @52 (by Vic on 2012-02-08 04:31:57 GMT from Canada)
"Clem's main incentive is to keep money rolling in, period. It's not some massively gracious boon that's based solely on the well-being of its community."
On what do you base this claim?
56 • RE: 55 (by Landor on 2012-02-08 05:05:00 GMT from Canada)
#55
What do I base the fact on you mean? Simple. I base it on the truth. Clem's only income (although that may have changed without anyone knowing) has been directly from money made off of Mint. For quite some time I'd like to add. Donations, ads. It's quite obvious he wouldn't want to lose the income he fought so hard to obtain. Simple logic.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Landor
57 • @53 (by tek_heretik on 2012-02-08 14:01:21 GMT from Canada)
PCLinuxOS has no future if the team doesn't start compiling a 64-bit version. I used to use PCLinuxOS too, back when I had a 32-bit processor. I was using Mint but only 10 would run smoothly or install to my hardware Raid 0. So NOW, I just recently tried Netrunner 4.1 and love it, installed and running (complete with updates, they are a must). The only complaint I have is the GUI is a bit clunky response wise, the effects and the rotating desktop cube (my personal fave) are a bit choppy and slowish for my high-end PC with a fairly decent video card. Just my $0.02
58 • Page hit rankings (by Jesse on 2012-02-08 14:58:54 GMT from Canada)
@49
Why do the Ubuntu projects get split up while Mint's editions all share one entry on the page rank table? I'm not completely sure, but I would assume it's because that's the way the projects themselves are organized. All of Mint's editions (Main, LXDE, Debian, KDE, etc) all share one website. They all share one forum, one blog, etc. On the other hand, the various Ubuntu projects all have separate websites and separate forums. They organize themselves as separate projects (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, etc). DistroWatch's page hit rankings reflect that. You will notice Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server share one website and they are grouped together as one DistroWatch entry.
59 • Rooting for SolusOS! (by sagirfahmid3 on 2012-02-08 15:22:24 GMT from United States)
I got a feeling this OS is gonna be a successful one! Keep up the good work ikey!
60 • RE: Rooting for SolusOS! (by IkeyDoherty on 2012-02-08 15:34:53 GMT from United Kingdom)
Thanks sagirahmid3 :) Very early days yet but things
seem to be progressing at an acceptable rate.
61 • @56 assumptions are not facts (by Vic on 2012-02-08 17:01:57 GMT from United States)
Based an the fact that Clem has made no secret of earning an income off his efforts with Mint doesn't make the assumption that all of his motivations regarding how he contributes to the community are based on turning a profit. I am glad there are community devs like him willing to put forth alternate solutions to using gtk 3 on my desktop. If he can fairly earn a living while pursuing his goals I further applaud it. Just increases the time and resources he can put into his efforts. Being able to earn a living while contributing to open source is a good thing!
Cheers.
62 • Why doesn't Canonical want to support KDE, Gnome? (by Andy Prough on 2012-02-08 17:05:59 GMT from United States)
I don't understand why Canonical would drop commercial support for Kubuntu's KDE, and no longer supports Gnome - things that other distros like SUSE and Red Hat do with relative ease. Even Mint, which I do not consider to be a big commercial outfit, seems to handle these two desktop environments without a problem.
I question the engineering ability at Canonical compared to the other big players. They still seem like more of a marketing specialty group that slaps a pretty coat of paint on Debian.
63 • RE: 61 (by Landor on 2012-02-08 17:14:25 GMT from Canada)
#61
You can be a Mint fanbois all you want, it doesn't change the fact that what I said is fact. Also, if you read it clearly enough, I stated it was his 'main' incentive, which denotes not his only incentive.
Nor did I ever say there was anything wrong with him making a profit from his efforts, and his project. So you should watch your own assumptions carefully, and avoid implying things. The only case where I do find something wrong with someone profiting from project is when they're not there to actually do any work but reap the financial rewards for it. There's a fairly high profile project in this community that the founder/leader did it in the past and I'm wondering if he's going to again. But that's another issue.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Landor
64 • RE: #63 (by fox on 2012-02-08 17:53:06 GMT from Canada)
I'm sorry, Landor, but you either know something about Clem that others don't or you don't know what a fact is. It is a fact that Clem derives income from Mint, but one cannot conclude from this that his 'main' incentive is to make money from it. You're talking about motivation here; I don't see how you can infer this without more personal information about the man. I have no particular interest in Mint, other than having tried it, but I would infer from his years of service to the Distro before the high monthly donations started coming in (and before money was earned through Duck-Duck-Go) that this was a labour of love for him that eventually turned into a significant source of income.
65 • @63 Making money (by fernbap on 2012-02-08 17:53:48 GMT from Portugal)
There is nothing wrong in making money from listening to the community. There is also nothing wrong in making money from not listening to the community.
However, communities do have the right to judge and to decide if they are being well served or not.
Of course, a project that is funded by the community itself has to listen to the community.
That is not the case of a privatly funded project. However, even Canonical has a lot to gain from listening to the community. Cannonical would be nothing if noone used Ubuntu,
Which leads us to the main issue here. Communities do have a huge power, which is not to use a certain product and use and support instead another.
True, Mint is based on Ubuntu, but canonical earns nothing from it, except a larger userbase that can test its code. True, Mint uses Ubuntu, but canonical gets no income from it.
So, listening to the community is in fact important. Don't try to undervalue the community.
66 • #63 Clem "Motivations" -- - main or otherwise . . . (by El Panera on 2012-02-08 17:54:24 GMT from United States)
Me thinks Landor's lost his footing, cracking his head on the ice,, and his slapshot went wide . . .
One must be careful not to confuse facts with assumptions.
67 • @63 personal labels aside... (by Vic on 2012-02-08 20:49:15 GMT from Canada)
Call me a Mint fanbois all you want, I'd hardly qualify. Though I do like Mint and test each release (as I do Ubuntu and countless of it's derivatives) I currently don't use it or have it installed. It does not change my point of view on the issue. I would have said the same if you would have been referring to a different dev regarding a different project.
>"So you should watch your own assumptions carefully, and avoid implying things."
I made no assumptions in my post. I clearly stated that your conclusion was not based solely on facts but included your own assumptions. I also continued by voicing my thoughts on earning a profit while contributing to the community. If you drew any implications there, none where intended. I was simply correcting something I saw as FUD, whether intentional or not.
Cheers.
68 • Sobre eLive 2.0 Topaz (by elbru on 2012-02-08 21:57:16 GMT from Uruguay)
Hola, quiero comentarles sobre un programa que encontré buscando en la red; eLive 2.0 Topaz.
El mismo se ejecuta en modo LiveCd aunque también puede instalarse en vuestro disco rígido. Corriendo en modo LiveCd debo decir que es fabuloso ya que sin demasiadas preguntas detecta rápidamente el software de la pc. Por ejemplo lo probé navegando por Internet y pude visualizar videos sin problemas (ver y escuchar). Tiene un programa para particionar, editor de texto, notas, firefox, mplayer, y muchas cosas más. He probado otros programas livianos en Linux (PuppyLinux, Slitaz, Xubuntu) y me quedo con eLive 2.0. Ampliamente recomendado.
69 • Stella Linux (by penguinx64 on 2012-02-09 03:41:56 GMT from Kuwait)
I've been looking for a Red Hat/CentOS/Fedora version of Linux for my laptop. I need one where my Wifi adapter just works and it has media codecs. I want a user friendly no hassle OS to help study for the LPIC Level 1 exams. I also want a 64 bit OS, so I can use 6gb of RAM. I tried Fusion Linux 64 bit, but that had problems after I ran Software Update. I've been using Stella for 3 days not and so far, it works great! The LPIC exam objectives are based on Red Hat and Debian Linux. I'm using one hard drive with Stella 64 bit to study for the Red Hat portion of the exams and another hard drive Linux Mint Debian XFCE 64 bit to study the Debian portion. Both of these are user friendly enough to watch Youtube videos but still serious enough to meet the LPIC exam objectives, For some reason, Red Hat/CentOS/Fedora flavors of Linux won't let me do a dual boot with Debian/Ubuntu/Mint. Maybe it's because of the logical volume manager? That's ok, because I have 2 small inexpensive SSD drives set aside for this purpose. It only takes a few minutes to swap them out in my Dell laptop. SSD drives also improve the speed of installing a new OS, if you do it frequently like me. I recommend the inexpensive OCZ Vertex 30gb SSD for testing new Linux distros.
70 • @69 - Friendly RH derivatives (by Uncle Slacky on 2012-02-09 13:17:28 GMT from France)
As you have a laptop, Fuduntu would also be worth trying out - it's based on Fedora, but retains GNOME 2 and is optimized for laptops (in terms of power saving etc.). It comes with all codecs and has a 64-bit variant.
71 • Linux Desktops (by Coffee on 2012-02-09 15:13:33 GMT from France)
Bruce Byfield has an interesting article on the subject this week: Nine Rules for Designing a Linux Desktop ...
http://www.datamation.com/open-source/nine-rules-for-designing-a-linux-desktop-1.html
... very recommended reading.
72 • @62: Why doesn't Canonical want to support KDE, Gnome? (by Marco on 2012-02-09 18:49:14 GMT from United States)
The most cynical posters on slashdot:
http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/02/07/0143224/canonical-pulls-kubuntu-personnel-funding
seem to think one way to reduce the defections from Unity to Kubuntu is to [further] deprecate Kubuntu.
BTW, thanks to JRiddell [posting from Kubuntu]
73 • @57, @71 (by JR on 2012-02-10 02:50:09 GMT from Brazil)
@57
you seem so excited with Netrunner ... I'm thinking of giving it a try if I have time!
about PCLinuxOS I also think the lack of a 64bit version takes away the fun of trying it!
@71
a really nice list, like the own author said is not only that you need to do a linux desktop, but it would be a great start ...
74 • @62 Canonical pulls kubuntu funding (by walter_j on 2012-02-10 03:54:59 GMT from Canada)
My take on this is Canonical needs all hands on deck to clean up unity before ubuntu tv goes into production. Can you imagine the return rate with all the bugs in unity? Good luck to canonical though. It was a good run for ubuntu for awhile (for me anyways), but I'm into opensuse kde now.
75 • Ubuntu 5 years support but debian only 3 years (by hobbitland on 2012-02-10 06:30:22 GMT from United Kingdom)
I hate Ubuntu's unity desktop but Ubuntu deos have a very good base which supported for 5 years. So I have been remastering 10.04 LTS for well over a year with all Ubuntu branding and extras removed. I put it on USB stick and also give it to my friends.
Ubuntu 11.10 works quite nicely with Gnome 3 fallback and unity removed. So plan to remaster Ubuntu 12.04 LTS without unity. For Ubuntu 14.04 GNome 3 should be stable and mature enough to use without fallback.
Really wanted to like Debian but they are supported for only 3 years which is too short for servers and also their live DVD requires net connection to install properly even in virtualbox. Debian needs to offer 5 years support and fix their live DVD installation so net access is not needed.
76 • Turning Off Expanded Windows in Unity (by trotter1985 on 2012-02-10 12:24:22 GMT from United States)
It's late in the week so not too many people will see this ... and I asked
the same question on Ubuntu Forums without a response. Does anyone know
how to turn off the feature where windows open up full screen? I would like them to
open in the same position I left them in when last closed. This is particularly annoying
with Thunderbird, which occupies the entire 1920 x 1028 screen and has to be
resized so I can see other windows. Tom T.
77 • @73 (by tek_heretik on 2012-02-10 14:17:28 GMT from Canada)
Yep, made me switch from Mint, their upgrade and LTS cycles are a little weird and Gnome is TOO simple. Don't get me wrong, it is a great distro, I just find Netrunner better. Btw, I don't know if Netrunner has the same restart bug with a hardware Raid 0 (if you ever restart, it will knock the first drive of the Raid out), the workaround is, after the initial install, select continue testing, then SHUTDOWN from the menu, press the physical power button and you are booting from the Raid. Also, NEVER select restart under normal use either, I customised the menu to hide the restart button. Cheesy workaround but hey, Linux on a 4 drive Raid 0 is hilarious, been waiting for this for YEARS. :-D
78 • Ubuntu Unity? No Thanks! (by Dude on 2012-02-11 03:14:03 GMT from Kuwait)
I swtiched to Linux Mint 9 on my Desktop. It's based on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS has the GNOME 2 interface that I know and love. It's supported until April 2013. Maybe by then, something better than Unity will come along. The next release of Mint with Cinnamon seems promising. I haven't tried Cinnamon yet, because I'm waiting for the 64 bit version. If not, there's always always XFCE. Anything but Unity!!!
79 • #76 re-size window (by Verndog on 2012-02-11 07:09:00 GMT from United States)
Trotter, I have Thunderbird and its size remains for when I open the next time. Did you toggle the end button to make it smaller? And if so and its the same size you need to use your mouse to make it smaller then it will work. I have problesm with Lubuntu always opens up full screen. But Precise and Unity work.
80 • Kontact/Akonadi/Google(whatever) works. (by woodsmoke on 2012-02-12 03:40:23 GMT from United States)
Just a heads up for people who stopped using Kontact/Akonadi/Google(whatever).
Or for people who have thought about and heard nothing but badmouthing.
"Some kind" of "fix", I think with libgcals interaction with Akonadi/Google, came down from, I think, WAY upstream, and everything now works.
Since this will be read by VERY MANY knowledgeable people, I, personally would appreciate knowing just where the "fix" was initiated so that I, personally, can thank the person or group.
Because the promise of Kontact/KDE is near approaching.
When one has downloaded every kind of possible update and has restarted, one needs to remove all of the Akonadi resources, remove all of the passwords in Gnome-ring or the KDEwallet folders of passwords and "redo" the Akonadi resources for Google interaction and....then.... I know it is a hassle. One needs to then re-enter the Kwallet/Gnome-ring, Kontact, Akonadi, Googlemail passwords(one might also check that SSL and 993 are ticked and also that "clear text" and not "plain" are ticked. Then restart and check things out.
This has been verified on a plain Ubu Unity, a tweaked Ubu Gnome2, a plain Debian, a fullbore KDE.
The situation with mail clients other than Google has not been tested by the author.
The author would now like to THANK, in no uncertain terms, the very "yoeman" like work of the developers of KDE/Kontact/Akonadi for bringing this situation to fruition.
The labours of these people can only be described as somewhat akin to the labours of Hercules in the Capture of the Cretan Bull. He captured it, but it was let loose to wander and wreak havoc, as will the multitudinous iterations of Linux which will, at some time in the future, vex the coders that have brought about this wonderful resolution.
My hat is doffed to those unnamed people.
woodsmoke
Note: if anyone chooses to honor the people as individuals or the teams, please do so....they deserve a little recognition instead of the badmouthing they get.
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| • Issue 1098 (2024-11-25): Linux Lite 7.2, backing up specific folders, Murena and Fairphone partner in fair trade deal, Arch installer gets new text interface, Ubuntu security tool patched |
| • Issue 1097 (2024-11-18): Chimera Linux vs Chimera OS, choosing between AlmaLinux and Debian, Fedora elevates KDE spin to an edition, Fedora previews new installer, KDE testing its own distro, Qubes-style isolation coming to FreeBSD |
| • Issue 1096 (2024-11-11): Bazzite 40, Playtron OS Alpha 1, Tucana Linux 3.1, detecting Screen sessions, Redox imports COSMIC software centre, FreeBSD booting on the PinePhone Pro, LXQt supports Wayland window managers |
| • Issue 1095 (2024-11-04): Fedora 41 Kinoite, transferring applications between computers, openSUSE Tumbleweed receives multiple upgrades, Ubuntu testing compiler optimizations, Mint partners with Framework |
| • Issue 1094 (2024-10-28): DebLight OS 1, backing up crontab, AlmaLinux introduces Litten branch, openSUSE unveils refreshed look, Ubuntu turns 20
| | • Issue 1093 (2024-10-21): Kubuntu 24.10, atomic vs immutable distributions, Debian upgrading Perl packages, UBports adding VoLTE support, Android to gain native GNU/Linux application support |
| • Issue 1092 (2024-10-14): FunOS 24.04.1, a home directory inside a file, work starts of openSUSE Leap 16.0, improvements in Haiku, KDE neon upgrades its base |
| • Issue 1091 (2024-10-07): Redox OS 0.9.0, Unified package management vs universal package formats, Redox begins RISC-V port, Mint polishes interface, Qubes certifies new laptop |
| • Issue 1090 (2024-09-30): Rhino Linux 2024.2, commercial distros with alternative desktops, Valve seeks to improve Wayland performance, HardenedBSD parterns with Protectli, Tails merges with Tor Project, Quantum Leap partners with the FreeBSD Foundation |
| • Issue 1089 (2024-09-23): Expirion 6.0, openKylin 2.0, managing configuration files, the future of Linux development, fixing bugs in Haiku, Slackware packages dracut |
| • Issue 1088 (2024-09-16): PorteuX 1.6, migrating from Windows 10 to which Linux distro, making NetBSD immutable, AlmaLinux offers hardware certification, Mint updates old APT tools |
| • Issue 1087 (2024-09-09): COSMIC desktop, running cron jobs at variable times, UBports highlights new apps, HardenedBSD offers work around for FreeBSD change, Debian considers how to cull old packages, systemd ported to musl |
| • Issue 1086 (2024-09-02): Vanilla OS 2, command line tips for simple tasks, FreeBSD receives investment from STF, openSUSE Tumbleweed update can break network connections, Debian refreshes media |
| • Issue 1085 (2024-08-26): Nobara 40, OpenMandriva 24.07 "ROME", distros which include source code, FreeBSD publishes quarterly report, Microsoft updates breaks Linux in dual-boot environments |
| • Issue 1084 (2024-08-19): Liya 2.0, dual boot with encryption, Haiku introduces performance improvements, Gentoo dropping IA-64, Redcore merges major upgrade |
| • Issue 1083 (2024-08-12): TrueNAS 24.04.2 "SCALE", Linux distros for smartphones, Redox OS introduces web server, PipeWire exposes battery drain on Linux, Canonical updates kernel version policy |
| • Issue 1082 (2024-08-05): Linux Mint 22, taking snapshots of UFS on FreeBSD, openSUSE updates Tumbleweed and Aeon, Debian creates Tiny QA Tasks, Manjaro testing immutable images |
| • Issue 1081 (2024-07-29): SysLinuxOS 12.4, OpenBSD gain hardware acceleration, Slackware changes kernel naming, Mint publishes upgrade instructions |
| • Issue 1080 (2024-07-22): Running GNU/Linux on Android with Andronix, protecting network services, Solus dropping AppArmor and Snap, openSUSE Aeon Desktop gaining full disk encryption, SUSE asks openSUSE to change its branding |
| • Issue 1079 (2024-07-15): Ubuntu Core 24, hiding files on Linux, Fedora dropping X11 packages on Workstation, Red Hat phasing out GRUB, new OpenSSH vulnerability, FreeBSD speeds up release cycle, UBports testing new first-run wizard |
| • Issue 1078 (2024-07-08): Changing init software, server machines running desktop environments, OpenSSH vulnerability patched, Peppermint launches new edition, HardenedBSD updates ports |
| • Issue 1077 (2024-07-01): The Unity and Lomiri interfaces, different distros for different tasks, Ubuntu plans to run Wayland on NVIDIA cards, openSUSE updates Leap Micro, Debian releases refreshed media, UBports gaining contact synchronisation, FreeDOS celebrates its 30th anniversary |
| • Issue 1076 (2024-06-24): openSUSE 15.6, what makes Linux unique, SUSE Liberty Linux to support CentOS Linux 7, SLE receives 19 years of support, openSUSE testing Leap Micro edition |
| • Issue 1075 (2024-06-17): Redox OS, X11 and Wayland on the BSDs, AlmaLinux releases Pi build, Canonical announces RISC-V laptop with Ubuntu, key changes in systemd |
| • Issue 1074 (2024-06-10): Endless OS 6.0.0, distros with init diversity, Mint to filter unverified Flatpaks, Debian adds systemd-boot options, Redox adopts COSMIC desktop, OpenSSH gains new security features |
| • Issue 1073 (2024-06-03): LXQt 2.0.0, an overview of Linux desktop environments, Canonical partners with Milk-V, openSUSE introduces new features in Aeon Desktop, Fedora mirrors see rise in traffic, Wayland adds OpenBSD support |
| • Issue 1072 (2024-05-27): Manjaro 24.0, comparing init software, OpenBSD ports Plasma 6, Arch community debates mirror requirements, ThinOS to upgrade its FreeBSD core |
| • Issue 1071 (2024-05-20): Archcraft 2024.04.06, common command line mistakes, ReactOS imports WINE improvements, Haiku makes adjusting themes easier, NetBSD takes a stand against code generated by chatbots |
| • Issue 1070 (2024-05-13): Damn Small Linux 2024, hiding kernel messages during boot, Red Hat offers AI edition, new web browser for UBports, Fedora Asahi Remix 40 released, Qubes extends support for version 4.1 |
| • Issue 1069 (2024-05-06): Ubuntu 24.04, installing packages in alternative locations, systemd creates sudo alternative, Mint encourages XApps collaboration, FreeBSD publishes quarterly update |
| • Issue 1068 (2024-04-29): Fedora 40, transforming one distro into another, Debian elects new Project Leader, Red Hat extends support cycle, Emmabuntus adds accessibility features, Canonical's new security features |
| • Issue 1067 (2024-04-22): LocalSend for transferring files, detecting supported CPU architecure levels, new visual design for APT, Fedora and openSUSE working on reproducible builds, LXQt released, AlmaLinux re-adds hardware support |
| • Issue 1066 (2024-04-15): Fun projects to do with the Raspberry Pi and PinePhone, installing new software on fixed-release distributions, improving GNOME Terminal performance, Mint testing new repository mirrors, Gentoo becomes a Software In the Public Interest project |
| • Issue 1065 (2024-04-08): Dr.Parted Live 24.03, answering questions about the xz exploit, Linux Mint to ship HWE kernel, AlmaLinux patches flaw ahead of upstream Red Hat, Calculate changes release model |
| • Issue 1064 (2024-04-01): NixOS 23.11, the status of Hurd, liblzma compromised upstream, FreeBSD Foundation focuses on improving wireless networking, Ubuntu Pro offers 12 years of support |
| • Issue 1063 (2024-03-25): Redcore Linux 2401, how slowly can a rolling release update, Debian starts new Project Leader election, Red Hat creating new NVIDIA driver, Snap store hit with more malware |
| • Issue 1062 (2024-03-18): KDE neon 20240304, changing file permissions, Canonical turns 20, Pop!_OS creates new software centre, openSUSE packages Plasma 6 |
| • Issue 1061 (2024-03-11): Using a PinePhone as a workstation, restarting background services on a schedule, NixBSD ports Nix to FreeBSD, Fedora packaging COSMIC, postmarketOS to adopt systemd, Linux Mint replacing HexChat |
| • Issue 1060 (2024-03-04): AV Linux MX-23.1, bootstrapping a network connection, key OpenBSD features, Qubes certifies new hardware, LXQt and Plasma migrate to Qt 6 |
| • Issue 1059 (2024-02-26): Warp Terminal, navigating manual pages, malware found in the Snap store, Red Hat considering CPU requirement update, UBports organizes ongoing work |
| • Issue 1058 (2024-02-19): Drauger OS 7.6, how much disk space to allocate, System76 prepares to launch COSMIC desktop, UBports changes its version scheme, TrueNAS to offer faster deduplication |
| • Issue 1057 (2024-02-12): Adelie Linux 1.0 Beta, rolling release vs fixed for a smoother experience, Debian working on 2038 bug, elementary OS to split applications from base system updates, Fedora announces Atomic Desktops |
| • Issue 1056 (2024-02-05): wattOS R13, the various write speeds of ISO writing tools, DSL returns, Mint faces Wayland challenges, HardenedBSD blocks foreign USB devices, Gentoo publishes new repository, Linux distros patch glibc flaw |
| • Issue 1055 (2024-01-29): CNIX OS 231204, distributions patching packages the most, Gentoo team presents ongoing work, UBports introduces connectivity and battery improvements, interview with Haiku developer |
| • Issue 1054 (2024-01-22): Solus 4.5, comparing dd and cp when writing ISO files, openSUSE plans new major Leap version, XeroLinux shutting down, HardenedBSD changes its build schedule |
| • Issue 1053 (2024-01-15): Linux AI voice assistants, some distributions running hotter than others, UBports talks about coming changes, Qubes certifies StarBook laptops, Asahi Linux improves energy savings |
| • Issue 1052 (2024-01-08): OpenMandriva Lx 5.0, keeping shell commands running when theterminal closes, Mint upgrades Edge kernel, Vanilla OS plans big changes, Canonical working to make Snap more cross-platform |
| • Full list of all issues |
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Phaeronix
Phaeronix was a Gentoo-based live CD with GNOME, Reiser4-enabled GRUB, automatic hardware detection with NVIDIA 3D support - all ready for multimedia, Internet, and Arabic.
Status: Discontinued
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View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.
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