Which version of linux to get?

GNOME 2.4.1 and Evolution 1.4.5 are on CD #2 - http://www.mepis.org/book/view/327

Xandros is using a customized KDE. They replaced Konqueror with their own file manager, which has features like drag-and-drop CD burning.

 

One CD downloaded, getting the other, might have it up and running, if it installs, in a few hours. Will let you know.

 

I am typing this now from the Live CD version, it took me to this rather then installing, but this is a nice way to look at it. Ill tell you what, early impressions, very nice, I like it. Ill have Robster trying it by tommorow

 

Well, I must be an idiot because it keeps going to the live CD and does not install. I dont see anyone else having this problem so its a Tim thing Let me know, i will tinker later with it and try for the install.

 

There is an application called "MEPIS Installation Center" somewhere in the menu

http://www.mepis.org/node/view/332

 

The install icon is on the desktop. Installing MEPIS right now on my notebook

 

Who would think you boot from a live Cd then install it?

Ill check it later, it looks to have potential.

 

This distro is great. I think I install it tomorrow on my desktop computer

Found a glitch: You can't add CD/DVD's as apt source in Synaptic (a graphical frontend to the package management).

Here the fix:
1) Open a shell window
2) su -
3) ln -s /mnt/auto/cdrom /cdrom

 

This runs absolutely beautifully on my workstation . Even the playable tech demo of ERA (formerly Ultima 1 reborn) works without any problems and full 3D acceleration. Fedora Core 1 had here some really bad compatibility issues.

Other hightlights: The included QTParted tool can resize FAT and NTFS partitions, preconfigured firewall, and the harddisk installation (complete OS with all programs) took only 6 minutes on my Athlon XP machine

 

RedHat has been dead for about a month now for the desktop user. Also, if you want to avoid a wannabe open source to Windows, well thats about all of em as far as interface goes, no one at Linux has even considered a better way to do the taskbar. While they all have some good software, office suites, web browsers, email, etc., the similarities are there.

 

At the front, it looks similar. Taskbar, background, icons is all. Cant check Fluxbox, dont know what it is.

 

Vlad, didnt like the looks of it, looked like Windows made with cardboard and scissors and some icons Striiped and boring. Nothing personal, just didnt like it, seemed to go from too plain to too complicated, but I am a freak, so you know..

Robster, cool. I know Phillip has it installed and I JUST finished the install 2 minutes ago, but had to boot back to Windows for a bit before running it.

 

There are icons in all the programs that the screenshot showed..

What do I use now... I tend to lead towards Gnome, I can live with KDE. Give the choice, I would write my own, but WAY out of my league.

 

Robster, Phillip, how you guys making out with Mepis? While it may have one of the less attractive names out there, I dont recall using such a nice version of Linux. I have been able to setup my graphic card, monitor, lilo settings and just a ton of crap with almost no problems. These guys deserve some attention, they are seriously on the right track, and at last check, the price was real cheap compared to what others ask.

P.S Anyone else who might consider trying Linux but are a bit intimidated by partitoning and whatever before you can even install, there are live CD's for a few distros, including this one. Download the first CD, boot from it and your using it! Take the CD out, reboot and your back to Windows. No harm, no nothing. Its a great, painless way to take a peek, though most ISO files are 6-700 megs. Most CD recorders support ISO format, for example, with Nero you simply go to file-burn image and select the iso and it writes it. It cant be any easier if you want to take a peek:

Review:
http://www.pclinuxonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8075

Download:
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/mepis/mepis-2003.10.cd1.iso
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/mepis/mepis-2003.10.cd2.iso

 

Runs perfectly here, never saw a better preconfigured desktop distro

Here a few tips:
1) Installing new software

Over 13000 packages are available in the Debian archive for installation . There are two graphical frontends (KPackage and Synaptic) for software installation, but I prefer the direct way

Here some examples:

To sync the internal packages list with the current Debian archive:

Code:

apt-get update

The unstable branch gets updated on a daily basis

To upgrade all programs to the lastest versions:

Code:

apt-get upgrade

Basically, there is no need to reinstall MEPIS ever. I would use this command only after bigger updates are in unstable like KDE 3.2 or GNOME 2.6.

This will search the entire archive for packages with the search term 'package':

Code:

apt-cache search package

To install a package:

Code:

apt-get install package

apt-get take care on any dependences. That means, apt-get will download any required packages automatically.

2) Adding Multimedia Support

Open /etc/apt/sources.list (as root) in your favorate editor and add the following line:

Code:

deb ftp://ftp.mowgli.ch/pub/debian sarge unofficial

Then open a shell window and run:

Code:

apt-get install libdivx4linux win32-codecs libdvdcss

Done. Xine can now play any multimedia file.

3) Windows Compatibility

A snapshot of WINE is included and can be installed with:

Code:

apt-get install wine

A much better way is CrossOver Office, which is here - http://www.codeweavers.com/site/products/download_trial/ as 30 days trial version available.

To start the installation, execute the sh file with ./sh crossover-office.sh (replace 'crossover-office.sh' with the real file name).

4) Recovery CD

MEPIS can be used as recovery CD. 'Mount Partitions' (First icon on the desktop) will mount any partitions, including NTFS and FAT32.

MEPIS and Knoppix are both Debian unstable. MEPIS has just added a few graphical tools and a different Kernel.