Opinions

.comment: Separated By a Common Operating System
When Dennis Powell's Caldera installation died, he decided to use the occasion to look at two other Linux distributions: Progeny Linux and SuSE Linux. While he likes both of them, he realized that there's really no such thing as a generic Linux distribution, as both distros -- as well as most other Linux distros -- are set up to box users into relationships with manufacturers, as knowledge of one distribution has little to do with any other distribution. If Microsoft were to cook up a plan to cause Linux to disappear in a virtual Tower of Babel it could scarcely be more effective than that which has been adopted by distributions on their own, voluntarily.
Wednesday, June 27, 2001 09:20:55 AM EST

Previews

Distribution Watch Review: Caldera OpenLinux Workstation 3.1 Beta
The news has been full of Caldera lately, from its retrenchment away from the retail market and hobbiest user base to its acquisition and reinvention of UnixWare into a Linux-friendly OS. This leaves us all wondering what that means for their distribution and its loyal enthusiasts. Scott Courtney says Caldera OpenLinux Workstation 3.1 beta is a promising, developer-friendly release that provides a development workstation right out of the box.
Thursday, March 29, 2001 08:00:14 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Progeny Linux beta 2
Another major player in the Linux world enters the world of services, as Progeny Linux Systems -- headed by Debian's Ian Murdock -- builds a new model for Linux in businesses in the form of Linux NOW (Network of Workstations). Michael Hall reviews beta 2 of Progeny Linux, which is based on Debian GNU/Linux, and interviews Murdock on Linux NOW and why it will be important in the future.
Wednesday, January 24, 2001 01:59:54 PM EST

Sneak Preview: Corel Linux OS Second Edition
Corel is planning a full release of Corel Linux OS Second Edition next week at LinuxWorld Expo, but you don't need to wait until then to see what Corel plans. Michael Hall provides a hands-on preview of this leading Linux distribution.
Monday, August 7, 2000 08:15:01 AM EST

Reviews

Sidux, a Great Alternative to Ubuntu, Part 2
Last week we introduced ourselves to Sidux, the excellent Debian Sid implementation that makes Debian Sid a bit friendlier. Even though I thought I gave a number of reasons why a user might prefer Sidux to Debian Sid, or Ubuntu, or some other Debian derivative, they apparently were not clear to a number of readers.
Thursday, July 10, 2008 02:42:17 PM EST

Sidux, a Great Alternative to Ubuntu
Sidux announced a brand-new release on June 26, Sidux 2008-02, so we're going to kick the tires and take it for a drive, and see what sets it apart from other children of Debian.
Thursday, July 3, 2008 12:00:03 PM EST

First Look: openSUSE 11 with KDE4
openSUSE 11 was released today, but reviewer Dan Lynch got an early look at the final product. The early verdict: solid, with many office-friendly features for the business desktop. Details and screenshots within.
Thursday, June 19, 2008 02:28:18 PM EST

Fedora 9 Falls A Little Short
Reviewer Dan Lynch takes a test drive on the latest release of Fedora. His experience: some really neat features overshadowed by a lack of stability and too cutting-edge software.
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:18:07 AM EST

KDE 4: Wow Factor Fully Engaged
While it may not be fully ready for production systems yet, there is no denying that latest version of the K Desktop Environment is one sharp-looking interface. Reviewer Ken Hess takes a test-drive, and clearly likes what he sees.
Monday, February 25, 2008 10:27:30 AM EST

Pyrolinux 1.0 Gives Off Little Heat
It's not every day you see the launch of a brand new Linux distribution, so when Dan Lynch heard that Pyrolinux 1.0 was released over Christmas, he gave it a look-see. But how hot is Pyrolinux? Lynch's review within.
Monday, January 7, 2008 10:34:11 AM EST

A Look at Pardus 2007.3 Lynx
"There were a few things that immediately stood out about Pardus for me, though: it has its own package management system called PISI (Packages Installed Successfully, as Intended), it's pretty new on the already crowded Linux distro scene but not based on any other distro, and it contains some really interesting developments." LinuxPlanet welcomes reviewer Dan Lynch with his look at this unique distribution.
Monday, December 17, 2007 01:24:07 PM EST

gOS: Undocumented Enlightenment
gOS, the hot new Linux distribution, has been generating a lot of buzz because it comes with the Everex Green PC, sold at Wal-Mart for $200. Linux reviewers are totally in love with it, and are praising it to the skies. Naturally, Carla Schroder had to find out if it lives up to the hype.
Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:22:54 AM EST

StartCom Delivers Free Enterprise Server
The most recent release of StartCom Enterprise Linux is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.0 and provides all the base functionality you'll find in that distribution. That begs the question "why bother?" Freely available might be one good reason to start with
Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:57:39 AM EST

Ubuntu Popularity: Blessing or Curse?
For an increasing number of people, Ubuntu is GNU/Linux. Yet, looking at the pre-releases of Gutsy Gibbon, Ubuntu 7.10, I found myself becoming disturbed by the degree to which this popularity has translated into uncritical acceptance.
Monday, September 24, 2007 12:21:50 PM EST

Damn Small Linux Makes Darn Big Impression
At a mere 50MB, Damn Small Linux seems like it would be more at home in the realm of rescue disks instead of Desktop OSs. After booting up into full graphical mode, you may be hooked on this tiny distribution forever.
Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:09:07 AM EST

A Diehard SUSE User Tries Ubuntu 6.10
"I'd heard that it was a nice package, but really haven't spent much time with it. SUSE Linux and I have been together for quite a while and when you have something that works, you stick with it. Many readers are probably in the same boat Nevertheless, curiosity got the better of me..."
Tuesday, November 7, 2006 10:18:05 AM EST

Sectoo--A Live Look at Gentoo
Live Linux CDs are popping up all over the place. Mainstream distributions like SimplyMepis let you try before you install, as does Ubuntu and Linspire. There are also specialized distributions like Knoppix and Dynebolic. One Gentoo Linux-based distribution, called Sectoo, might also warrant a "live" look, as Rob Reilly reports.
Thursday, September 7, 2006 09:53:22 AM EST

How Dapper is Drake?
Yes, we know you're sick of hearing about Ubuntu. Ubuntu this, Ubuntu that, everyone must love Ubuntu or else. Don't run away screaming just yet, because there are good reasons for all the Ubuntu buzz, as Carla Schroder reports.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 09:28:23 AM EST

Easing Into Linux With Xandros Desktop OS 3.0.2
If you have a fairly standard platform, the Xandros Desktop distribution may be a good fit for you. Rob Reilly files his review of the latest version of this Debian-based distro.
Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:07:24 AM EST

SUSE 9.2 vs. 9.3: A 64-Bit Comparison
Concluding our look at SUSE Linux, Rob Reilly loads up the latest and greatest and sees what new features--and new gotchas--reside in the 64-bit version of SUSE Linux Professional 9.3.
Thursday, May 19, 2005 10:36:17 AM EST

SUSE 9.3: More, Better, Faster, Now!
Novell's latest release of SUSE Linux, SUSE 9.3, demonstrates Novell's continuing commitment to delivering polished, off-the-shelf, 32-bit Linux distributions for the desktop and professional markets. October 2004, which is when the previous version of SUSE Linux was released, seems like only yesterday. So what's new--and, perhaps, why should people care?
Monday, May 16, 2005 12:40:42 PM EST

Pavilion, SUSE Make for Great Portable 64-Bit Computing
While Microsoft struggles to capitalize on 64-bit power, Linux has led the way for years. Correspondent Rob Reilly dusts off an older version of SUSE and demonstrates that even year-old Linux technology can run rings around anything out there for the 64-bit desktop and provide users with one screaming portable machine.
Thursday, May 12, 2005 11:52:31 AM EST

Mandriva LE--The Drake Flies South for the Future
The merger of Mandrakesoft and Conectiva has already borne fruit in the form of Mandriva Limited Edition 2005. Bill von Hagen takes the new distro out for a spin and lets us know what the future has in store for this transatlantic product.
Monday, May 2, 2005 11:14:15 AM EST

Fedora Core 4 Test 2--Plenty to Look Forward to in FC4
"RHEL 4.0 was quite nice and a great update for enterprise Red Hat users. I even have an FC3 box around that I use to keep myself up to speed on what is certainly a popular distribution for both new Linux users and Red Hat Linux refugees. So let's look at the latest and greatest from Fedora, Fedora Core 4 Test 2..."
Monday, April 25, 2005 04:05:31 PM EST

CentOS 4 Offers Strong RHEL Alternative
"Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 was released on February 14th, CentOS issued its cloned version two weeks later on March 2nd. Since then I've been evaluating CentOS and putting it through its paces to see if it would hold up to its auspicious genetic parent..."
Sunday, April 17, 2005 06:02:30 PM EST

Turbolinux 10F: Turbolinux is Alive and Well
"Turbolinux is alive and well and living in the Asia/Pacific, bringing the power of Linux to millions of people who may not know Red Hat and SUSE outside of press releases. Hey, where was I when the rest of the world started to exist...?"
Monday, April 4, 2005 12:27:36 PM EST

Ubuntu Linux--Would You Like Some Community With That?
Ubuntu is a Debian-based distribution that is probably the most philosophical of all Linux distributions, which is saying a lot in the Open Source space. Bill von Hagen discovers the philosophy behind the code in this review.
Thursday, February 3, 2005 08:03:37 PM EST

Xandros Desktop OS 3.0: A Solid, Modern Replacement for a Windows Desktop
Xandros' latest release of their Linux distribution, known as Xandros Desktop OS, continues their tradition of a polished, complete distribution oriented towards user who formerly used a Microsoft Windows desktop system. Bill von Hagen files his review.
Thursday, January 27, 2005 10:39:51 AM EST

Linux Live with Knoppix Version 3.7
There are cases when for evaluation, demonstration, recovery or otherwise you don't want to install a new operating system onto a hard drive. It's in those cases that a "non-invasive" CD-based operating system (look ma no hard drive!), in the Linux world usually called Live CDs (or Linux Live) really comes in handy.
Monday, January 10, 2005 09:52:07 AM EST

Novell Linux Desktop--A Linux Distribution for Enterprise Desktops
There's a good deal of general confusion about how NetWare, SUSE Linux, SUSE Enterprise Server, various mail products, eDirectory, ZENworks, Ximian's desktop and Evolution mail client, and now the Novell Linux Desktop all fit together. Bill von Hagen reviews the latest Novell Linux Desktop offering to sort all this out.
Monday, December 27, 2004 09:39:14 AM EST

CentOS: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Minus Red Hat
Users who want Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS3 without actually paying money for it have a number of options, including downloading and compiling or outright stealing (not recommended). Or you can find a free distribution that has put all the packages together for you. Such is CentOS.
Thursday, December 23, 2004 08:17:40 AM EST

SUSE Linux 9.2: Let the Branding Begin!
Some say Novell hasn't done a very good job of explaining its Linux strategy except to say "we like it" and "Linux is the foundation for our future." With the release of SUSE 9.2 and various statements about the new NetWare, things seem to become more clear.
Thursday, December 16, 2004 02:58:41 PM EST

Fedora Core 3: Cruising The Bleeding Edge
The first thing anyone considering using Fedora needs to know is this is not a safe, sane Linux distribution. This is the playground for Red Hat engineers and random volunteer developers to go nuts and try out wacky new things, and users get to play along. It has a fast release cycle of 2-3 times per year, with shiny new things in every release. So you should expect a few bumps and lumps.
Thursday, December 9, 2004 01:23:06 PM EST

UserLinux Beta 1: The Precursor to the Next Enterprise Linux Distro?
"UserLinux is a Linux distribution with very high aspirations. Founded and backed by Linux luminary Bruce Perens, part of the UserLinux mission is to repair the economic paradigm of enterprise Linux. The recently released UserLinux Beta 1 is perhaps a tangible small step on the path toward achieving its lofty ambitions..."
Thursday, October 14, 2004 11:16:22 AM EST

Red Hat 9 Offers Continuity, Transparency for Users
The latest version of Red Hat 9 (due for general release next week) offers a very stable and user-friendly platform suitable for home, corporate, and power users alike. How does one platform suit so many needs? Because for all the fancy trims and trapping, it's still Linux inside. Brian Proffitt spent last week using Red Hat 9 and files this review.
Tuesday, April 1, 2003 10:25:17 AM EST

DistributionWatch: SCO Linux 4--Ready for the Big Time
What's in a name change? How does the new SCO Linux compare to the old Caldera OpenLinux and, more importantly, how does it stack up to today's corporate needs? In this review, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols takes a good look at SCO Linux 4 to see what makes it tick.
Monday, January 13, 2003 08:39:39 AM EST

Xandros Desktop--Not Your Father's Linux Distribution
The decendant of Corel Linux has made a splash on the Linux desktop scene with its look-and-feel and WINE capabilties. Bill von Hagen has reviewed the new release of Xandros Desktop and files this report on the good and not-so-good of Xandros.
Monday, November 11, 2002 10:37:54 AM EST

Red Hat 8.0: Past the Hype and Under the Hood
We've all read the reviews about how nifty/weird/wonderful/bad the new Red Hat desktop looks; we've all read about how well it installs. But what's the distribution really like? Carla Schroder has spent quite a bit of time actually using Red Hat 8, and files this report on how an actual Linux user reacts to the latest Red Hat release.
Monday, November 4, 2002 10:40:39 AM EST

First Look: UnitedLinux Open Beta is Here
With very little fanfare, the first open beta of UnitedLinux 1.0 is now ready for download. That's if you can get it. Download access is spotty as users try to get their hands on the new enterprise-oriented collaborative distribution. Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols got a hold of a copy and filed this initial preview report.
Friday, September 27, 2002 04:40:59 PM EST

Distribution Watch: Gentoo Linux 1.2: Getting Better Every Day
Gentoo is a streamlined distribution of Linux that is aimed at pleasing the discriminating developer audience. Dee-Ann LeBlanc takes a second look at this distro to find out just how well it performs.
Wednesday, July 10, 2002 01:33:27 PM EST

DistributionWatch: Another Tip of the Red Hat - Examining Red Hat 7.3
Red Hat Linux is the most commercially popular distribution of Linux out there today, hands down. However, reviewing a new release of Red Hat can make any reviewer a little wary of what they might find this time around. Bill von Hagen has examined Red Hat's latest release and has found some surprises, both good and, well, not so good.
Friday, June 14, 2002 11:33:57 AM EST

Distribution Watch: A Month Later with Linux-Mandrake 8.1
Kicking off our new 'Month Later' addition to Distribution Watch, Brian Proffitt returns with a second look at Linux-Mandrake 8.1 and discusses the process of getting settled in and smoothing out the routine bumps and curves of this distribution. Learn why he says Mandrake 8.1 is the best offering he's seen to date for a home audience.
Friday, January 11, 2002 01:38:55 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Linux-Mandrake 8.0
The virtues of Mandrake are well known to most: easy to install, up-to-the-minute packages, well-optimized, and generally solid. Brian Proffitt says Mandrake 8.0 continues that tradition, but notes that the distribution is attempting to straddle a line between bleeding-edge software and the need of newbies for stability that may prove harmful to the distribution's long-term success.
Thursday, May 10, 2001 08:58:54 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: SmoothWall Linux 0.9.8
The need for security in an increasingly insecure world is growing ever greater. Linux, often touted as one of the more secure platforms, still has its security flaws. SmoothWall Linux is a solution that has systematically removed many of these flaws by shipping a solid, cohesive distribution that has only one thing on its list of things to do: protect your network. Brian Proffitt reviews the latest version, which was released today.
Friday, March 30, 2001 12:47:40 PM EST

Distribution Watch Review: SuSE Linux 7.1 Personal/Professional
Looking for a distribution to sit that favorite Windows user in front of? One where you can leave the room knowing that they're working in a productive environment out of the box? Brian Proffitt says SuSE 7.1 is that distribution. It may not look much different from its predecessor, but the small touches are what count in making this a slick, usable distro.
Thursday, March 1, 2001 09:42:32 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Linux-Mandrake 7.2
MandrakeSoft has bolted ahead of the Liniux distro field with the release of Linux-Mandrake 7.2, which includes KDE 2 (sort of; some boxed sets that claim to include KDE 2 really contain an earlier release candidate) and new versions of some very useful system-configuration tools, including RpmDrake, HardDrake, and CUPS. Brian Proffitt reviews, along with advice on making sure that your Linux-Mandrake version has the latest version of KDE.
Wednesday, November 1, 2000 08:39:27 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Kondara MNU/Linux 2000
Want to have a GORO-GORO day while using Linux? Then Eric Foster-Johnson suggests you try using Kondara MNU/Linux, a distribution based on Red Hat Linux, but enhanced with many goodies--including advanced support for foreign character sets and documentation in Japanese.
Tuesday, October 10, 2000 02:35:27 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: SuSE Linux 7.0 Personal/Professional
With the ReiserFS filesystem, a stable beta version of KDE 2, support for Java 2, and a host of tools to ease network and X installation, SuSE Linux 7.0 may be the most user-friendly version of Linux on the market, writes Brian Profitt, who reviews both the Personal and Professional editions of SuSE Linux 7.0. He also finds time to interview Volker Wiegand, the President of SuSE Inc. (the U.S. division of SuSE), about the design philosophies behind SuSE Linux 7.0 and what the future brings for this leading distribution.
Friday, September 29, 2000 09:11:41 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Red Hat Linux 7
OK, so it's not exactly cutting edge--built around the 2.2..16 kernel and featuring a slightly older version of KDE--and it really doesn't deserve a full numeric update, but, as Brian Proffitt reports, Red Hat Linux 7 includes enough goodies (like GNOME 1.2 and XFree86 4.0.1) to be worth a look.
Tuesday, September 26, 2000 12:27:41 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: SmoothWall Linux 0.9.4
This is Linux in its most elemental form; SmoothWall is a stripped-down distribution designed solely for use as a firewall. Brian Proffitt reviews this noteworthy new distribution, including an interview with the SmoothWall designers, Richard Morrell and Lawrence Manning.
Friday, September 22, 2000 06:03:17 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Debian GNU/Linux 2.2
It may take a while for a new release of Debian GNU/Linux, but Michael Hall reports that it's worth the wait. Welcome to Debian 2.2 (Potato), the "Joel 'Espy' Clecker" Release.
Thursday, August 17, 2000 10:28:26 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Libranet 1.2.2
In this new Linux distribution, the goal is to set up a Linux desktop as quickly as possible for the new end user--and on those terms, Libranet succeeds. Brian Proffitt reviews.
Tuesday, May 30, 2000 11:48:34 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Elfstone Linux
With the inclusion of OSF/Motif runtime libraries and a dedication to running as a server operating system, Elfstone Linux occupies an important niche in the Linux world--particularly when discussing the corporate and enterprise areas. Kevin Reichard reviews.
Wednesday, April 19, 2000 03:39:13 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Linux-Mandrake 7.0
Is Linux-Mandrake 7.0 the perfect Linux distribution? Not quite--but it comes closer than than other to date. We review the latest version of this international leader.
Friday, April 7, 2000 08:30:21 AM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Red Hat Linux 6.2
The Linux world has changed vastly since Red Hat Linux first appeared. For years the leader in Linux distributions, Red Hat Linux 6.2 now faces some serious competition for server and workstation users--and in a few cases is clearly no longer the best distribution. Kevin Reichard reviews the shrink-wrapped Deluxe Edition of Red Hat Linux 6.2 and explains why the king is slipping.
Tuesday, April 4, 2000 05:17:38 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Storm Linux 2000
Storm Linux features a smooth-as-silk installation process and some useful configuration tools. But does this consumer-oriented distribution have the full assortment of tools needed to compete with Red Hat Linux and Corel Linux? Kevin Reichard reviews.
Wednesday, March 8, 2000 12:10:51 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Slackware Linux 7
Slackware Linux is the granddaddy of commercial Linux distributions. Can Patrick Volkerding maintain his high standards with the newest release of Slackware Linux? Andrew Chen gives his enthusiastic, expert recommendation in this review.
Monday, February 21, 2000 10:37:23 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: PhatLinux
PhatLinux is a Linux distribution designed to install on top of Microsoft Windows, providing the power to launch Linux from a running Windows session. Is it up to the task? Andrew Chen explains.
Tuesday, February 1, 2000 05:16:54 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Corel Linux
Corel makes no bones about it: Corel Linux is designed to work and look like Microsoft Windows. How well does this strategy play in the Linux world? Kevin Reichard reviews the download and retail versions of Corel Linux.
Monday, January 3, 2000 05:52:46 PM EST

DistributionWatch Review: Debian GNU/Linux 2.1
Debian GNU/Linux has a unique role in the Linux distribution world: it's totally developed by volunteers, and the Debian organization doesn't directly manufacture or sell CDs containing Debian GNU/Linux. Despite this, Debian GNU/Linux is one of the most popular and complete Linux distributions. Ed Petron runs down what makes Debian GNU/Linux worth a look.
Wednesday, December 22, 1999 08:59:34 AM EST