Come Flock with Me

Come Flock with Me: Get ready to meet my new favorite web browser. Its name is Flock. This fresh Internet browser on the block is heavily based upon Firefox and other Mozilla technologies. Thus, it is faster, more secure, and renders web pages better than the rubbish and almost obsolete Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Just recently, the first stable version of Flock was released. But already, more and more people are downloading it to join the herd.

Flock’s main feature is its built-in capability to interact with popular social networking web services such as Flickr, Facebook, Del.icio.us, Technorati, Photobucket, and various popular blogging and news aggregation services. I find its blog integration really essential as it supports most of the major blogging platforms. Flock made writing, editing and publishing posts for my blog a lot quicker and easier.

Other equally important features of Flock:

• Flock's custom homepage, "My World", tells you when your friends have new photos and videos and when you have new feeds. My World gives quick access to your recently visited favorite sites as well.
• Bookmarks, in addition to being saved offline, can be replaced with del.icio.us. When a bookmark (known as a favorite) is added, it is added to the user's del.icio.us account.
• Favorites can be tagged
• A favorites and history section are integrated into the favorites manager
• Built-in full-text search using Clucene. Search as you type for pages in the cache
• News aggregator
• "Drag-and-drop" capability and a clipboard like feature known as "The Shelf."
• Media Mini Bar, allows you to search, stream, and view content off of sites like YouTube and Truveo.
• Built in uploader, to submit content to flickr and photobucket

Performance wise, Flock can be compared to where it came from. It is a fork of Firefox so don’t be surprised by its blistering speed and excellent security features. I honestly find its quickness and responsiveness equal to that of Firefox in spite of its many included add-ons and very sleek appearance. The only drawback is that it doesn’t have additional themes yet.

Flock is available for Linux, Windows, and Mac. There’s a good tutorial for installing it on Ubuntu that can be found HERE. So what are you waiting for? Get Flock now for free, and prepare to Flock 'n' Roll!

Distrowar: TinyME vs. Sidux

Distrowar: TinyME vs. Sidux - A month has already passed since our last distrowar, so we are at the right moment to bring it on again. This time, two equally capable Linux distributions that I have recently tried and tested will battle it out to determine who has the upper hand.

It’s TinyME against Sidux for today's main event. Now, without further ado, let’s get ready to rumble! It's showtime!

Distrowar Arena (Test Machine Specs):
Board: Intel Corporation D102GGC2
Processor: 3.40 GHz Intel Pentium D
Hard Drive: Samsung 80GB ATA
Memory: 2GB DDR2 RAM
Display: ATI RADEON X1050


Tale of the Tape:

Distro Name: Sidux/ Weight:448MB/ Country Origin:Germany/ Distro Origin:Debian/ Package Mgt.:DEB/ Default Desktop:KDE/ Distrowatch Rank:#23





Distro Name:TinyME/ Weight:199MB/ Country Origin:USA/ Distro Origin:PCLinuxOS/ Package Mgt.:RPM (APT)/ Default Desktop:Openbox /Distrowatch Rank:#51




Speed Test:
Download Time- Winner, TinyME!
Boot/Startup Time - Winner, Sidux!
Responsiveness- Draw!

Decoding:
Obviously, TinyME is the winner in the “Download Time” category because of its smaller-sized installer. I consider it a plus for a distro that has lesser size and hence can be completely downloaded in lesser time also. Sidux boots surprisingly faster than TinyME, but only around 8 seconds separated their startup time speed. It’s a tie for “Responsiveness” because they were both quick performers.

Aesthetics:
Default Theme- Winner, Sidux!
Extras- Winner, Sidux!
Artwork- Winner, Sidux!

Decoding:
For "Aesthetics", it is really hard to decide because they both look good. Nevertheless, Sidux seems to have a slight edge against TinyME in every "Aesthetics" sub-category so I made it the winner.

Features:
Pre-installed Applications- TinyME!
Available Packages from Repo- TinyME!
Ease of Use- Winner, TinyME!

Decoding:
I have to give it all to TinyME for the “Features” category for the following reasons; it has better line-up of pre-installed software applications and utilities, it has more available software packages from its repositories, and it is relatively easier to use compared to Sidux.

Stability:
Hardware Detection- Draw!
Software Maintenance- Draw!
Error Handling- Draw!

Decoding:

They both performed smooth and steady on my test machine. Accordingly, I can only give a draw verdict for the “Stability” category. Also, I know that an extensive use is required for me to accurately judge their constancy. So, I will just leave it to those that may have used Sidux and TinyME for a much longer period of time than I had and can precisely compare which is more stable among the two.

Final Score:
Sidux = 4
TinyME = 4
*Draw!

Conclusion:
For the first time ever in the history of distrowar, we have a tie. This only means that Sidux and TinyME may differ in strengths and weaknesses, but in the end, they are in the same way competent.

As always, let me remind you that distrowar is just for the spirit of fun and should not be taken seriously. However, you can always take it seriously if you want to. :)

Life Must Go On For MEPIS Linux

Life Must Go On For MEPIS Linux: On this year's 48th issue of DistroWatch Weekly, Ladislav Bodnar wrote a message to all the MEPIS Linux fans that sent heated emails to DistroWatch. Righteously, he gave them lessons on the proper things that they should have done. But what caused some MEPIS fans to act this way?

As some of you may have noticed, MEPIS was not in the front page news section at Distrowatch when they announced their two of the latest development releases namely Beta6 and RC1. The reason was the failure from MEPIS to deliver a descriptive release announcement. Distrowatch’s old policy clearly states that any release without a solid release announcement will only be mentioned in the "Latest Distributions" section (front page, left column). A simple oversight that could have been easily corrected had those fans emailed MEPIS instead of Distrowatch.

I find the current state of MEPIS somewhat frustrating. Its founder Warren Woodford was reached by Linux-Watch and asked him regarding MEPIS’s recent silence. His rather depressing remark clearly sends a negative message to the MEPIS community. I think the community must not be pessimistic about the said remark. Instead, it must serve as a wake up call, for them to double their efforts in helping to preserve MEPIS.

I am quite concerned about this as I have been a satisfied MEPIS user when I was still utilizing my older computer machine. It seems to be the only distro that works perfectly well with that old hardware of mine. Since then, I keep informed on every major development release of MEPIS.

A message to Warren:
We understand that working as a lone developer like you is not that easy, but think of the thousands of people that have benefited from using MEPIS. When I started using MEPIS with the version 3.5, it was not that popular and was not yet listed among the top ten distributions on Distrowatch. But look at MEPIS now and how great it has become. My only advice is to keep on rolling, because now is certainly not the right time to give up.

Asus Eee PC and World Peace is All I Want for Christmas

Asus Eee PC and World Peace is All I Want for Christmas: Recently, I posted several useful tips on choosing the right laptop. From there, I wrote about the importance of knowing your financial limit first before getting a laptop computer.

There’s a newly released Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), particularly a netbook, that might be ideal for those of you who are living on a tight budget. It is made by Asus and Intel, and its name is Eee PC.

The Eee PC is an ultra portable but rather powerful computer with an advertising slogan "Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play", thus the triple E name. Its 0.92kg weight, 7” display, and 3.5 hours battery life makes it ideal for those who are always on the go. It comes with three USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, microphone and headphone, built-in camera, Secure Digital card reader, Realtek ALC6628 Hi-Definition Audio 5.1 CODEC, 10/100 Fast Ethernet, and 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g).

Looking at the photos, you might think that Eee PC is just for the kids. Believe me it’s not. Eee PC is pre-installed with Xandros operating system, a Linux based distribution. But no need to worry as it has a specially designed, user-friendly and intuitive graphical interface. It uses a KDE dektop with bundled software that includes OpenOffice.org, Mozilla Firefox, Skype, Tux Paint, E-mail and Internet radio applications, Google Docs and Wikipedia look-up tool, and other educational and entertainment software. Apt-get can be used to install additional software, simply by using Debian repositories. Asus does not include Windows XP, but the drivers and instructions necessary to install a separately-purchased copy of Windows XP are included in the package.

At present, Eee PC has an 8GB, 4GB, and 2GB model, and its price ranges from US$299-499 only.

Rated as the "most wanted Christmas gift among notebook products" according to Amazon and CNET, the Asus Eee PC is selling like pancakes. Over ten thousand units have already been sold in the product's first two weeks in the marketplace. It has been reported lately that Eee PCs are snatched up before they even hit the shelves. So for the moment, I guess the only way you can get the Asus Eee PC is through Santa. That is if you have not been naughty.

Me and My Wife’s View on Ubuntu 7.10

Me and My Wife’s View on Ubuntu 7.10: Ubuntu is highly regarded as the most human-friendly, idiot-proof, and easy-to-use Linux desktop operating system on the planet today. Its straightforward installation and maintenance, paired with its outstanding reliability and hardware support made it popular among new-to-Linux users as well as experts. But has Ubuntu really succeeded in winning the hearts of mainstream audiences?

To answer that, I asked my wife, one of the many typical Linux users.

She’s been using Xubuntu on her laptop for several months already and has become reasonably contented with it. She uses it mostly for web browsing and office application tasks. I installed it for her and do maintenance once in a while. She uses XP on her desktop computer but about a week ago, I successfully persuaded her to totally forget Windows and use Ubuntu 7.10 instead.


I installed ‘Gutsy Gibbon’ on her Pentium 4, 3GHz machine with 1GB of RAM and 80GB of disk storage. The installation was very effortless and it finished completely without a hitch. However, after the installation, it did not properly detect our 17” monitor’s optimum screen resolution. I then installed the proprietary ATI driver for the onboard Radeon Xpress 200 graphics and corrected the screen resolution using the graphical “Screen and Graphics Preferences” utility. But, after a reboot, the problem kept coming back. I ended up editing ‘xorg.conf’, and I was glad that I was able to fix the trouble. I went on to install ‘ubuntu-restricted-extras’ package using Synaptic. This very handy package contains MP3 and DVD playback support, Flash plugin, Microsoft font, and Java among others. I also installed “gdesklets” for a little desktop bling.

My wife’s new Ubuntu desktop has been running smoothly now, and here is what she has to say:

(Wife)
I have been using Xubuntu for quite a while now so I have no trouble migrating from Windows to Ubuntu. I find its desktop well-arranged and most applications that I need are easily accessible. I found out that Ubuntu looks very sleek compared to Windows XP. The applications are very responsive and are quick to open. I also like Ubuntu’s fast start-up because it really saves a lot of time.



I’m beginning to like Linux because of its included and downloadable free software programs. In Windows, I have to find an installer CD to get what I need. Meanwhile in Ubuntu, all I have to do is open a package manager and search for whatever I want. It’s funny because I end up downloading and installing different kinds of software that I thought would be useful.



I installed some educational tools for my son and a few games. I fell in love with the image editor called Gimp because I find it easier and much simpler to use than Photoshop. For Word documents, I utilize OpenOffice. It’s much like using Microsoft Word but I think it still needs to improve its features a bit. I have no trouble playing multimedia files from MP3's to DVD’s, and also videos from YouTube.



Ubuntu has been really great and comfortable to use that I sometimes forget I’m using a dreaded Linux desktop operating system. I’ve heard that Linux is difficult to set-up and I’m glad that my husband was there to install it for me. But as what he says, Linux nowadays is not that complicated to maintain and is very secure. I’m also amazed when I have heard that it doesn’t need any anti-virus and anti-spyware software for it to run safe.

I know that I’m still at the early-stage of using a Windows-free desktop, but I think I’m going to get used to it. Thanks to this uniquely named and very capable OS called Ubuntu.

Conclusion (by me):
So there you have it; one of the many testimonies that Linux, particularly Ubuntu has indeed made an impact on mainstream users. But, the minor glitches on or after installation is still an issue that needs to be taken cared of. Ubuntu 7.10 is all-in-all a quality Linux desktop OS. I can attest to that because Ubuntu is installed for good on my main workstation.

PS:
You can get Ubuntu 7.10 directly from HERE.

PS2:

Thanks to my wife for finally switching to Linux (I won’t tell you how I convinced her :-)

and for taking some time to talk to me regarding her Ubuntu experience.

Extracting HTML Documents from Web Pages Using Python

Extracting HTML Documents from Web Pages Using Python:
Question: Can you extract HTML documents from live web pages without even using an internet browser?
Answer: Yes you can. All you need is a Python interpreter and these short commands:

>>> import urllib
>>> sock = urllib.urlopen("PAGE URL")
>>> htmlSource = sock.read()
>>> sock.close()
>>> print htmlSource

Illustration (click to enlarge):


Python Related Posts:

* Will Real Python Hackers Please Stand Up
* How to Rescue Windows Files Using Linux and Python
* Highly Recommended Books on Python

Choosing the Right Laptop/Notebook Computer Today

Choosing the Right Laptop/Notebook Computer Today: Notebook computer, most commonly known as laptop is without doubt one of the most indispensable gadgets to those who travel a lot. This is especially true if you are working as a programmer, web developer, graphics designer, writer, blogger, or a person who can’t do business or simply can't live without a computer nearby. If you are still planning to buy a laptop because perhaps your new job is one of those I mentioned above, then better read this article carefully.

Choosing the right laptop to buy can be a little bit daunting since several aspects need to be considered before emptying your wallet or in extreme cases, your bank account. That is why I’m here to take that tiny burden off your shoulder.

These are the most important things to consider that will guide you in buying the right laptop.

Price:
For me, price should be considered first. When anyone is asking me for an advice in buying a new computer or just about any other gadget, almost always I ask them how much their budget is. Therefore, my first advice is to know your budget limit first.

Laptop prices are dropping like crazy, so it won’t be that much of a problem to those who are budget conscious. The cost of a low-end laptop model is usually around US$550. But to those who have money to spare, you can get a high quality notebook computer for as much as US$3000.

Features:
This is the part where we get technical. But don’t worry because I’m going to keep it idiot-proof as much as possible.

First, consider the size of the laptop that you want. Generally, the sizes are ranging from 11-17 inches (screen sizes measured diagonally). Most of the latest models are ‘widescreen’ so just go for it. If you value portability more than the screen real-estate, then the smaller is usually the better. This is because the size is normally associated with the laptop’s weight. Although, you should also remember that the smaller the laptop is, the more uncomfortable your hands and eyes will become. So when you are in a computer shop, ask the store-clerk nicely if you can try using the laptop for several minutes to test its comfort level.

Meanwhile, a laptop’s processing power(processor), memory (RAM), and storage(hard disk) will tell a different story. The bigger the numbers of the said specifications will typically result in a better performing laptop. The processor speed/clock rate is sometimes an exception as there are now dual core processors with lower speed but can perform faster than higher speed single core processors. Currently, the normal laptop specs that I can recommend for normal users should have at least 2GHz of processor speed, 512MB of memory/RAM, 80GB storage/hard disk. When I say normal users, I’m referring to those who will be using the laptop mostly for web browsing, office applications tasks, some simple photo editing, audio/video playing, and 2D gaming. You can go for the higher or lower than the normal specs that I have given depending on the demands of your computing tasks.

Another thing to consider is the laptop’s battery life; 3-5 hours of life span should be regarded as ideal. But no need to worry as almost all the latest laptops can deliver adequate battery power. Important peripherals like DVD-RW drive, video-out port, USB port, and WiFi internet capability is a must-have in today’s laptop. Some not-so-essential functions like firewire, bluetooth, and card readers are just icing on the cake.

For your laptop’s operating system, it’s up to you whether to choose Linux, Windows, BSD, Mac OS X, and Linux. And did I say Linux?

The laptop’s physical appearance like the color, design, and shape will depend on your preferences. And don’t ever ask me about this because I am not your mother.

Brand:
The last but definitely not the least important factor to consider when buying a laptop is the brand name. Remember this; choose only to buy from trusted brands like Lenovo, Acer, Dell, Sony, HP, Panasonic, Toshiba, Apple, IBM, Asus, and Samsung. Forgive me if I forgot to mention other important brands.

Conclusion:
If money is not a dilemma for you, then it won’t be that hard to balance the features that you want for your laptop and the specific brand to get. Nevertheless, knowing your budget limit will definitely matter as a whole in deciding what laptop to buy. I jut hope you will find some of my tips helpful. But then again, you can always use Google to get more information regarding notebook or laptop computers.

UPDATE: If you are planning to buy a netbook, check out choosing the right netbook post.

Are People Losing Interest in Linux?

Are People Losing Interest in Linux?: Linux is slowly but surely losing popularity. That is according to Google Trends, a well-known tool from Google Labs that shows the most popularly searched terms from the beginning of 2004 up to present. The graph below shows the downward curve of searches for the "linux" keyword:

Should Linux users, lovers and enthusiasts like us be miserable about this? --I don't think we should be.

My theory is that people are becoming more aware and well-informed about Linux nowadays and doesn’t depend much on Google. They already know what sites to visit when they needed news or information on Linux. Another factor to consider is the popularity of Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. People now are more specific (they don’t just type the keyword ‘linux’) when searching for data regarding their favorite distros. Social bookmarking could also be another key reason for this descending trend. More and more people are relying on Digg, Reddit, Stumbleupon and other social bookmarking sites in discovering articles, blogs, and just about anything related to Linux or any other subject matter.


Same thing is also happening to Microsoft (as shown above), but not Apple. Apple is steadily going upwards, and its Google search volume is now equal to that of Linux. But why is Linux sliding sharply more than Microsoft? Are people really losing interest in Linux? Is Google Trends reliable enough? And is it really a measure of a subject’s popularity?

Let me know your thoughts!

Linux Mint 4.0: A Date with Daryna

Linux Mint 4.0: A Date with Daryna - Daryna is the code name of the newly released Linux Mint 4.0. It is based on Celena and is compatible with Ubuntu 7.10 and its repositories. It also utilizes the package base of Gutsy Gibbon. The fresh Mint 4.0 promises some major improvements in terms of usability.

My date with Cassandra, the older version of Mint, turned out great. So, when I’ve heard that her younger sister Daryna has come out, I also wanted to get to know her well.

Just a little fact, Linux Mint is ranked #6 in Distrowatch for several months already; a proof of its vast popularity. I got the Mint 4.0 LiveCD installer from here. The size of the ISO is only 689MB hence the download didn’t take long, and I get to load Daryna on my test machine without delay.

Test Machine Specs:
Board: Intel D101GGCL
Processor: 3 GHz Intel Pentium 4 with HT Technology
Hard Drive: Samsung 80GB with 8GB allocated to VM disk
Memory: 1GB 400 MHz DDR RAM with 512MB allocated to VM memory
Graphics Card: On-board

Installation:
The installation was smooth as silk. I didn’t add or pass any parameter options on the boot menu. Mint’s 7-steps Ubuntu installer is idiot-proof. Even an extreme Linux newbie can install Mint without difficulty. The installation was completed in less than 10 minutes and without a single snag. My hardware were properly detected from CD drive, audio, video, USB, and Ethernet. On the first boot just after logging in, I find it amusing that I was given an option to turn off the ‘fortune message’, a unique feature of Mint which displays humorous quotes every time you open a terminal. I didn’t turn it off.






Look and Feel:
Daryna has a darker theme compared to Cassandra’s minty look. The images from grub, bootsplash, log-in menu, and default wallpaper are in the shades of black. But, the fabulous thing about Daryna is that its appearance can be easily changed to your own preferences. Thanks to its loads of included themes and wallpapers. There was an obvious improvement on Mint’s font because it now uses the Red Hat Liberation Fonts. To those who want some more awesome eye-candy, CompizFusion will take care of it as it is already pre-installed in Mint 4.0. But, a capable graphics card is needed in order for Compiz and its 3D effects to run properly. In addition, a graphical application called Envy will help you install the appropriate driver for your video card.







Package Management:

Daryna is loaded with highly functional and valuable software applications out-of-the-box. I can say that it has everything a regular desktop user needs. To name a few applications, there’s OpenOffice, Gimp image editor, Firefox web browser, Amarok audio player and a lot more. Multimedia support were also installed by default. Hence, playing MP3, Flash videos and encrypted DVD’s will no longer be a problem. Handy tools for system configuration, Linux web servers, and networking were included as well. If you want to download additional software packages, Mint has its own software repository that you can easily utilize for free with the help of MintInstall. Plus, there’s a vast Ubuntu repo if you want some more. In Mint, software can also be downloaded, updated, installed or removed using the ever reliable Synaptic package manager.

Stability:
Mint 4.0 can be considered as stable for day-to-day computing tasks based on its ability to properly detect my hardware, and for its overall responsiveness and steadiness when opening and running several key applications. The only slight glitch I found was when my 19 inch monitor’s screen resolution was set to a high 1680x1050 at the start and after the install. But, I was able to easily and successfully change it to my proper screen resolution size.


Conclusion:
I can honestly say that Daryna is yet another successful distribution release of Mint. It is highly recommended for those who want a hassle-free Linux distribution because of its exceptional hardware and software support, ease-of-use, and ever growing online community that can provide some technical assistance. I can also recommend Mint 4.0 to newbies as it can be painlessly configured without even opening a Linux terminal emulator or touching the Linux terminal. As a final point, Daryna undoubtedly maintained or even improved Mint’s natural elegance.

Another Pinoy Linux Distribution: AMA Desktop Linux

Another Pinoy Linux Distribution: AMA Desktop Linux - A new Philippine-made Linux distribution is waiting to be included in the official list of distros at Distrowatch.com. Its name is AMA Desktop Linux (ADL), and it is made by AMA Computer University, considered as one of the best and largest computer schools in the country.

The main aspiration of AMA Desktop Linux project is to provide an operating system interface that is comfortable to existing Microsoft Windows users. The OS will also be used on more than 300+ AMA Computer University Campuses around the world, and will be delivered in classrooms where over 1 million students are enrolled.

AMA Desktop Linux 2007 has many different exclusive applications and patches designed to make everything work seamlessly. It's a designer's Linux with a goal to make everything easy to use, attractive, innovative, powerful and most of all, simple. It also uses the latest GNOME Desktop. Most of the applications included are:

· Welcome Center - aims to provide a brief introduction of the basics of AMA Desktop 2007.
· Personal Proxy Wizard - set up squid for personal proxy server, to make internet surfing faster.
· Windows Compatibility Tool - a tool to configure Wine and everything Windows related like NTFS and msttcorefonts.
· Consolidators - Those are the applications that consolidates all other applications into a single window. It aims to make the menus simple. (ie, File Sharing, Network Browsers and Tools, Encryption, Mobile Devices)
· File System Preferences - Make the root file system easy to navigate. This tool offers an option to hide all other directories in the root and provide a symbolic links for them.
· Desktop-Init - This provides the users with the default directories for AMA Desktop 2007, randomly choose a Face picture if it's not available, and emblemize the default directories.
· Resource Manager - A tool that detects the system memory and disables some services via gconf if the memory is not met.
· Live Chat Support - An interface to create an account in Freenode and to communicate with other AMA Desktop 2007 users.
· Local Network Messenger - An interface that helps the user to create Bonjour IM service and provide an option to load them automatically upon boot.
· Draw Anywhere - An interface for gromit, that provides annotation capabilities even without Compiz. This is intended for presentations.
· Multicast Filesharing - An interface for udpcast, that sends files to multitude of computers within the network.

To be accepted in Distrowatch, the developers of AMA Desktop Linux must stay focused, as there is a minimum of a 90-day waiting period for new distributions to be listed. This is to discourage submission of new projects that start with great enthusiasm only to vanish in a few short months. I think this will not be a problem for ADL as AMA University is overflowing with talented computer programmers to keep it going.

AMA Desktop Linux is hoping to follow the footsteps of the already recognized Bayanihan Linux. So for now, I wish them good luck and Godspeed!


See more screenshots of AMA Desktop Linux here.

SLAX, the Shrunken Slackware

SLAX, the Shrunken Slackware: SLAX is a minuscule version of the well-known Slackware Linux distribution. It is a LiveCD operating system that does not need to be installed on a computer’s hard drive as it can boot and run from either a USB or a CD drive. There is also an option to run SLAX from RAM. So now it's time to take a microscopic look at this tiny distro. But first, some SLAX facts:

SLAX was originated from the Czech Republic, developed by Tomas Matejicek. It is currently ranked #27 in Distrowatch. There are five official versions of SLAX. “SLAX Standard” is the standard distribution for normal personal use. There are two specialized versions; “SLAX KillBill” includes Wine and Qemu to run Microsoft Windows applications. “SLAX Server” supplies additional Internet functionality and comes with pre-configured server applications. In addition, there are two more minimalistic versions – “SLAX Popcorn” and “SLAX Frodo”. SLAX Popcorn uses Mozilla Firefox as the default web browser and the lightweight Xfce as a desktop environment instead of KDE. SLAX Frodo is designed for users with a low amount of RAM and does not contain the X Window System.

For this review, I got the latest "Standard" development release version which is SLAX 6 rc7. I downloaded the 184MB LiveCD directly from here.

I used VMware to test SLAX using only 128 MB of VM RAM at first. After I loaded the LiveCD, I was taken directly to the traditional boot menu where I was given several boot choices. I opted to start using the default KDE option, and then without delay, I was taken to SLAX’s desktop. The desktop was running sluggish as applications were slow to open. 128MB of RAM just can’t handle a KDE desktop well, or perhaps it's just because I'm running SLAX in a VM environment. But, when I increased the RAM to 256MB, it now ran efficiently.



I started with a screen resolution of 800x600, but I successfully changed it to my desired resolution size. SLAX has a good looking and polished artworks, and I love the default desktop theme and wallpaper. Its KDE desktop is ideal for users who want to try out Linux for the first time because it is very user-friendly.



SLAX was excellent in detecting my VM hardware, everything worked from my USB, audio, and Ethernet. I can instantly browse the web without having to configure anything.


SLAX is loaded with valuable and functional out-of-the-box software applications: for office tasks, there is KOffice; for multimedia, there is Kplayer; for web surfing and file browsing, there’s Konqueror; for developers, there’s KWrite advanced text editor. Perl scripting language was included but sad to say Python is not. SLAX is also loaded with networking tools, plus some added games for recreation. I also found out that Flash is already installed by default, so playing videos on YouTube is just a few clicks away. You can also use the “SLAX module manager”, described as a package management beyond your dreams for adding and removing software modules.




The applications were running smooth and steady in SLAX. The responsiveness and the quickness of Slax reminded me of using the even smaller-sized NimbleX distro. Users with older computer machines can indeed benefit from using SLAX.

All things considered, SLAX is without doubt, a distro to beat in terms of speed, functionality, and stability. It is filled with handy applications ideal for productive use. SLAX LiveCD can also be reliably utilized to rescue a broken system or as a backup software, and it can be fully customized if you want to create your own CD or even a SLAX based distribution. Certainly, SLAX fits this tongue twisting description: "SLAX is a shrunken Slackware."