Linuxed - My Linux Explore wishes everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year


2012 has been a great year for Linux. We saw quite a few innovations this year and quite a few ridiculous ones as well. In overall, I feel 2012 has been a landmark for the Linux world - we saw KDE gaining strength to strength with KDE 4.9, Gnome losing grounds to Cinnamon and Mate, XFCE and LXDE staying more or less the same without trying anything ridiculous, Gnome 3 developers finally having

Install LibreOffice 3.6.4.3 in Ubuntu Precise: Easy way


On my primary production machine, I have Linux Mint 13 Cinnamon and it has LibreOffice 3.5 as the main office application. Whereas LibreOffice has already moved ahead to 3.6.4.3. Even Ubuntu Quantal repo has 3.6.2.2 build. Today I thought of experimenting with LibreOffice and install the latest available version from LibreOffice website. I downloaded the LibreOffice 3.6.4.3 for Ubuntu from

Best Linux Distro of 2012: Comparison of KDE distros







KDE has always intrigued me a lot, though I never started using it on daily basis for production purposes, till last week. I liked Gnome 2 a lot, but with Gnome 3 and it's resource hungriness, it is out of favor as far I am concerned. My interest these days is growing more and more on KDE - it is really user-friendly, plasma interface looks awesome, effects are subtle and KDE 4.9.* is quite

Manjaro 0.8.3 KDE: Simply getting better with each release!



I reviewed the last two releases of Manjaro Linux (0.8 and 0.8.2) earlier this year and was quite impressed by the last release. There were some glitches of course, like high RAM usage, in spite of being based on Arch Linux. But Manjaro has its own advantages as well like rolling release. To be honest, I wasn't using using Manjaro on a regular basis - relying more on Linux Mint and Archbang for

Linux Mint 14 KDE: One of the best KDE distros of the year


Linux Mint does it again! The thing I admire about Linux Mint is the ability to work on any type of system and refined interface that it brings on the table - every time! When I reviewed the Mint Maya KDE, I was wondering if I had seen any KDE distro more complete than this. With the Mint Nadia KDE release my impression has changed. This edition not only looks gorgeous but the KDE bloat-wares

Battle of the Linux Mac OS X Clones: Elementary OS 0.2 Vs Pear OS 6 Vs LuninuX 12.10


Mac OS X always deserves a special mention in the operating system world, for being the most attractive (arguably) distro around. It is kind of an aspiring product for almost everyone I know - they want to own a Mac at the end of the day! However, exorbitant price and seeking value for money at times limit our aspiration to own a Mac. But, don't worry! Linux can help you create our own Mac! And

Elementary OS 0.2 Beta 1 Review: Who leads the battle of the Mac clones?



Elementary OS, still in beta stage, has garnered quite a bit of attention for it's simplicity and attractiveness. It is too early to say, whether it ends up as the preferred OS for Linux lovers or it remains in the fringe while Linux Mint rules the roost. And also, normally I prefer reviewing distros once they are formally released. However, for Elementary I am making an exception. It's

Linux Mint 12 LXDE Revisited: Create Linux Mint 14 Nadia LXDE from Lisa LXDE


I really love the Linux Mint 12 LXDE edition. But, because of some reasons, LXDE ran out of favor and the Mint developers preferred KDE, Cinnamon, Mate and XFCE for the future releases. So, versions 13 (Maya) and 14 (Nadia) never saw an LXDE release. That is where I decided to do an experiment - install the Linux Mint 12 LXDE version and upgrade it to Mint 14. I could have also installed an LXDE

Comfusion 4.1 Review: Lightweight, attractive and feature packed Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS spin


I heard of Comfusion as the Spanish version of Ubuntu earlier but have never used it before last week. Essentially it combines Ubuntu core with LXDE, Openbox & Mate desktops and some cool 3D effects using compiz. The latest version is Compiz 4.1, based on Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS with Linux kernel 3.2.0.



From Comfusion 4.1


The 32-bit ISO DVD I downloaded is about 882 MB, which, I would say, is a

Archbang 2012.12 Review: Simple, light and fantastic


My interest on Arch Linux is increasing with every passing Arch based distro review. Last week I used Bridge Linux and was fascinated by it. This week I spent considerable time in learning as well as using Archbang, another Arch Linux based operating system with Openbox window manager. It gave me performance comparable to Puppy Linux and I replaced my Lubuntu 12.10 installation with Archbang on

OS4 OpenDesktop 13.1 Review: What's the difference with ZevenOS?


It is kind of a peculiar feeling to use Linux distros who look and feel very similar. I am talking of ZevenOS 5.0 and OS4 OpenDesktop 13.1. Both got released in 5 days apart and have striking similarities, at least at a high level. Same Xubuntu fork with a BeOS theme, it is difficult to distinguish them from each other.



From OS4 OpenDesktop 13.1

Though OS4 website says, ZevenOS is for Legacy

ZevenOS 5.0 Review: Is it better than Xubuntu 12.10?


With Ubuntu 12.10 out, Ubuntu derivatives are releasing their final version as well. ZevenOS and OS4 are couple of such distros, both provide a cocktailed version of Xubuntu with some added benefits, of course. In this review I'll provide insights of ZevenOS and in my next review will take on OS4. They offer more or less similar proposition and could have reviewed them together as well.


From

Bridge Linux 2012.12 Review: Arch Linux a bit simplified



I haven't tried out Arch Linux yet but I plan to do so next year. Mostly my experience is concentrated on Ubuntu, Fedora and their derivatives. Now with every passing release all these distributions are getting heavier and resource consuming. Puppy is a definite saving grace, no doubt. But, as an user I want to create my own lightweight all purpose operating system using Arch. Further, the

UberStudent 2.0.4 Review: Exceptional not only for students or researchers but for regular use as well!



The world of Linux never ceases to amaze me. Every functional area has a distro available, a distro for medics, for forensic, for hackers, for different languages, for different regions and the list is endless. Most of these are typically Ubuntu, Debian or Fedora derivatives with softwares loaded to fulfill one or more specific mandate(s). UberStudent is one such distro, an Ubuntu derivative,

Linux Mint 14 vs Ubuntu 12.10: A Comparison



I have a lot of friends asking me of whether they should install Ubuntu 12.10 or Linux Mint 14, which is also Ubuntu - but a bit refreshed. Given that I reviewed both of them on the same system - Asus K54C, 2.4 Ghz Core i3 processor with 2 GB RAM, I thought a comparison between the mother distro and it's most famous derivate deem rational.



From Ubuntu 12.10 Comparison



From Linux Mint 14

Linux Mint 14 Nadia Review: Is it better than Maya?



Big news this week in the Linux world - the reigning king of Linux "Linux Mint" has come out with the Mate and Cinnamon desktop version of Ubuntu 12.10. The codename is Nadia. Now, before jumping onto the actual review, a bit of introspection. One question that always comes to my mind - I have reviewed so many wonderful Linux distros and quite a few are really really outstanding. Still what

Manjaro 0.8.2 XFCE: Light, fast and works well, new Package manager aside


The flagship distro from the Manjaro stable is perhaps the XFCE version. I was deeply impressed by the refinement and functionalities offered by KDE version. The XFCE version, too, lived up to the standards set in 0.8.1 release. I tested it out on my Asus K54C, 2.4 Ghz Core i3 processor with 2 GB RAM. First I did a live boot followed by installation on an 8 GB partition specially created for

Manjaro Linux 0.8.2 KDE Review: Is it the best KDE release this year?


Right from the first release itself, Manjaro Linux really impressed me. I tried their KDE release earlier, in 0.8 and 0.8.1 but was not as impressed as the XFCE version. But, the 0.8.2 release changed my opinion. It is one of the most refined and polished KDE releases that I have used this year.



From Manjaro KDE 0.8.2

The release note of Manjaro 0.8.2 came on 10th Nov'12 in Distrowatch and

Snowlinux 3 White Review: As usual good, will be interesting to compare with Linux Mint 14


If you think Ubuntu 12.10 is buggy and painful to use, then you must try out the new Snowlinux 3 "White". It is based on Ubuntu 12.10 and it simplifies a lot of stuff which Ubuntu complicates! Desktops available along with this edition are: Mate 1.4, Cinnamon 1.6 and Gnome fallback 3.6. Linux kernel is 3.5.



From Snowlinux 3 Mate Cinnamon

Once the release note came in Distrowatch, I

Tiny Core Linux 4.7 Review: A base to build your own system!


First when I used Tiny Core Linux in 2009, I just started using Linux, and I was a bit disappointed with Tiny Core. Later when my experience and learning grew, I realized that I chose the wrong file to boot (Tiny Core and not Core Plus) and I completely underestimated an otherwise very efficient distro.

When the 4.7 release note came in Distrowatch a few days ago, I was prompt to download the

Linux Lite 1.0.0 Review: A good beginning!


Advent of Ubuntu actually spurned up quite a few Linux distro releases, giving users plenty of options as well as some very interesting flavors to play with. For example, you think Unity is buggy, you can either try out gnome fallback or have all the goodness of Ubuntu and lightness of XFCE or LXDE in Xubuntu or Lubuntu. A cross with E17 and you have a Bodhi! And who can forget Linux Mint -

Puppy Linux 5.4 "Precise" Review: Amazing is a lesser word for it!


Last week I was really busy testing out the Ubuntu Quantal Quetzal releases on my Core i3 and Core i7 laptops. Lubuntu, inarguably, was the fastest of the lot and I was amazed by the speed it offered. However, there is a desktop in my house, from my student days, a 2.4 GHz Pentium IV (single core), 1.5 GB DDR RAM PC. Mostly it is used by my kid to watch rhymes or my wife/parents check their

Lubuntu 12.10 Review: Upgrade to the latest Quantal Quetzal!



This is my fourth review of the Quantal series  with Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu already reviewed. Lubuntu, the fastest of them all but the one with the most boring look. Nope! Like the other three, in my article, I'll compare the latest release with Lubuntu 12.04 (no there was no 12.04.1 like others!). However, a reminder - the previous release was not a Long Term Release (with 3-5 years of

Xubuntu 12.10 Review: A shinier and more attractive desktop!



Third in the series of Quantal Quetzal releases, is Xubuntu 12.10 after Ubuntu and Kubuntu. Like Kubuntu, Xubuntu also didn't have many significant changes in the new release from the LTS version. The same cannot be said about Ubuntu which did get some new functionalities like web apps, better social integration, etc. These are not there in Xubuntu, Kubuntu or a Lubuntu.


From Ubuntu 12.10

Kubuntu 12.10 Review: Is Quantal Quetzal significantly better than Precise Pangolin?



After comparing between Ubuntu 12.10 and 12.04.1, where the verdict was mixed, next in line is Kubuntu. Like Gnome 3 shell, even KDE is going through a lot of transformation and users are bearing brunt of it. KDE 4.8.5 actually made me prefer XFCE as my primary desktop. However, KDE 4.9.2, I heard, has fixed a lot of the previous bugs and instability. KDE as a desktop is, possibly, the closest

Ubuntu 12.10 Review: Is Quantal Quetzal better than Ubuntu 12.04 LTS?




As it happens with every new release of Ubuntu, it is compared to the last release. And if the last release is an LTS, a comparison is definitely required to answer - is the new release good enough to motivate users leave the long term support version and embrace the latest one? My current review is focused on the same question.


From Ubuntu 12.10 Comparison

I am comparing here the latest

Ubuntu 12.10 Vs Kubuntu 12.10 Vs Xubuntu 12.10 Vs Lubuntu 12.10: A comparison



Yesterday I succeeded in downloading all four of these distros - Big daddy Ubuntu and its progenies Kubuntu, Xubuntu and Lubuntu. I did a live boot of all 4 on my Asus K54C laptop with 2.2 GHz Intel 2nd Gen Ci3 processor and 2 GB DDR3 RAM and later installed on the same, one after another to check out the performances, applications and other features associated with each one of these operating

Snowlinux 3.1 Review: Now Crystal got even better!



Last month, during my experiments with Linux distros, I mentioned that on Snowlinux 3 Crystal, touchpad doesn't work. Even I couldn't get the touchpad settings on my Asus Eee-PC 1101HA. Possibly, the developers too noted the same and last week, the updated Snowlinux 3.1 with touchpad support got released. I did a live-boot on my Asus K54C laptop with 2.4 GHz Intel 2nd Gen Ci3 processor and 2

Slackel 14.0: Slackware 14 further simplified!


I tried using Slackware, 5 years back, when my Linux experience was still at infancy. I remember looking for a Linux distro to install and downloaded Slackware - but had a nightmare installing it and making it work! However, one of the oldest Linux distros, Slackware (now nearly 20 years old, I guess), has come a long way with the latest release, 14.0. It is definitely much easier to use than

AriOS 4.0 Review: Polished, attractive and functional Ubuntu 12.04LTS


Debian gave birth to Ubuntu and Ubuntu, in turn, gave birth to hundreds of other distros like Linux Mint, Pinguy OS, Zorin, Crunchbang, Pear OS, Luninux, OS4, Super OS, Ultimate OS, Kiwi, etc. to name a few apart from the usual Kubuntu, Xubuntu and Lubuntu. When I read the release news of AriOS 4.0 on distrowatch, I was expecting something in the similar lines - just another remix of Ubuntu with

In search of the best Linux distro of 2012: My Experiments





Jan 2013: Please also visit my updated experiments with the major distros released in 2012


Best KDE Distro 2012 with 16 leading KDE distros
Best XFCE Distro 2012 with 15 leading XFCE distros


My Old Experiment: 

I recall in 2009, I had only a desktop for all my computing needs - a desktop bought in 2003 and post SP3 update, struggled to run Windows XP, plagued with virus problems,

Manjaro Linux 0.8.1 XFCE Review: Fast, complete and looks awesome!


Last time when I reviewed Manjaro 0.8.0 XFCE, I really liked it. I didn't feel it wasted too much of RAM while using it, but there were criticisms from some corner. Possibly, I haven't really used it that much as Manjaro was never my primary distro. But, it is good that the developer, Roland Singer, came up with another version 0.8.1 XFCE, which LXDM instead of LightDM and built up a really good

Snowlinux 3 E17 Crystal Review: Fast, very fast!


The world of preferred Linux window manager is dominated by Gnome, KDE, XFCE and LXDE primarily. About 90% of the new releases I see are based on either of the four desktops because of the extremely elegant graphical interfaces they offer. However, with changing priorities and a need to provide aesthetically pleasing visual effects, Linux world is also undergoing tremendous transformation,

Sabayon 10 Review: Gentoo on steroids!


Gentoo Linux is one Linux OS I haven't tried yet. But, surely this week I am going to try their 2009 Special DVD edition. The best feature of Gentoo is, it is version-less and once you make an emerge update, it has the most up-to-date packages. There are step-by-step guides available to install Gentoo and once I try it, I'll know how complicated or easy it is!



From Sabayon 10



From Sabayon

BlankOn 8.0 "Rote" Review: The least RAM consuming Gnome 3 distro I have ever used!


This review is based on Hud's request. Hud Huni Dhiya is from Indonesia and wanted to get BlankOn 8 reviewed. To begin, BlankOn is a Debian based distro and a result of personal endeavors of Indonesian Linux Motivator Foundation. BlankOn 8.0, code name "Rote", was released on 17th Aug'2012. You can get more details of BlankOn in Wikipedia. Apart from the ethic language, it also supports English