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October 3, 2008

Kubuntu v8.10 beta released

IntrepidIbex/Beta/Kubuntu - Ubuntu Wiki

The beta of Kubuntu v8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" has been released. This release features KDE 4.1 as its main desktop in place of the old KDE 3 (obviously, Ubuntu itself has a GNOME desktop, in version 2.24; see announcement here). Main new features:

  • KDE 4.1.2
  • Adept 3.0 (new, refactored user interface, lighter on resources than Adept 2)
  • KNetworkManager v0.7
  • Desktop effects enabled by default if a user's video card supports it
  • New update and crash notifiers
  • KMix support for keyboard multimedia keys
  • Porting of several Python-based applications to PyKDE, including GDebiKDE, Jockey-KDE, Language Selector, Software properties, and the printer manager.

See the link at the top for downloads.

September 10, 2008

OpenSUSE 11.1 to be last to include KDE 3

It has been announced on OpenSUSE News that the forthcoming version 11.1 of OpenSUSE, the first beta of which is expected next week, will be the last to include KDE 3. The version after, version 11.2, will most likely include KDE 4.3 as the sole version of KDE. In addition, the desktop will not be available in the main desktop selection dialog during the installation process, but will be included alongside other desktops and window managers like XFce, WindowMaker and the like. The Novell KDE team will only be addressing high-priority (P1) bugs for KDE 3.5.

May 13, 2008

Fedora 9 released with "well integrated" KDE 4

The ninth release of Fedora, the successor to Red Hat Linux on which RH Enterprise Linux (and CentOS etc) is based, has been released. This release, codenamed Sulphur, (summary here) contains a "well-integrated" KDE 4.0.3 as the default KDE, and upgrades to KDE 4.1 will be provided when released (the actual default desktop is GNOME 2.22). The release also contains Linux (kernel) v2.6.25, experimental ext4 file-system support, new versions of the DejaVu and Liberation fonts, support for re-sizing partitions in the installer and for installing to encrypted file-systems, and X.org v1.4. Release notes here, a 'tour' here, and downloads (BitTorrent and direct ISOs with full, GNOME-oriented and KDE-oriented package sets) here.

April 24, 2008

Kubuntu v8.04 (Hardy Heron) released

Version 8.04 (i.e. April 2008, codenamed Hardy Heron or just 'hardy' for package management purposes) of Kubuntu, the version of Ubuntu with a KDE desktop, has been released. This comes in two flavours, the mainstream version with KDE 3.5.9 and a "remix" with KDE 4.0.3. Unlike the GNOME-based version, simply called Ubuntu, this does not come with long-term support. Important new features in this version:

  • KDE 3.5.9 or 4.0.3
  • Easy enablement of Compiz desktop effects in KDE 3
  • Amarok v1.4.9.1
  • Automatic installation of codecs in Kaffeine
  • Wubi, a program for installing Ubuntu like a Windows application without repartitioning (although it runs from the boot menu)
  • Ability to encrypt filesystems (other than /boot)
  • Support for writing to NTFS filesystems
  • User-mountable drive support
  • Bulletproof X, a failsafe mode for X11
  • A power management module in Guidance (KDE 3)

Downloads are available here or you can buy or order through Shipit; APT upgrade instructions here. The main Ubuntu announcement is here and you can download that here.

April 20, 2008

Kubuntu: release candidate of Hardy out

Kubuntu Release Candidate announcement

A release candidate of the upcoming version of Kubuntu, the version of Ubuntu with a KDE desktop, has been released. Version 8.04 (Hardy Heron) has a choice of version 3.5.9 or 4.0.3 of KDE and, unlike the mainstream Ubuntu, with a GNOME desktop, will not be a long-term support (LTS) release. Major changes since the beta:

  • KDE 4.0.3 (was 4.0.2)
  • Amarok v1.4.9.1 (was 1.4.8)
  • Power management module in Guidance

For a list of major new features in Hardy, see the announcement linked above; screenshots are there also (and here). The announcement also has download instructions and links.

March 21, 2008

Kubuntu v8.04 (Hardy) beta released

A first beta of "Hardy Heron", version 8.04 (i.e. April 2008) of Kubuntu, the popular Debian-based Linux distro with a KDE desktop, has been released. Two versions of it will be released, a "rock solid" one with KDE 3.5.9, and a "remixed" one featuring KDE 4. Other major new features:

  • Easy configuring of desktop effects with Compiz in KDE 3
  • Amarok v1.4.8, featuring better iPod compatibility and iPhone and iPod Touch support
  • Auto-installing of codecs in Kaffeine
  • Wubi, allowing the install of Ubuntu into a Windows file-system without partitioning
  • Encrypted filesystems (other than for the /boot partition)
  • Write support for NTFS
  • Bulletproof X, a fail-safe X11 mode

For CD download mirrors, see the release announcement; for upgrade instructions from Gutsy (7.10), see here. For information on the standard Ubuntu Hardy beta with the GNOME desktop, which has also been released, see here.

January 9, 2008

DesktopBSD v1.6 released

Version 1.6 of DesktopBSD, a FreeBSD-based desktop OS with a KDE-based front, has been released (see release notes). Changes:

  • FreeBSD 6
  • X.Org v7.3
  • Live CD/DVD
  • Revised installer, which allows upgrade from v1.0 and from release candidates
  • Improved package manager usability and performance
  • Many enhancements and bugfixes for the DesktopBSD tools
  • Support for multiple processors and multi-core CPUs
  • Inclusion of the NVIDIA graphics driver for hardware 3D rendering
  • DesktopBSD build servers as an up-to-date source for precompiled packages

Screenshots here, downloads (CD and DVD images for i386 and AMD64) here.

October 18, 2007

Kubuntu v7.10 (Gutsy) released

Kubuntu - Kubuntu 7.10 - Gutsy Gibbon On the Streets

Version 7.10 of Kubuntu, the edition of Ubuntu which uses KDE as its desktop, has been released. Main features:

  • KDE v3.5.8
  • Dolphin, rather than Konqueror, as the default file manager
  • A restricted driver manager application and single package installer
  • OpenOffice.org v2.3
  • Kontact Enterprise version
  • Strigi desktop searching
  • KDE 4 beta 3
  • Linux kernel v2.6.22, GCC v4.2, X.org 7.2, Python v2.5, Qyoto (Qt/C#) and Jambi (Qt/Java) bindings
  • Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) support on systems which support it
  • Free Windows software on the Desktop CD

Downloads are here. There is a Desktop CD (an installable live CD, like PCLinuxOS) and an alternate CD (for any specialised installation requirements including LVM and RAID, the new name for the old installation CD), both available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. You can also upgrade using APT from Feisty (see the announcement page).

This is part of the Ubuntu v7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) release. The GNOME version, simply called Ubuntu, features GNOME v2.20, Evolution 2.8, Firefox 2.0 with an improved plug-in finder, Compiz Fusion (3D desktop effects) enabled by default and desktop searching. Ubuntu also has a server edition with automatic LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) installation. Downloads are here.

October 4, 2007

OpenSUSE v10.3 released

Version 10.3 of the openSUSE Linux distribution has been released. This version features KDE 3.5.7, desktop sharing applications from KDE 4 (and some games and a desktop for preview purposes), new artwork, a redesigned YaST (installer and configuration system) with a GTK interface on GNOME (version 2.20), a one-click software installation system, MP3 codecs on the DVD, OpenOffice.org v2.3, Linux kernel v2.6.22.5, and shorter boot times than before. More on what's in this release and what's new here and here. Screenshots can be found at the above release announcement link; downloads come in a downloadable DVD or a "core" CD with either KDE or GNOME with additional non-OSS and extra language CDs; all can be downloaded directly or through BitTorrent.

September 27, 2007

Kubuntu v7.10 beta released

A beta version of Kubuntu v7.10, the "Gutsy Gibbon", has been released. Changes in this release:

  • Dolphin as main file manager, rather than Konqueror
  • Restricted drivers manager, for installing drivers for the likes of nVidia, ATI Radeon, Broadcom wireless etc
  • Strigi search daemon
  • Package installation from the desktop (GDebi)
  • KDE-based Edubuntu desktop
  • One-command "restricted extras" package install
  • "About Kubuntu" restored to desktop
  • Flash working in Konqueror again, and open-source Flash plugin
  • Use of KDE PIM Enterprise version for stability
  • KvKbd (Kubuntu Virtual keyboard)
  • OpenOffice.org v2.3
  • KDE 3.5.7, KOffice v1.6.3, Amarok v1.4.7

Screenshots here, list of ISOs and Torrents available at the link above. Upgrade instructions here. Details of the main Ubuntu beta are here.

September 25, 2007

PC-BSD v1.4 released with KDE 3.5.7

OSNews reports that version 1.4 of PC-BSD, a FreeBSD-based desktop OS, has been released. This version is based on FreeBSD v6.2-STABLE and includes KDE 3.5.7, Xorg 7.2, KDE 3.5.7, Compiz-Fusion 0.5.2 (as opposed to Beryl as before), support for Flash7 in native BSD browsers, and official NVIDIA drivers. Full changelog here, release notes here, downloads (2 CDs with torrents and VMWare image) here. Note that FreeBSD 6.x does not support journalled file systems as Linux does.

June 2, 2007

Fedora 7 released with KDE live CD

From KDE Apps:

Fedora 7 (they have dropped the Fedora Core name, integrating the Core and Extras repositories), codenamed Moonshine, has been released, with an installable live CD with a KDE desktop (version 3.5.6, although 3.5.7 will be available in updates). KDE in this release has the Plastik theme with Crystal SVG icons (replacing the old Fedora icons), a new KDM theme called Fedora Flying High with KDM integrated with ConsoleKit. Also in this release is GNOME v2.18, Linux kernel v2.6.21 and X.org v7.2 and Python v2.5. Note that this OS does not support proprietary codecs, including MP3, out of the box, although third-party repositories may provide them.

April 19, 2007

Kubuntu v7.04 (Feisty Fawn) released

Version 7.04 of Kubuntu, the version of the Ubuntu Linux OS based on Debian which has KDE as its desktop, has been released. Significant features:

  • KDE 3.5.6
  • Restructured system settings (the KDE control centre with a Mac-like menu)
  • Special GUI tool for Hewlett-Packard printer configuration
  • Improved Guidance power management
  • K3b v1.0 (note: version 1.0.1 has just been released)
  • New topic-based help system
  • Facelift for OEM installer
  • Kernel 2.6.20, glibc v2.5, Python v2.5

Screenshots at the announcement page and here; downloads here, available in straight ISO images or as BitTorrent downloads, or upgrade with the distribution's APT front tools. Canonical will ship CDs for you free of charge through their Shipit scheme, or you can buy them and get them quicker. Note that Ubuntu, the GNOME version, has also been released; you can obtain either first and use APT (or Adept/Synaptic) to install the other.

April 9, 2007

Debian Etch released with KDE 3.5.5a

Debian GNU/Linux v4.0 (Etch) has been released. According to the press release, this release contains KDE v3.5.5a, and at the last check of the packages database (currently disabled), it contained Qt v4.2.1 (with some patches). It also contains a new "fully integrated" install system (which is now graphical), an improved and more secure package management system, support for encrypted file systems out of the box, kernel v2.6.18, GCC v4.1.1, GNOME 2.14 and XFCE v4.4. It has support for eleven architectures; Motorola 68K support has been dropped, but there is now a native AMD64 version. You can get it on CD through various means here.

October 26, 2006

Kubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) released

Canonical has announced that version 6.10 (i.e. October 2006) of Ubuntu, and by extension Kubuntu, have been released. This version features KDE 3.5.5 (based on Qt 3.3.6), digital photo manager Digikam by default, a new hardware database client, an improved System Settings application (basically the KDE Control Center behind a Mac-like system preferences window) and Qt 4.2.0. Underneath, it's Linux 2.6.17, GLibc 2.4 and GCC 4.1. Screenshots here with download locations here; installation instructions at the bottom of this page. Available, as usual, for i386, AMD64 and PowerPC (server version may be available on other platforms like SPARC). This is not a long-term support version like Dapper (6.06); it will be supported for the usual 18 months.

August 16, 2006

Ubuntu hardware database: KDE client released

Kubuntu HWDB | www.kdedevelopers.org

Jonathan Riddell (Ubuntu hacker and publisher of the KDE 3.5.3/4 binaries for Ubuntu) has released a hardware database client with a KDE front end; it uses PyQt4. There is also a GNOME version and it's expected to be included in the upcoming "Edgy" release this autumn. Packages can be downloaded here (I think you need the "common" package and either the GNOME or KDE binary). Feedback to here.

July 4, 2006

PC-BSD v1.2 beta released

From the PC-BSD forums (via OSNews):

A beta of version 1.2 of PC-BSD, a desktop FreeBSD distribution, has been released. This version contains updated ports, PyQt and PyKDE as standard (allowing SuperKaramba plugins to work), Bash shell in the default install, DBSD Network / User Toolset in the Control Panel, and a number of other new features and improvements. Can be downloaded as an ISO or as a patch. The final is expected to be released this month.

June 27, 2006

Jonathan Riddell on UbuntuOS "Podcast"

From KDE Dot News:

Kubuntu developer Jonathan Riddell has appeared on the UbuntuOS "podcast", discussing plans for the upcoming Edgy release (due late this year). The OGG file can be downloaded here and here (100Mb); Riddell appears 1hr 10mins in.

June 20, 2006

PC-BSD v1.11 released

Version 1.11 of PC-BSD, a desktop adaptation of FreeBSD, has been released. This version updates the port collection (to 12th June versions), includes KDE 3.5.3, installs more video drivers and cleans up fonts (for full list, see changelog). Updates can be done using the PBI updater from the updates page, or with the "Online Update" utility; ISO and VMWare image downloads available here.

June 9, 2006

Debian Qt4 packages updated (Etch & Sid) [take 2]

Debian has updated the Qt 4.1 packages for both its testing (Etch) and unstable (Sid) versions. Both now have 4.1.3 on all platforms except Motorola 68K and s390, which have 4.1.2 (for Etch see this search result, and for Sid see this one). Sarge (the current stable release) seems to entirely lack Qt 4 packages.

June 3, 2006

SUSE Qt and KDE repositories moved

Novell/SUSE has closed the old Supplementary repositories, opening up new KDE repositories at the OpenSUSE site. The KDE/Qt3 downloads can be found here, and there is a KDE4 repository which right now contains KDE libraries, CMake (the build tool for KDE 4, replacing the autotools), and Qt 4 (updated to 4.1.3). (Hat tip: Stephan Binner.)

June 1, 2006

Kubuntu Dapper released

Kubuntu Dapper Drake, and by extension the same version of Ubuntu, has been released. This version features the "Ubiquity Desktop Installer", enabling the installation of the OS from the live CD (similar to Mandrake One), improved X display configuration, improved East Asian Language support, Netboot installation, optional kernels tuned for servers including one geared for systems with 8 or more processors, turn-key LAMP installation, and a whole lot more (see the announcement). The release can be downloaded as an ISO, ordered for free through Shipit, or upgraded from a previous release using APT or Adept (you will probably find it on a cover disk fairly soon - not on Linux Format though, which is due out today). This release features KDE 3.5.2 (but 3.5.3 is available via APT; see here); 256Mb is recommended for a desktop install.

May 26, 2006

Kubuntu Dapper RC released

Ubuntu has released a first release candidate of version 6.06 (Dapper Drake), along with the KDE version Kubuntu: announcement here, with upgrade and download instructions. The project will also be shipping Kubuntu CDs for free through the Shipit scheme - you'll need to get a Launchpad account (start here), although shipping starts in early June and could take up to six weeks, by which time the final version will be out (perhaps that's the idea, but they don't make that clear). Screenshots here at OSDir; Kubuntu features KDE 3.5.2 and KOffice v1.5.0 (see here for where to get 1.5.1.)

May 16, 2006

OpenSUSE 10.1 released

Version 10.1 of the OpenSUSE distro (the open-source version of Novell's SUSE Linux) has been released: a five-CD download is available here along with a sixth add-on CD of proprietary software (Sun Java, RealPlayer and the like). There is also a DVD download, which contains a lot more software, while the double-layer retail DVD will contain more still. This version includes KDE 3.5.1 and Qt 3.3.5 and 4.1.0; however, a supplementary library ([1], [2], [3]) is already available containing KDE 3.5.2 and Qt 4.1.2.

May 15, 2006

Qt 4.1 update for Ubuntu Dapper

In response to a bug report I filed regarding Ubuntu Dapper's inclusion of Qt 4.1.0 with its notoriously slow QTextEdit widget class, I received an email in the past few minutes from Ian Scott informing me that Dapper now contains version 4.1.2, in which the performance has been improved.

May 8, 2006

Ubuntu to improve KDE support

From KDE Dot News:

A write-up of the talk by Mark Shuttleworth (Canonical / Ubuntu) to the recent LinuxTag in Wiesbaden, Germany, on the proposed improvements to the KDE desktop in Ubuntu; this includes shipping free CDs of Kubuntu as well as of the GNOME-based Ubuntu. It was also announced that Canonical is to hire people "from the KDE world" to work on K/Ubuntu.

April 30, 2006

PC-BSD 1.0 released

The first non-beta version of the FreeBSD-based distro PC-BSD, has been released (announcement here). This version features FreeBSD 6.0 and KDE 3.5.2, and is available in a downloadable ISO (here; one ISO for the system and a second for languages other than English) or on CDs bought from their online shop. Full changelog here.

April 25, 2006

Linux Standards Base 3.1 includes Qt

The new version of the Linux Standards Base, version 3.1, now includes the open-source version of Qt version 3.3 and its accompanying tools, along with "an optional module for including Qt 4-based applications into main Linux distributions" (see also Trolltech announcement). The new standard is released today at the Desktop Linux Summit in San Diego, and is endorsed by a number of major Linux vendors; the first compliant distro is expected to be Xandros's May 1st release. Qt is included because the licensing controversies have been settled, and because the LSB standardises what all the major distributors include, and they all include Qt.

April 20, 2006

Kubuntu beta released

The first LTS (long-term support) beta of Kubuntu 6.06 "Dapper Drake" has been released. New features include KDE 3.5.2, X.org 7.0, improved start-up times and a new graphical installer available on the live CD. Kubuntu is as usual available either independently or as an additional download on top of the GNOME-based Ubuntu. For full details see the announcement. (This release contains Qt 4.1.0, which, unless they've done some back-porting work, includes the much discussed slow QTextEdit class.)

Kubuntu - Kubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta Released

March 29, 2006

DesktopBSD v1.0 released

The first official release of DesktopBSD, a FreeBSD derivative desktop operating system, has been released. This system has KDE 3.5.1 as its main desktop, and is based on FreeBSD v5.5 pre-release; the full changelog is here. Screenshots here, download (PC DVD, PC CD, AMD64 DVD) here; mirrors are in Canada, France, Germany (two), Greece, Norway and Switzerland, with a BitTorrent option as well.

January 22, 2006

PC-BSD: second release candidate

Via OSNews, PC-BSD have released a second release candidate of their FreeBSD-based desktop operating system which uses KDE as its main desktop. New features include an updated core FreeBSD (version 6.0), KDE 3.5, a fix for the loading of the "kcm fileshare" KDE module, many package updates, the use of portsnap to update ports, and the online update checker now running at startup (changelog here). A "tour" is available here, downloads here, and patch updates here.

January 4, 2006

KDE 3.5 VMware image

KDE Developer Stephan Binner has released a SUSE/KDE 3.5 installation which can be played on the freeware VMware player. The player, and therefore the image, can be run on Windows as well, and enables extra software to be installed.

"KDE 3.5 on SUSE Linux 10" for VMware Player

December 28, 2005

KDE at Solaris and SunFreeware

From KDE Developers:

KDE now has a Community at OpenSolaris. It was only started yesterday, hence the lack of downloads or announcements from them as opposed to the KDE project generally. There are, however, now KDE 3.4.3 downloads at SunFreeware, with download instructions and a mailing list; the main Solaris KDE page is solaris.kde.org.

December 19, 2005

People Behind KDE: the Debian KDE packagers

From KDE Dot News:

People Behind KDE has added an interview with the seven people responsible for the Qt/KDE Debian packages. Questions include how they each contribute, how they each came to get involved in KDE, what's missing, plans for KDE 4, their favourite widget styles and text editors, and who they prefer between Linus T and RMS.

December 18, 2005

SUSE Linux 10.1 to have Qt 4.1

From KDE Devlopers:

Stephen Binner (beineri) notes that the upcoming version of SUSE Linux is to feature Qt 4.1 as its Qt 4 package; the alpha version just released includes the 4.1 release candidate (package list here). It also features KDE 3.5 with several packages updated to last weekend's KDE 3.5 branch, as well as a recent snapshot of the KOffice trunk

November 28, 2005

DesktopBSD: third release candidate

The DesktopBSD website reports that a third release candidate of DesktopBSD 1.0 has been released. Changes include an update to FreeBSD 5-STABLE, KDE 3.4.3 and an AMD64 version. Full changelog here. Screenshots here, downloads here.

November 12, 2005

PC-BSD Release Candidate

The developers of PC-BSD have released the first release candidate of version 1 of their FreeBSD-based KDE desktop. This version is the first to be based on FreeBSD v6.0 and not one of the version 5 series, providing "a much needed UI performance boost, and now works with much more hardware", according to the changelog. The big changes, apart from the FreeBSD version upgrade, are "a graphical Language / Keyboard selector at beginning of installation process", a Network Manager utility, pre-installed Linux Binary Compatibility, an upgrade of KDE to 3.4.3, anti-aliasing enabled by default, and Greek added to the selection menu. ISO downloads here, release notes here.

Novell/SUSE to retain KDE on Enterprise desktop

From KDE Developers:

Stephen Binner (Beineri) has drawn attention to links in the tech media that Novell has given into all the feedback they got from their customers, and reversed their decision to axe KDE from their enterprise desktop package. The only innovation, one of the reports says, is that GNOME will be the default desktop.

November 6, 2005

Shuttleworth re-states Kubuntu commitment

Via OSNews, Mark Shuttleworth announced at the recent Ubuntu Below Zero conference in Montréal that he was a Kubuntu user himself and that "he wanted Kubuntu to move to a first class distribution within the Ubuntu community". The announcement says that Kubuntu CDs should, for the next release, should be available free through Shipit "if the planned Live CD Installer removes the need for a separate install CD".

November 5, 2005

Novell to make GNOME default desktop (but sacks GNOME workers)

From eWeek:

Steven J Vaughan-Nichols makes the announcement that, along with SUSE's recent "downsizing" in which 10% of its staff worldwide are being laid off including many of those working on Mono, Hula, Evolution and Desktop Strategy, GNOME and not KDE is to become its default desktop on its enterprise server and desktop packages. (This seems a bizarre move, laying off people who work on a GNOME application and a virtual machine system which is heavily GNOME-centred while making GNOME the default desktop.)

Among the comments on KDE Dot News (also with links on QtRuby, amaroK, Create and Ging) are one putting it down to "American nationalism" and one which concludes that KDE is now "the alternative", having lost the last enterprise desktop.

October 20, 2005

My review of SUSE Linux 10

I've just posted a review of SUSE Linux 10 at my main blog, with a few comments on my recent Ubuntu experience as well.

October 19, 2005

Jem Report reviews SUSE Linux 10

Via OSNews, the Jem Report have reviewed SUSE Linux version 10, noting that it's faster, particularly (a favourite bug-bear of mine) in rendering screen menus, and "more responsive and memory-efficient". He concludes that it's pleasant to use and the reviewer's preference for notebooks, but that there's little benefit for users of v9.3 in upgrading to the new version and that the upgrade feature (as I have experienced myself in past versions) does not work properly, producing numerous dependency errors.

October 14, 2005

Kubuntu - a KDE developer's preview

At KDE Developers, there's a summary of the new features in Kubuntu which makes it distinct from vanilla KDE or other KDE-centric distros. It also mentions the live CDs which didn't appear to be available when I picked up a free CD for a previous version of Kubuntu.

October 13, 2005

Kubuntu 5.10 out

From Kubuntu web site:

The second release of Kubuntu, codenamed Breezy Badger, is now available for download. This release comes with the very latest KDE 3.4.3 and includes the new Guidance configuration tools. New features include Adept, Kubuntu's new replacement for Control Center called KDE System Settings, language packs for 50 languages, and OpenOffice.org v2; see link above for full listing.

October 12, 2005

Positive review of DesktopBSD RC

Via OSNews, BSD/Linux Gangsters have published a positive review of the second release candidate of DesktopBSD, a desktop-oriented derivative of FreeBSD:

Overall - DesktopBSD is a pleasure to run and a breeze to install. It is an excellent choice for a new BSD user, a not terribly sophisticated computer user, or an old salt who just wants a good, solid, reliable desktop that won't take days to install and weeks to configure and just wants to get on with it. I was surprisingly impressed by how much quicker this OS feels compared to most linux distributions.

OSNews comments are sympathetic (nobody saying the product actually sucks and that the reviewer doesn't know what he's talking about).

October 11, 2005