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PCLinuxOS 2009 Goes Gold

Posted by samzenpus on from the a-hearty-handshake dept.

nerdyH writes "After nearly two years, the PCLinuxOS project has achieved a major new release, PCLinuxOS 2009. The project is notable for maintaining a Linux hardware compatibility database, publishing a freely downloadable monthly Linux magazine, and selling hardware pre-installed with Linux. It boasts a pretty vibrant community, too, and is used by 3.2 percent of DesktopLinux readers, according to an ongoing reader survey there."

14 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Fast download by Anna+Merikin · · Score: 2, Informative

    PClinuxOS-KDE ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/os/Linux/distr/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/pclinuxos-2009.1.iso
    PClinux-Gnome http://linuxgator.org/PCLinuxOS/iso/pclos-gnome2009.1.iso

    I get full speed from the KDE link. YMMV.

    1. Re:Fast download by anagama · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Why should I download? I've checked out the main site, at least the top pages on the site, and it doesn't say why I should care about pclinux. Compare with Debian, Ubuntu, or Gentoo -- these suggest a reason for using any of those right off the bat. Fedora is a little more vague, but then Red Hat can be a little more coy than others.

      This is the first thing said about PCLinuxOS:

      The Ripper Gang is pleased to announce the final public ISO release of PCLinuxOS 2009.1. This release features kernel 2.6.26.8.tex3, KDE 3.5.10, Open Office 3.0, Firefox 3.0.7, Thunderbird 2.0.0.14, Ktorrent, Frostwire, Amarok, Flash, Java JRE, Compiz-Fusion 3D and much more. We decided to use kde3-5-10 as our default desktop as the we could not achieve a similar functionality from kde4. We will however offer kde4 as an alternative desktop environment available from the repo once we stabilize it.

      That alphabet soup doesn't really inspire at all. Now, I actually know that I don't want to use Gentoo, but the first thing from the site makes it seem tempting:

      We produce Gentoo Linux, a special flavor of Linux that can be automatically optimized and customized for just about any application or need. Extreme performance, configurability and a top-notch user and developer community are all hallmarks of the Gentoo experience. To learn more, read our about page.

      --
      What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
    2. Re:Fast download by Joe+Snipe · · Score: 2, Funny

      I actually know that I don't want to use Gentoo

      No worries, with all the configuring and compiling, you'll never have to. Welcome to the fold!

      --
      Sometimes, life itself is sarcasm...
    3. Re:Fast download by sgbett · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I have to agree I just can't get away from it. The initial build is incredibly painful, doubly so atm because upgrading the default GCC in 2008.1 (4.1.2) to 4.3.3 so you can set your march to core2!

      I realise this makes me sound like your typical ricer, but make no mistake I *know* it aint gonna be (noticably) faster, but as parent said - its knowing that its right is what counts. If you can maximise how well your OS is tailored to your box, and minimise cruft it makes it far easier to figure out problems (imho). I certainly give credit wher it is due to distro's like ubuntu That also offer things like kde 4.2 I just feel that if something goes wrong - what then? The boards for ubuntu/gentoo are a world apart in my anecdotal experience. Understandably though. If you chose Ubuntu, its probably because you can't/won't understand whats going on behind the scenes.

      Anyway I feel gentoo is a delight to work with. Portage is incredible, it gives you so much control of your build and yet its learning curve is not too steep.

      I try not to promote gentoo by highlighting the problems with other distro's - I think it stand on its own merits. My personal experience with RPMs has been terrible, I like to hope that this is down to my failure to grok them, otherwise ther is a lot of pissed off people out there that don't know any better!

      In fact I would go so far as to only recommend gentoo to people who I think will understand where it is coming from, and why it is like it is. Everyone else? might as well just get a mac ;)

      --
      Invaders must die
    4. Re:Fast download by sgbett · · Score: 2, Funny

      shit. apostrophe police are gonna be on my ass.

      --
      Invaders must die
    5. Re:Fast download by aurispector · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Ok, so your criticism is that the website isn't shiny enough? God, I'd hate to be your waiter. If you haven't tried the distro itself, it's hard to give your attitude any credibility.

      That being said, I spent part of yesterday playing around with the gnome version and came away extremely impressed. The 2007 version was very good, and these guys spent a lot of time ironing out bugs and making it simple to set up and use. Everything worked for me right out of the box, the package system is excellent and if you want to fiddle with settings there's an easy to navigate menu system. This is a great distro both for ease of use and for letting you look under the hood without first becoming a command line god.

      Try it and you may end up wondering why people get so worked up about Ubuntu.

      --
      I have mod points. The reign of terror begins now.
    6. Re:Fast download by ciderVisor · · Score: 2, Funny

      Knowing what I do about those, I'm going to give PCLOS a shot.

      Great, cos what the world needs is one more PCLOSer.

      --
      Squirrel!
  2. is used by 3.2 percent of DesktopLinux readers... by Bearhouse · · Score: 4, Funny

    Who presumably like' kde 3.5 *slashes wrists*

    In other news today, (and I'm not joking), Bill Gates once again became the world's richest man *shoots self in head just to make sure*

  3. Re:Stupid name! by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 2, Funny

    It could be worse, they could have called it iPCLinuxOSMacXWin/2.

    --
    Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
  4. Re:The Problem with Linux/Opensource by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't feed the trolls. Fragmentation is so minor a problem for Linux filesystems there is only one distro -- Debian -- that even bothers to offer a defragmentation utility.

    FUD does not need a defensive reply. Just tell the truth and let it fall where it will.

  5. Re:The Problem with Linux/Opensource by master5o1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sure, Linux file systems don't need defragmentation, but there are a hell of a lot of distributions to choose from.

    --
    signature is pants
  6. TFA by Anna+Merikin · · Score: 2, Informative

    ...said the download was slow and that KDE-3.5.10 was the desktop. I corrected both misstatements in my post. I did not recommend PCLinuxOS. I said I was downloading the Gnome version...to test it out.

    If you want to check out PCLinuxOS and want a fast link, my post should be of value.

    If you know you won't like it or don't need it, don't download it from my fast link.

  7. Moore's law and Gentoo by mcrbids · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I first tried Gentoo on an AMD K62 with 96 MB RAM. Back then, a usable system took at least a week if there were no compiler errors. Which there were, I never got it working because I gave up after the first week or so.

    But now, Moore's law has largely mitigated this nightmare - you can have a working system in a few hours! Of course, the faster systems also obviate a primary need for Gentoo (performance) but...

    I'm sticking with Fedora, thanks!

    --
    I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
    1. Re:Moore's law and Gentoo by GMFTatsujin · · Score: 2, Funny

      With today's PCs, Gentoo compilations also fail much faster, so you can tear your hair out sooner. I suppose that's progress...