Fox Desktop Linux: Another "easy to use" distro

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Fox Desktop Linux: Another "easy to use" distro

New postby stmok on 03 Jan 2006, 00:45

Its Italian based, but in English.
=> http://www.foxlinux.org/index.php?sel_lang=english

Its based on Fedora Core 4, BUT with a modified KDE GUI solution.
Everything is pretty much "made easier" for folks who like to "point and
click". They've gone with the Mac OS X-like theme.

A brief overview can be found here.
=> http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue ... #firstlook

Interestingly, it uses alot of the latest versions of apps.
Firefox 1.5, OpenOffice 2.0.1, etc.

Like Xandros, there are plans for a Free "lite" version and a "Pro" paid
version.

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm downloading now, to see how it compares
with PCLinuxOS. (Another easy to use solution, but based on Mandriva)


Notes :

If you aren't able to access the Repositories, see this thread.
http://www.foxlinux.org/modules/newbb/v ... 85&forum=2

To watch DVDs, see this thread.
http://www.foxlinux.org/modules/newbb/v ... 82&forum=2
The most important thing the hacker community does is write better code. Our deeds are the best propaganda we have. Most of us, most of the time, shouldn't be distracted by worrying about beating Microsoft's PR or countering their political moves, because writing good code is in the long run a far more potent weapon than flackery. -Eric S. Raymond
stmok
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Posts: 5191
Joined: 19 Mar 2001, 15:26
Location: Sydney, Australia

New postby stmok on 04 Jan 2006, 16:16

OK...I just tried it out...

The Good.

* Its easy to use. They've taken the good bits of Fedora Core 4 and made the necessary changes to make things really easy. So the good old Anaconda installer is there, etc.

* F0X Control Center allows easy updates and installation of apps. (as well as configuration and such)

* Mac OS X style theme
(Its really just KDE with a slightly modified layout. Its not the fully featured OS X, but is sufficient for all intents and purposes...If you want OS X, either buy a Mac or find a way to acquire the Developer x86 version).

* Using the latest versions of apps


The Bad

* I had to trash my whole multi-partition layout, because it couldn't read it! That means, my test box, using Win2k, Slackware 10.2, FreeBSD 6.0 and Solaris 10 is gone.

It could be a bug in the Partition utility, druid (spelling?).
Now I'm just annoyed! Thanks alot! Now I gotta start again! :(

* There's two main ways to install apps...

(1) Use Fox Linux repositories...This is like Linspire or Xandros, its a paid service.

(2) Use free repositories. I had no problem doing this.
Installed the SimCity clone without a problem.

*nag bit*
What annoys me about this, is that its not clear which is the paid and which is the free one. They say that one is from the FoX Dev Team and is classified as "new addons" while the other is "new software from the internet".

I mean, come on! Put it in plain English! (or whatever other language it supports).

Just simply say, if you select this method of updating or adding new apps or features, you are required to pay for a subscription service. If not, use the other method to add new things.
*end nag bit*

* Fox Linux is definitely slower than PCLinuxOS.
(And both use KDE!).

* The OS X theme is not really like using OS X. Sometimes its slow to respond. I think its a KXDocker issue.

* On the top-right hand corner, you'll see a bunch of icons. Be sure to close the one with a "box that has a CD sticking out" before you try and update anything. Otherwise, updating just doesn't work.


Overall, after using PCLinuxOS and then trying FoX Linux, I feel a bit unsatisfied. Although I'm enthusiastic about Linux, I can switch to "average PC user view". And FoX Linux "sort of" does it, but not quite. (like many distros out there.)

The bugs aren't coding ones, per say, but implementation. Granted, not all are done well, but when someone else does a better job in another distro, it just makes me think "why should I bother with this one, if this other one does a better job?"

I think this is the last "easy to use" distro I'm gonna look
at. From this point on, I'm going with distros that like
Debian and Slackware. (Because it feels like I'm learning
nothing from the "easy to use ones").
The most important thing the hacker community does is write better code. Our deeds are the best propaganda we have. Most of us, most of the time, shouldn't be distracted by worrying about beating Microsoft's PR or countering their political moves, because writing good code is in the long run a far more potent weapon than flackery. -Eric S. Raymond
stmok
Forum Guru
 
Posts: 5191
Joined: 19 Mar 2001, 15:26
Location: Sydney, Australia


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