4 categories of Linux distributions

There are different Linux distributions. If you just go to Distrowatch site, you will find hundreds of them listed there. Some of them even have my reviews listed. And how many distributions are NOT listed? Some of them either fail to gain registration on Distrowatch, or are in the process of that, like Zorin OS was just few years ago.

However, there are at least four distinctive categories of distributions visible in the Linux world.

Meeting the KDesktop from Alt Linux

What do you know about Russia?
Vodka? Bears on the streets? Siberia?
Any more stereotypes?
Let me give you another one: Linux.
Yes, Linux!
There are people in Russia, there are computers in Russia, and of course there is Linux!
I have written about at least 3 Russian Linux distributions already: Simply Linux, Alt Linux and Agilia Linux all were born in Russia. To be honest, Simply Linux was born as part-time project of Alt Linux team member and since then moved fully onto Alt Linux team.
But Simply is not our today's topic. I have already written about it recently.

Instead, let's again look at Alt Linux. Why? They have released new version of their system recently, and it is very interesting to know what it has to offer.
ISO Image of Alt Linux 6.0 KDesktop (that is official name of the version) weights more than 4Gb and available for both 32- and 64-bit platforms.
Because of the size of the image, I went for DVD-RW route to start it.
So, disk is ready and is in the drive of my Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Pi 1505 laptop. Reboot. Choose to boot from optical drive. Let's go!

New format of guest post

Приветствую всех читателей журнала User and Linux, зашедших на мой блог. Буду рад видеть вас здесь многократно. Для этих целей можете воспользоваться одним из многих вариантов подписки на обновления - все они перечислены в правом столбце.
Тем, кто недостаточно владеет английским языком для чтения блога в оригинале, рекомендую пользоваться функцией автопереводчика все в том же правом столбце.

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Have you ever seen my guest posts? Looks like I made quite a few already and one of them very recently.

But this time I made my guest post in quite different manner. This is publication in real magazine.
Unfortunately for most of you, this magazine is not published in English. It is User and Linux magazine and it is published in Ukraine in Russian language. If you understand Russian, you can get paper copy of this magazine or read electronic version of it. If not, don’t despair and read on, I still have something for you.
I have 2 articles published in #13.
September is traditionally a start of school year in ex-USSR countries, and lots of press puts school-related articles in September. User and Linux is not an exception.
Articles which I published there are about school theme too. They are about Alt Linux which is widely used in Russian schools. Actually, they are not “brand new” articles. Both of them have been previously published on this blog.

• “Give me 5!” (page 26 in electronic copy of magazine) was my own review of Alt Linux KDE Desktop.
• Fate of second article is more interesting. Low-spec computer: Alt Linux vs Windows 7 Ultimate was initially guest post by Sergey Trenin in my blog based on Sergey’s post in Alt Linux forum. I adapted that forum post again for paper publication for the User and Linux (page 28 in electronic copy).

So, my dear readers, you’re welcome to read Russian version of my articles, as well as re-read existing English posts. Choice is yours!

Low-spec computer: Alt Linux vs Windows 7 Ultimate

This is guest post written by Sergey Trenin, aka greyzy

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Purpose: learn process of installation and work of distributives of operating systems Alt Linux Desktop 5.0 KDE and Window 7 Ultimate in low-spec computer which you can find in school.

Computer configuration:

• Motherboard Asus TUSI-M (7-9 years old, cannot tell more exact)
• Processor Celeron 1100MHz
• HDD 40Gb, IDE of course
• DVD-ROM Sony
• build-in video card
• built-in network card.
• Experiments ran on memory cards 64, 128, 256 Mb, and also with external network card. External video card was not tested because there is not AGP slot on motherboard, and I didn’t have PCI video card available.
• Screen Samsung SyncMaster 550s, 15"

Comment: videocard has standard RAM 16Mb, but can be extended in BIOS, effectively reducing RAM available for applications.

Give me 5!

I have recently asked if you remember the Pet Shop Boys song Go West! Do you? Fine. Do you remember chorus in that track? That is one of the most famous choruses in Russia, chorus of Russian Army.
Do Russians do anything else? Something different from choruses? You might well remember balalaikas, vodka, bears and other stereotypes.
But please wait. Russians also live in 21st century. Although there are some area where you have issues with snail mail and gas,  there are still some computer geniuses. And, of course, Tux lives in many Russian homes and offices. There are several Linux distros born in Russia. I have already told you about one of them, Agilia Linux. Now it is time to get acquainted with another.

Alt Linux

Alt Linux is famous in Russia because it is widely used in schools. Company beyond Alt Linux (strangely named OOO Alt Linux too) issued set of different Linux distributives specifically for schools. They promote it across the country, sometimes having serious fights with Microsoft.
But school-oriented versions are not the only available. I am more interested in KDE Desktop version of Alt Linux. Its latest version, 5.0 weights about 3.4Gb. Too much for CD-RW, so I will burn it to DVD-RW disk. Test will run on my Toshiba laptop. Disk is ready. Reboot. Chose to boot from DVD. Let's go!