Knoppix 7.0 - good distro for a newbie

human 19

I picked up a copy of Linux Magazine this month which included a live disk for Knoppix 7.0 . It will be replaced soon so pick up a copy soon if it's not too late already.

Knoppix 7 is based on Debian 6.0.4
The best thing I have seen, and the reason it would be great for a newbie to get an idea of a linux OS, is the ability to switch between the 4 desktop types without rebooting, and without having to log in again . It doesnt even drop the network connections in the process.

Disk contains 32-bit and 64-bit versions
kernel 3.2.4 Desktops:
KDE 4.4.5
Gnome 3.2.2 (gnome shell)
LXDE (?)
and LarsWM, which I know nothing about.

3D desktop effects switched on by default, and loads of settings available in preferences

Iceweasel (10.0) used instead of Firefox
Flash 11.1... included in Iceweasel
Noscript add-on included in Iceweasel...others like cookie monster/ghostery not included
Chrome also included
Claws email (my favourite) / Kmail included
Ktorrent & Transmission bit torrent
SMPlayer (Yay!), VLC, Totem, Kaffeine media players
Libre Office 3.4.5
A ton of games included

Usual easy network set-up for my O2 Broadband.
Usual easy set-up for my vu+ satellite box for streaming TV to the desktop.

Tons of extra stuff added by the magazine team.
A lot of overlap between different menu items but I guess the menus can be configured as you want them

It is configured as a live distro rather than 1 to be installed on a hard disk, (see here , why not to not to install) I did it anyway so I can play around with it. I just wont be expecting to use it as a main OS

humbert

Sounds like a great option for finding out what linux is and what it can do but the reasons against installing to the harddisk seem fairly legitimate so if you decided to run a dual boot you'd probably be better off choosing a different flavour?

Johnboy1951

Do they make the DVD available for download anywhere?
Might be worth a look if available.

Capt'n Midnight

You can install to a hard drive, look up the "poor man's install" it just boots from the live CD image.

Plop is a boot loader that IIRC can boot from a live CD image on a local hard drive


Setup persistent folders and you can save settings and teaks.

In the past I used knoppix for about six months when windows refused to boot, just CBA sending a full evening reinstalling and getting everything back right, when the live CD meant I could be surfing instead


In the past,
you can use apt-get install to expand some apps
but apt-get upgrade would badly break Knoppix in strange and interesting ways

download
http://knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/index-en.html

heanet typically lag on latest versions
http://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/knoppix-dvd/

human 19

Does anyone know of another distro which allows such seamless transition between various desktop environments within a distro?

KDE is my fav, happy to work with Gnome 2. Dont like either gnome shell or Unity but will to work with them for a while to see if they click.

Im in the process of downloading Bodhi Linux which uses the "Enlightenment" window manager/ desktop environment, which I hadnt heard of before tonight...possible new thread to follow .

Johnboy1951

human 19 wrote: »

Does anyone know of another distro which allows such seamless transition between various desktop environments within a distro?

http://www.pclinuxos.com

PCLinuxOS ..... install the KDE4 version and add as many others as you wish from the repository, using provided meta-packages.

Select the DE at the login page

enlightenment
fluxbox
gnome
KDE4
lxde
openbox
xfce

I have been doing this for years ...... would think that most distros allow for this ... but maybe not ....

human 19

I had actually downloaded PCkinusOS KDE on Saturday night (along with sabayon 8 and Bodhi thanks to the wonderful Multisystem) and installed .

After a bit of grub/grub2 messing, I got it booted but am now having trouble getting the O2 broadband dongle connected. It works straight away in my other distros (and also in sabayon and bodhi) so unless you have a quick fix for that , it look like Iwill have to go to their forums. I tried modeswitch also but that didnt work.

I previously tried to install gome on top of KDE via the repos but it was a mess due to lots of conflicts,so required a re-install. I will give it a go with PClinuxOS if I get the networking sorted.

Johnboy1951

human 19 wrote: »

After a bit of grub/grub2 messing, I got it booted but am now having trouble getting the O2 broadband dongle connected. It works straight away in my other distros (and also in sabayon and bodhi) so unless you have a quick fix for that , it look like Iwill have to go to their forums. I tried modeswitch also but that didnt work.

Usually people set up their connection through the PCLOS Control Centre - networking .... GPRS/etc ...... but it may be necessary to install a package depending on your hardware.
Searching the forum for the number of the dongle might give an indication ......