Tag Archives: Google Chrome

Exton Linux distributions

Who needs KDE or Gnome?

2 Comments

LFALFA (Linux for all) version 150225, 64 bit, with Fluxbox as Window Manager and Cairo-Dock as Desktop Interface

About
The system is based on upcoming Ubuntu 15.04, codenamed Vivid Vervet and Debian Jessie (upcoming Debian 8). It’s a total rebuild. I.e. nothing is left of the old LFA system.

The system language is ENGLISH.

News about LFA build 150225
Previous version of LFA (build 141120) had four (4) Desktop environments installed. Namely Unity (Ubuntu), LXDE, Razor-qt and XBMC. LFA build 150225 uses only Fluxbox as window manager and Cairo-Dock as Desktop interface. Cairo-Dock is designed to be light, fast and customizable, and is desktop-agnostic. It has a powerful DBus interface, to be controlled from a terminal or another application. Features can be added by plug-ins or applets, and applets can be written in C or in any language. About Fluxbox: Fluxbox is a window manager for X that was based on the Blackbox 0.61.1 code. It is very light on resources and easy to handle but yet full of features to make an easy, and extremely fast, desktop experience. So who needs KDE or Gnome?

Screenshot of LFA’s new Desktop.

Program content etc
Among many other programs Google Chrome (so you can watch Netflix movies), GParted (a free partition editor for graphically managing your disk partitions), BlueGriffon Web Editor (works almost like Dreamweaver), Synaptic Package Manager, SMPlayer (a free media player with built-in codecs that can play virtually all video and audio formats) and PCManFM (a very fast file manager). In addition flash and all necessary additions in order to install programs from source. All programs have been updated to the latest available version as of February 25, 2015. See a complete list of all installed packages.

Web based applications
In order to keep down the LFA system size (so you can run LFA superfast from RAM) I have refrained from installing LibreOffice and Gimp. Instead I offer links in Google Chrome to Onlyoffice.com (A Free alternative to Microsoft Office) and Pixlr.com (Photo Editor – works almost like Adobe Photoshop). Both apps are very easy to use. An alternative to Pixlr.com is Toolpic.com.

Screenshot – Pixlr.com’s Photo Editor in use

Screenshot – Onlyoffice.com’s writer in use

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 3.19.0-5-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 3.19.0.

Feature OVERVIEW for the Linux 3.19 kernel

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions

ExTiX 15.1.1 KDE with KDE Frameworks 5.7.0 and kernel 3.19.0-5-exton

Leave a comment

extix-logo-black-white-bgNEWS ABOUT ExTiX 15.1.1 KDE build 150221
In this new extra version/build I have replaced Unity/Ubuntu with KDE 4.14.4 (latest) and KDE Frameworks 5.7.0. KDE Frameworks are 60 addon libraries to Qt which provide a wide variety of commonly needed functionality in mature, peer reviewed and well tested libraries with friendly licensing terms. All common KDE packages are installed- packages LIST. I have added LibreOffice (the whole suite), Google Chrome (to make it possible to watch Netflix movies), Samba (so you can reach your Windows shares) and GCC and other compilation tools (so that you can install packages from source). Kernel 3.19.0-5-exton is used.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL about ExTiX and especially version 150221 and 150205?
1. The ExTiX ISO is a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run ExTiX from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence! I’ve found two scripts which make the installation to USB very simple. My tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems. Read my INSTRUCTION how to use the scripts.
2. Another big improvement is that ExTiX can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 3 (Copy to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExTiX that way. Running from RAM means that the system will run faster than from DVD or USB stick. Everything will be superfast I would say!
3. ExTiX is now more stable than ever. All packages have been upgraded to the latest versions by 150221 and 150205.
4. I’ve replaced kernel 3.16.0-21-exton with kernel 3.19.0-5-exton and 3.18.0-10-exton (Kernel.org’s stable kernel 3.19.0/3.18.3).
5. The installation program Ubiquity (live installer) is now working as intended. I.e. a new user (your user) will be created during the installation process.

See this screenshot of ExTiX KDE’s Desktop

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions

DebEX KDE with KDE 4.14.3/KDE Plasma Desktop 5:84 and kernel 3.19.0-5-exton

Leave a comment

DebianNEWS ABOUT DebEX KDE build 150219
I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Live DVD. It replaces version 150116. It’s a pure Debian 8 system. I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. (One could also say it’s The real McCoy!). DebEX KDE uses KDE 4.14.3 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:84 as Desktop environment. (The latest stable version of KDE) and kernel 3.19.0-5-exton. I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphic driver 346.35. Furthermore Google Chrome to make it possible to watch Netflix movies. I’ve added SMPlayer – an alternative to Vlc. (SMPlayer is a free media player for Windows and Linux with built-in codecs that can play virtually all video and audio formats. It doesn’t need any external codecs. Just install SMPlayer and you’ll be able to play all formats without the hassle to find and install codec packs). All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version of 150219. Study the full package list.

Rolling distribution
Debian Jessie/DebEX are rolling distributions, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world). This means, for example, that you can go on and install Gnome 3.14 or/and KDE 4.14.3 in DebEX Barebone/KDE. I.e. the latest versions (as of 150219) of Gnome and KDE.

Screenshot of the KDE Plasma Desktop in version 150219 of DebEX KDE

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions

Run the world’s most popular Linux system with the latest kernel – 3.19.0!

1 Comment

MeX LinuxNEWS/CHANGES in MeX Linux build 150214
All packages in MeX Linux have been upgraded to the latest version by 150214. Cairo-Dock has been replaced by Docky. The most important change is that I have replaced the install program Ubiquity with MeX Installer. The installation to hard drive is now so simple that a 10 year old child can do it. Watch a SLIDESHOW of the hard drive installation process. Also: Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca is based on Debian and Ubuntu 14.04. MeX build 150214 is based on Debian Jessie, Ubuntu 14.10 and Linux Mint 17.1. I have replaced kernel 3.16.0-28-generic with “my” special kernel 3.19.0-5-exton (corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 3.19.0).

Program content
To make it possible to run MeX from RAM I have kept down the number of installed packages. The MeX ISO file is of 1260 MB. The ISO size has increased a bit because of me installing Google Chrome (to make it possible to watch Netflix movies). All packages have been updated to the latest available stable version as of February 14, 2015. See a complete list of all installed packages.

Used KERNEL
The latest original Ubuntu kernel 3.16.0-28-generic (for live systems) corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 3.16.4 has been replaced by “my” special kernel 3.19.0-5-exton (corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 3.19.0). The best thing with kernel 3.19 is that it has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel.

Feature OVERVIEW for the Linux 3.19 kernel

Who can benefit from MeX?
All who like Debian/Ubuntu/Mint and want a system that is easy to use and maintain. Also those who want to run a Linux system superfast from RAM and/or like to run Linux from a USB flash drive. And those who want the latest stable kernel – 3.19.0.

See this screenshot of the Cinnamon Desktop

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions

Exton|OS 64 bit with Mate and kernel 3.19.0-5-exton :: build 150211

Leave a comment

NEWS 150211
A new and much better version of Exton|OS is ready. I have replaced kernel 3.16.0-21-exton with kernel 3.19.0-5-exton. (Kernel.org‘s stable kernel 3.19.0, released 150209). With kernel 3.19.0 there is no real need to use Nvidia proprietary graphic drivers since this kernel has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel.

Feature OVERVIEW for the Linux 3.19 kernel

Desktop Environment and programs
The Desktop Environment is Mate 1.8.1. (A fork of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems). Kernel 3.19.0-5-exton. (Kernel.org‘s stable kernel 3.19.0, released 150209). Program content: Firefox, Gimp, Google Chrome (added for Netflix), Vlc and GParted. Also all necessary additions in order to install programs from source. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as at February 11, 2015. Study the full package list.

See a screenshot of Exton|OS’s Mate Desktop

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions

ExLight Linux Live DVD 64 bit with Enlightenment 0.19.1 and kernel 3.18.0-10-exton

1 Comment

WHAT’S NEW IN VERSION 150126?
1. ExLight is now based on upcoming Ubuntu 15.04 (alias Vivid Vervet) and Debian Jessie.
2. I have upgraded the Desktop environment Enlightenment (Beauty at your fingertips) to version 0.19.1.
3. I have replaced kernel 3.16.0-21-exton with kernel 3.18.0-10-exton.
4. ExLight’s ISO file is now a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run ExLight from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence! I’ve found two scripts which make the installation to USB very simple. The scripts are quite ingenious. My tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems. Read my INSTRUCTION how to use the scripts.
5. Another big improvement is that ExLight can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 3 (Copy to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExLight that way.
6. The installation program Ubiquity (live installer) is now working as intended in ExLight version 150126. I.e. a new user (your user) will be created during the installation process.
7. I have installed Nvidia Graphic driver 346.35.
8. The ISO file has decreased in size from 1200 MB to 768 MB. It means that the system will run faster from DVD or USB stick. When you run ExLight from RAM everything will be superfast!

Installed packages
The Desktop Environment is Enlightenment 0.19.1. (Beauty at your fingertips). Kernel 3.18.0-10-exton is used. (Kernel.org‘s kernel 3.18.3). Program content: Synaptic, GParted, Wicd, AbiWord, PCManFM, Google Chrome (for watching Netflix movies) and Gimp. Also some additions in order to install programs from source. Study the full program LIST. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as at January 26, 2015.

The system language is English.

Mate
See a screenshot of the Enlightenment 0.19.1 Desktop

READ MORE…