That's it, I don't need Windows anymore...

**smurfy** · #1 November 30th, 2002, 02:14 AM

I've only tried a couple of Linux distributions, RedHat and this one...

http://www.lycoris.com/products/desktoplx/

But I have to say that Lycoris DesktopLX is truly a genuine competitor for Windows.

I struggle to find my around anything in RedHat, Lycoris feels like Windows and is truly USER FRIENDLY.

Got a spare couple of Gigs disk space doing nothing?
Get Lycoris on it now!

lufbra · #2 November 30th, 2002, 03:30 AM

Are all your hardware drivers compatible with this Smurfy, do you have the Deluxe version, and would it mean a reformat to add this OS?

Looks very tempting to me!!!

Dave.

**smurfy** · #3 November 30th, 2002, 11:31 AM

lufbra, I've just installed it on two systems, my main one had RedHat 7.1 still on it which I deleted and reformatted the existing linux partitions using the Lycoris setup (easy even in "advanced" mode) and the other was on an unformatted disk which was even easier because I could let it do the partitioning itself. My main one (using it right now in fact) needed me to manually set mount points and swap space.

Now if you are looking for a server operating system to rival Win2000, this is not the Linux version to go for. But for just plain desktop home use, it's as good as any Windows version I've used.

The only piece of hardware it has problems with is my WinModem but no Linux version can use that and to be honest, Win2000 has a hard time with it as well.
I don't use any USB devices so not sure how well it will handle them and haven't fired it up on my LAN yet but that's certainly the next step.

The version I got is about 2 months old Single CD ISO image on a magazine cover CD so definately not the delux, that's probaly got a lot more software and developer stuff in it which may assist in making it more of a server class install.

But lets face it from finishing burning the ISO to having an operational boot and being live on the internet in less than an hour (even on my old clunker) is pretty good going.

I would not recommend WIPING Windows off your system to install this as there is still the issue of software availability to contend with - there's still not much out there - but so far there hasn't been anything I've needed that it hasn't already got installed:
Internet - Mozilla browser, email and web editor. LICQ, (and AIM & IRC clients) FTP client.
Graphics - The Gimp, image viewer, scanner & digital camera support
MMedia - Winamp equivalent, real player, DVD/DivX player etc
Games - a little more than your standard windows batch but similar
Productivity - KOffice (Word processor, spreadsheet, presentation graphics, organiser) MSoffice compatible I believe.

I'm going to play around and see if I can break it but so far it's pretty stable.

Certainly progresses Linux from the geeks only command line reliance in the same wat that Win2000 & XP (especially) have said good-bye to DOS.
Everything you need is in a GUI and most with a Wizard.
For example, connecting to the net for the first time, (using dial-up) took me less than a minute from "hmmm, where do I start" to knocking on the front door of www.cybertechhelp.com

I'm happier than a pig in s@$# at the moment.

**MishY** · #4 November 30th, 2002, 11:44 AM

Smurfy,

That looks great! I'm going to look out for that on the PC mags over here.

The desktop looks very nice. Almost like a more refined KDE.

How fast have you found it so far ?

**smurfy** · #5 November 30th, 2002, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Almost like a more refined KDE.

You got it - it's KDE based (I prefer KDE to Gnome anyway).
Like a cross between KDE & WinXP.
Most of the apps are from KDE. Uses Konqueror as the file manager (it still works as a web browser).

Screen pic links to follow shortly...

**MishY** · #6 November 30th, 2002, 12:16 PM

Konqueror is a great browser !

heh the more I think about your post the more I want to wipe my HDD and install redhat again (my other redhat boxes don't have monitors)

**smurfy** · #7 November 30th, 2002, 12:47 PM

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~smurfy/snapshot4.png

Warning - large image file size - Haven't quite figured out .png compression yet (but it's only 1:40am so I'll get there).

Screenshot of "My Linux System" window as it was immediately on my first boot up - no /mount required - Win98, Win2000, CDRW, Floppy, Spare Fat32 and Linux partitions all visible and usable. (Yes, I'm serious, just opened files from my "Secure" winNT partition with Win2000Server from Linux! - can't write to it though)

Harrie · #8 December 1st, 2002, 01:26 AM

Very, very, very tempting! Thank you for this post!

**MishY** · #9 December 1st, 2002, 11:44 AM

Smurfy,

How big was the install ? Was the installation process very customisable ? Do you get any servers installed when you install the OS such as apache, mysql etc. ? or is it meant to be a desktop equivalent to windows ?

btw how big is that taskbar ? I never liked the huge taskbar (even when shrunken) compared to the windows one heh

MishY

**smurfy** · #10 December 2nd, 2002, 08:45 AM

How big was the install ? About 1Gig total

Was the installation process very customisable ?
- no package options (that I could find) in the installer - select your partition and boom, it's writing. Once loaded though there is an easily accessible "Manage packages" option to install/unistall as well as the "add software wizard".

Do you get any servers installed when you install the OS such as apache, mysql etc. ?
Nope - but again that could be because I've got the 1 disk version, the Delux would have all the developer tools.

or is it meant to be a desktop equivalent to windows ?
Windows "Home user" yep.

btw how big is that taskbar
Yeah, pretty big and ugly - but a right click away is a "Size" menu - Normal is default (as seen) and also have Tiny, Small and Large. Tiny is much better.

BTW, you asked about performance - It's a bit sluggish I have to admit. K6-2 @ 550 with 120MB RAM (*8mb goes to the on-board video).
I reckon this rig would choke on XP as well. Everything is a GUI just like Windows so it is going to chug a little.
Double my RAM and my CPU would be ideal I think.

So far, since installing the only reason I've booted back into windows is to do some homework on Win2000 server (writing .asp stuff with vbSripting for work which is a no-go) and into 98 for a network game with my kid.

Sat my 9yr old son (10 on Friday) in front of it and told him he could play some games if he wanted to. He found them and was playing fine immediately. Going to use him for some more "dumb testing" to make sure i'm not over-exaggerating the ease of this OS.

lufbra · #11 December 2nd, 2002, 11:56 AM

Does the Defrag' work Smurfy?

Dave.

**rockboy** · #12 December 3rd, 2002, 08:05 AM

Interesting thread. Still using Win98SE here. Someday I'll give Linux a try.

About your screenshot... you can reduce the .png file size from 250k+ to under 100k by reducing colors to 256k or less and using max compression. IrfanView can do that. Shouldn't affect it much visually.

**smurfy** · #13 December 3rd, 2002, 09:13 AM

Hiya rockboy.
Yeah, in Windows with Irfanview I can get it under 50k but with the gimp or the Image viewer in Lycoris I hadn't had time to learn how yet.

**zipulrich** · #14 December 3rd, 2002, 12:20 PM

Hi Rockboy!!!

Very nice to see you here!

(Only took 4 months for your 1st post.....awaiting your reply this Springtime

)

Dodge · #15 December 3rd, 2002, 06:11 PM

Always interested in trying new OS's... Smurfy, do you know if AOL will work with this system? I know the Lindows finally has a Netscape version of AOL that is working great. I think that is what AOL 8.0 is also. (Which means it is about time they use their own product (netscape) to support their browser)....

Just curious.