SolusOS

[MidnightCowboy]

There are so many reliable Linux distributions around now, you can almost choose one just because it “looks nice” and not have to worry about it breaking. This especially applies to the ‘Buntu variants providing you can live with the this-v-that desktop arguments. Every now and then though something comes along that is just a bit more special. Mint is a prime example and I would also add Kororaa, Fusion and Zorin to the list. A more recent one IMO is SolusOS.

http://solusos.com/

Developed by the person responsible for the original Mint Debian, this distro is neat, rock solid and sharp. I liked what I saw in live session so dual booted it with Windows 7 (replacing my existing Linux) and the whole operation went without a hitch. Network connections were fine for both of mine and sound was OK too for my four speaker setup although having tried so many options, I can’t remember now how I finally got it set. Extensions would not install into Chromium but downloading Chrome instead fixed that. The only thing I can’t work out at the moment is how to enable spellcheck for LibreOffice. Rather than mess around installing packages I’m not sure about, I downloaded Abiword plus an English dictionary pack as a temporary measure and posted the issue to their forum. I didn't need much extra from their software resource, but what I did loaded fine.

SolusOS is well worth checking out for the cost of a DVD. I don't normally recommend stuff that isn't "finished" yet, but this RC4 is as close to final as it's going to get and users with RC3 or 4 can easily upgrade when the final is released.

Screenshot here:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/free...html#post72181

[wdhpr]

Debian was my very first linux try which lasted about a day. Then came Mepis which I used for close to a year. Then came Ubuntu and then Mint gnome which is still my default linux OS. In between I tested many others both using vBulletin and then using a partition on my second HDD next to my pristine WINXP OS. I'm still running Zorin and to be honest I find it extremely stable and quite possibly it will be my next default linux operating system. I still have Puppy and Bodhi on USB drives. I'm still impressed with how well Bodhi works on a thumb drive and Puppy is just simply amazing.

I've decided to stay clear of RC versions and wait for the final release. I also avoid falling in love with new distro's because it can take awhile for them thar bugs to show up.

So with said I would like to thank you again MC for travelling off the beaten path exposing yourself to elements of the unknown so I don't have to.

Cheers

[MidnightCowboy]

Developed a slight issue with mine since yesterday in that Thunderbird which was working perfectly has now disappeared. I tried reinstalling it but to no avail. The "starting Thunderbird" icon appears but then just fades away. I'm guessing this might be something to do with either a mis-match of packages with what else I installed yesterday, or something to do with the "setting localisation of Firefox and Thunderbird" message that appeared during the install process. I just installed Evolution instead to get over it and will continue to try for a contact with the developer.

There really is so much to like about this distro, and I don't intend that a few bugs in what is after all not yet a final release should put me off. I like bugs anyway because they remind me of Windows

[wdhpr]

Originally Posted by MC

There really is so much to like about this distro, and I don't intend that a few bugs in what is after all not yet a final release should put me off. I like bugs anyway because they remind me of Windows

I understand completely, its just that I have one slot to play with and I'm waiting for Mint with Cinnamon to come out with the next final release before giving it a try. I have to admit though you stuck by Bodhi when I was ready to give up on it but instead I now have a wonderful OS running in persistent mode on my 8GB USB drive.

[MidnightCowboy]

Yar - Bodhi is another issue with me in that I was never able to resolve my sound crashing. This is obviously a local card thing specific to my system so I'll just have to accept it and hope that the next release fixes it. If so, I could well "revert", but I sure like Solus. The Solus dev actually makes some very good comments about the failings of Cinnamon and Mate which is why he doesn't intend to go down the same path. According to his own words, Solus users will suddenly be running Gnome 3, but not notice any difference. This I like

[MidnightCowboy]

Have just discovered that a known Debian bug (not SolusOS bug) was responsible for my loss of Thunderbird. This was related to my attempts to get spellchecking working in LibreOffice. Hopefully a fix will be suggested via their forum.

[wdhpr]

Originally Posted by MC

The Solus dev actually makes some very good comments about the failings of Cinnamon and Mate which is why he doesn't intend to go down the same path. According to his own words, Solus users will suddenly be running Gnome 3, but not notice any difference. This I like

Blimey, Don't tell me I'm taking to much faith in Cinnamon. I'm starting to feel like a pirate out of water. So far Zorin has bridged the gap not found with the latest releases of Ubuntu and Mint so perhaps the answer lays with SolusOS. I guess its best to lay low for a spell and see how things settle.

Bodhi is another issue with me in that I was never able to resolve my sound crashing. This is obviously a local card thing specific to my system so I'll just have to accept it and hope that the next release fixes it.

I have issues with my graphics card but have found solutions around it. Thing is, for linux to flourish it has to get a grip on the hardware problems and the makers of the hardware need to acknowledge linux users. Hard to tell how it will shake out.

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by wdhpr

Blimey, Don't tell me I'm taking to much faith in Cinnamon. I'm starting to feel like a pirate out of water.

This is part of what the Solus dev says:

"As most of you know, the existence of the SolusOS project is mostly being overlooked by the reviewers and bloggers that be. Although it does not directly affect the project, considering the amount of emails I have sent on behalf of SolusOS in the last couple of months, it is outright ignorance to have not even received an acknowledgement email in response.

There are many Linux users who now feel they are left in limbo. The transition to Gnome 3/Cinnamon/Unity is not something everyone wants. That is why we are here. We provide a modern distribution, with current application versions, based on Debian Squeeze (stable). We all know that thousands of users seek such an experience, one that SolusOS provides. Heck we even have a custom built kernel, 3.0.0 + bfs + pae + preempt. It's about time we, as a community, informed other users what we have to offer.

I am only one man, therefore only one voice. You, as the community, can help to spread the word to those seeking such a project. I have yet again emailed DW, most likely in vain. You can help us, the project, and other users, by spreading the word of SolusOS. So get typing, get to every forum you know, and spread the word. Tell the people, SolusOS is here."

The same arguments about this disto in general of course hold true. On the one hand some folks will say this is yet another one man band so they don't have the resources of a bigger distro and could lose interest in the project for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, one person is always likely to be highly committed to their own project and they don't need to obtain a consensus from 20 others before making a change.

I've mailed Dedoimedo for his thoughts on this as he's forgotten more about Linux than I'm likely to learn

[MidnightCowboy]

Thunderbird issue now sorted thanks to their forum help. All I needed to do was install the .en localisation package again, after which Thunderbird launched.

[wdhpr]

There are many Linux users who now feel they are left in limbo. The transition to Gnome 3/Cinnamon/Unity is not something everyone wants. That is why we are here. We provide a modern distribution, with current application versions, based on Debian Squeeze (stable). We all know that thousands of users seek such an experience, one that SolusOS provides.

He's got that right, I wonder if there are many people refraining from protesting Gnome3 and Unity because they want to associate themselves with the Ubuntu and Mint brand and the cutting edge of linux.

Heck we even have a custom built kernel, 3.0.0 + bfs + pae + preempt.

Say what.... lol
To be honest I haven't a clue but I wonder if this will effect its ability to use the software outside the Debian repository.

I've mailed Dedoimedo for his thoughts on this as he's forgotten more about Linux than I'm likely to learn

I always thought that guy knew a thing or two about linux.