An overview of a LiveUSB creator for Linux and Windows.
LiveUSB Install, which is written in PyGTK, may be a powerful tool for ‘burning’ LiveUSB’s but it is still very easy to use.
via OMG! Ubuntu!
GParted Live: A Boot Disk ISO You Can’t Afford to Be Without
A quick overview of GParted Live.
If you ever need to partition or edit the partitions on your hard drives without an existing OS on the computer, then GParted Live should be in your PC toolbox.
via PCWorld
Linux on a Fingernail
Linux Journal checks out UNetbootin and usb-creator, two great tools for easily creating LiveUSB devices.
This issue of Linux Journal is all about how to get Linux in your pocket. In this article, I go one better and tell you how to get Linux on your fingernail. Now, before you get too excited, I won’t be discussing some new nano-computer being used by James Bond, unfortunately. Instead, I discuss how to put Linux on a micro-SD card (or any other USB drive, for that matter). Using this, you can run Linux on any machine that can boot off a USB device.
via Linux Journal.
Analysts View: Antivirus Rescue CDs
I examine nine AV rescue CDs designed to remove particularly nasty malware to determine which is the best disc, and if the free ones are good enough.
via PCMag.com
Knoppix 6.0: Perfect Distro also for Netbooks
Linux Magazine Online reviews Knoppix 6.0.
Knoppix has always been regarded as one of the most versatile Linux distros out there, but the latest version of the venerable Live CD Linux distribution has got yet another trick up its sleeve. Thanks to its excellent hardware detection, blazingly fast boot process, and the lightweight LXDE desktop environment, Knoppix 6.0 makes a perfect distro for netbooks.
Battle of the Thumb Drive Linux Systems
Lifehacker took four Linux distros, put them on USB flash drives, and ran a Lifehacker Faceoff.
Today we’re detailing four no-install distributions—Damn Small Linux, Puppy Linux, Xubuntu, and Fedora—and helping you decide which might work for that spare thumb drive you’ve got lying around, or as just a part of your multi-gig monster stick.
Minisys Linux: Puppy on steroids
Linux.com has a review of Minisys Linux.
Unlike Puppy Linux, which is available in a single 96MB edition, Minisys Linux comes in four versions: Live, Mini, Server, and Embryo. The Live version uses 690MB and is stocked to the gills with applications for every task imaginable.
A comparative look at compact sysadmin distributions
Things go wrong. Hard disks fail and whole servers crash. Luckily, many Linux-based distributions are available to help systems administrators handle minor catastrophes. We looked at four of the most portable, all of which fit on a 210MB mini CD — SliTaz, Parted Magic, GParted, and RIPLinuX.
Puppy Linux 4 gets new bite
Tectonic takes a look at the new release of Puppy Linux.
Its been been six months since Puppy Linux 3.01 was released and today Barry Kauler announced Puppy 4.00, aka Dingo. Clocking in at a minimal 87MB download, Puppy 4.00 is a lightweight desktop Linux alternative ideal for low-end machines, or for users who want a little less clutter and more speed from their desktop.
Puppeee: Puppy for your Eee PC
Linux.com has a quick review of Puppeee.
Puppy Linux (and, by extension, Puppeee) was written from scratch with two goals in mind: speed and ease of use. Puppy Linux is, indeed, lightning fast — even when running on low-end machines like the Eee PC.
OpenSolaris Project Indiana Review
Phoronix has a review and pics of the first development release of OpenSolaris Project Indiana.
After downloading this ISO (the Developer Preview is only 629MB), the image can be burned to a disc and immediately booted. Project Indiana incorporates a “Slim Install” LiveCD for x86 systems. Just like Ubuntu, Fedora Live, and a number of other Linux distributions, you can boot to this CD and start using it without ever touching the contents of your hard drive.
Taking Puppy Linux for a Walk
Lifehacker reviews the latest release of the lightweight Puppy Linux.
Booting Linux from an external drive with the applications and settings of your choice has never been easier after this weeks release of Puppy Linux 3.0. Like Damn Small Linux, Puppy is small enough to fit on a USB thumb drive, and like Knoppix , you can boot it from CD.
Damn Small Linux Makes Darn Big Impression – Small Distro, Big Packages
LinuxPlanet has a review of Damn Small Linux.
At a mere 50MB, Damn Small Linux DSL seems like it would be more at home in the realm of rescue disks instead of Desktop OSs. After booting up into full graphical mode, you may be hooked on this tiny distribution forever. I am impressed with the number of applications and the fact that DSL has two choices for graphical interfaces Window Managers: Fluxbox and jwm see Figures 1 and 2. DSL is based on the Debian Linux distribution.
GParted LiveCD vs Parted Magic
This week’s DistroWatch Weekly compares two popular, lightweight LiveCDs aimed at partition management.
First look at Elive 1.0
DistroWatch Weekly has a review of the recently released Elive 1.0.
Elive has reach its first major milestone with its release of version 1.0. I’ve tested several versions of Elive over the last two years (or so), publishing my findings a few times. I haven’t published a report on Elive since 0.5 and things have continued to improve. I’ve been testing Elive 1.0 for several days and certainly agree that this release is worthy of the full first release status.
As Specialized A Linux Distro As Youre Likely to Find
The InformationWeek Blog has a review of Hikarunix.
You want proof theres a Linux distribution for absolutely every possible application? Heres one for you: Hikarunix, a distro dedicated to Go players and based on the ever-versatile Damn Small Linux DSL.
One Year with Puppy Linux
DistroWatch weekely has an incredibly long review of one person’s experiences using Puppy Linux.
Most distro reviews focus on installing and using one release of a recent distro. But when people decide to stick with a distro, or abandon it after a longer period of use, the reasons are more to do with the entire distro experience, which includes the distro technology, its package management, the size and reliability of its package repositories, the ease and speed with which bugs are reported and fixed, the quality of the documentation, and the social experience of being part of the distro’s community, as exemplified by its forum and IRC channels. Here I relate my personal experiences with Puppy Linux over the course of approximately one year.
Gentoo’s new Secret Sauce is sweet and sour
Linux.com has a review of Gentoo 2007.0. Looks like there are some significant issues with the live discs, especially if you have an ATI video card.
Gentoo 2007.0 is available in several formats for various platforms. As per its torrent download statistics, most popular are the live DVD, the live CD, and the minimal CD for x86 and AMD64 platforms. The live CD contains Linux kernel 2.6.19, Xorg 7.2, GNOME 2.16.0, OpenOffice.org 2.1.0, Firefox 2.0.0.3, Thunderbird 1.5.0.10, Evolution 2.8.2.1, and X-Chat and Gaim (now Pidgin) for IRC and instant messaging. The DVD version has everything the CD has, along with KDE 3.5.5, XFCE 4.4.0, GIMP 2.2.14, Abiword 2.4.6, KOffice 1.6.1, and several other applications, tools, and libraries.
Educational GCompris Live CD
Journal Of An Open Sourcee reviews the GCompris Live CD.
Shortly after receiving a comment on my other blog (Brazilian Portuguese only) from Armando Silva about an educational Live CD, my curiosity got the best of me and I just had to check it out.
Gentoo 2007.0 Review
Techgage reviews the new 2007.0 release of Gentoo, and compares it and the new installer to the previous 2006.1 release.
If you are familiar with the installers from either 2006.x version, you cannot consider yourself an expert with the installer from 2007.0, as many things have been changed around and it functions differently overall. I will get into these changes are we go along.