Techgage has a review of the new Gentoo 2006.0 LiveCD. Included is a screenshot of the new boot screen.
The Expandable, Versatile MadTux LivePC
LXer has a review of the MadTux Knoppix LivePC, an affordable retail PC sold with Knoppix as the OS.
The LivePC runs off a USB key, and can be expanded to serve a variety of needs. I could sum up the LivePC in just three words, “it just works”. Still, let’s see what we’re getting and how well it works.
First Looks: OliveBSD
DistroWatch.com has a review of the OpenBSD-based LiveCD OliveBSD. It’s always good to see another BSD LiveCD.
Linux distros for older hardware
Linux.com reviews some Linux distros for running on older computers and includes two great LiveCDs, Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux.
This was the first time I used DSL for any period of time, and I was impressed by what the DSL developers have managed to fit into a 50MB download.
Penetration Tester’s Open Source Toolkit
Caffeinated Security has a review of Penetration Tester’s Open Source Toolkit, a book which includes the Auditor LiveCD.
Testdriving Wolvix Media Edition 1.0.4 Beta 2
Tuxmachines.org also has a review up of Wolvix Media Edition. While they say it has some bugs, it looks like a great LiveCD for setting up a quick media center. The desktop appears to be a cleanly configured XFCE.
Elive 0.4 Review
Tuxmachines.org has a review of a visually impressive LiveCD.
Elive, or Enlightenment live CD, is a Debian-based desktop Linux distribution and live CD featuring the Enlightenment window manager.
The “Rundfunker”
Mini-itx.com reviews a custom made computer whose purpose is to scan the local network for audio files and play them. The little computer boot from a modified version of Knoppix called Troubadix loaded on a compactflash card.
Troubadix is a specially customized linux (Knoppix-derivative) that differs from other mini-distributions by containing the complete Knoppix kernel 2.6, MySQL 4.1, Apache2, PHP5, OpenSSH and Sun’s JRE 1.4.2 – however no X and thus no window-manager. Since Troubadix is booted from a compact flash card, no moving parts are installed in the housing that could be damaged during transport.
Privacy and anonymity
Anonym.OS gets a mention near the bottom of this SecurityFocus article under the “Little name privacy” header.
First Look: Mockup 0.2.0
DistroWatch Weekly has a review of Mockup, a LiveCD featuring KDE and QT 4
Back to school with education LiveCDs
IBM Developerworks has more reviews, this time of educational LiveCDs.
More LiveCD Reviews at IBM DeveloperWorks
IBM Developerworks has six LiveCD reviews posted for recovery and entertainment.
Restore compromised systems with diagnostics LiveCDs
Rock your desktop with entertainment LiveCDs
Lots of images and links, and good information as usual.
First Look: BackTrack 3.0
DistroWatch.com has one of the first reviews of BackTrack, the results of WHAX (Whoppix) and Auditor security LiveCDs joining together.
Once on the desktop, you will immediately notice the “BackTrack” submenu on the KDE panel. This is the most exciting part of this distribution, a place were all the specialist utilities can be accessed from. It is pointless to list them all here, but let me assure you that the collection is truly astonishing and includes tools for sniffing remote router traffic, cracking Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), “bluesnarfing” (a method of hacking into Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones), scanning networks for vulnerabilities, uncovering weaknesses in the Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP), decrypting SSL traffic and recovering passwords.
Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop
Blogcritics.org reviews the book Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop, which comes with a LiveCD.
First Look: Symphony OS Build 122
DistroWatch has a preview of the latest alpha release of Symphony OS. SymphonyOS provides a unique desktop environment that differs greatly from Windows, OS X, Gnome, KDE, or XFCE.
Parsix GNU/Linux – A Gift from Ancient Persia to the world
DebCentral has a review of the Parsix GNU/Linux LiveCD based on Knoppix and Gnome.
Parsix GNU/Linux is a new twist on an old theme. It is one of a number of remixes of the Kanotix/Knoppix line, but with some very interesting differences.
GhostWriter: A Linux distro for writers
Linux.com has a review of a LiveCD made for writers.
GhostWriter is a live CD that provides a small number of tools for writers of short stories, novels, and screenplays. But GhostWriter can be used by someone authoring works of non-fiction as well. It’s easy to use and has a small footprint. In fact, there’s nothing to install — you run GhostWriter off a CD.
Grafpup Linux live CD for graphic designers
Linux.com reviews Grafpup, and ends up liking this lightweight LiveCD.
What would you get if you were to combine good graphic programs such as the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), Inkscape, and CinePaint with other open source biggies such as Scribus and Nvu? The answer: Grafpup Linux, a live CD heaven for all graphic designers.
A great distro that makes Linux ready for desktop – PCLinuxOS
All things cool are considered reviews PCLinuxOS and enjoys the friendly interface.
A little Linux can revive a pokey PC
The Los Angeles Times has a nice writeup on Damn Small Linux.
Apart from being compact and fast, however, DSL Linux may change the way you use your computer. For maximum speed to rehabilitate an old PC, you can install it like any other operating system, directly on your hard drive, either for exclusive use or as an alternative to Windows. You can also start and run it from a mini-CD, even if the host computer has Windows on it. So when you do visit grandma, you can take your DSL Linux with you.