Here with antiX M8.2 Test 1, running live. Let me tell you why I like antiX so much as a Live CD.

1. Loads, even to RAM, in under two minutes, faster than that to run straight from CD.

2. Recognizes, even on CD, just about any wireless network card you can throw at it.

3. Has a good selection of software, and given that you can run it live, from USB, or install it to disk from the CD, it is easy to install or just use as is (as I am doing right now....

I am a Debian software fan, no doubt about it. 1995 was the first year that I used GNU/Linux software, (1982 was my UNIX software debut), so when I wanted to spread out, Debian was one of the first areas I read about that would probably satisfy my software itch, and indeed it did.

In 2001, I had a broadband network, but I was not yet burning my own CDs. In fact, I took a few years before I got to that point. My first Linux systems were ones that I bought, either in books or in...

A fast, easy to use, surprisingly solid test system called AntiX has been released for public testing.

AntiX is my favorite small, fast system. I use it when I am going to be doing primarily Web browsing because it boots so fast, I can start it up, call up my Web browser, check for Spam messages in my Email, clean out the unwanted messages, then scan my Inbox and do the same, retaining the messages I want, to be later stored in a POP3 Email client. I can do all of that and get off...

SimplyMEPIS 8.0 Release Candidate 1 was quietly made available a few days before Christmas, then publicized a few days later. This software is based on Debian Lenny software, which is also in Release Candidate status. Both Debian and MEPIS represent some of the most solid, stable software that you can get on any system at any price.

I recommend this software, released or not, for anyone who wants a solid, pleasant, efficient, usable desktop system.

Just before Christmas the sidux 2008-04 collection of CDs and DVDs was released; the Preview 1 test had been released just about a week beforehand.

sidux is a cutting edge desktop oriented system that features the Debian Sid software, containing only DFSG (Debian Free Software Guidelines) approved software on the official media, but firmware and other non-free software is well explained in their documentation, and optional tools are made readily available for those who choose to extend...