Monday, September 24, 2012

Knoppix 7.0.4-Update


Knoppix 7.0.4-Update
Knoppix 7.0.4 is the new kid in town for the new kid/s on skateboard/s.
Not for oldies like me.
If you want to try do not ask your friends.
First read the Linux magazine.
The first DVD that came out of  with the magazine had hardware faults (DVD writing) as well as glitches in the script for hardware installation.
Edition 7.0.3 also had similar installation problems.
Latest edition will have problem if you have an old hardware (DVD drive) or if you have a very new DVD drive with fast writing speeds.
Klaus himself (the creator of Knoppix himself) recommends writing on a slower speed as low as 4X.
It is a huge file compressed with Knoppix own technology and the decompression can be draggy and can give problems when installing.
That problem is not there with Live session.
You will encounter none of these problems with the CD if you have at least 1 GiB RAM.
To me the CD is all that is necessary.
I am even happy with 10th anniversary Edition 6.7.1 which is an old classic, now with 7 on skateboards will be forgotten by many.
The novelty of the current edition is it has 4 desktop types to boot  in one live session and it is the best product/development at a time when everybody is trying to develop a fancy desktop including Gnome 3.
It has LXDE which I love.
KDE.
Gnome and few more desktops even in the live CD.
I think it is the best Live  session experience where choice is also given to the user at a time when the controversy about which is the best desktop is ringing in one´s ears till one is almost stone deaf.
What matters is not the desktop but the utilities big and small wrapped in a nice gift wrap called a desktop.
I do not care which desktop they come with, as long as they do not tap heavily on the resources and a hindrance to productivity and functionality.
That is why I like the light desktops.
With this report Knoppix jumps up from 8th to 3rd place in my list.
Puppy is first.
Pinguy is second.
Why it is third is, it is for kids with new computers and not for my own old computers.
One must not forget one can use a computer for 10 years if not 20.
New Knoppix cannot be booted with my new but old model of netbook.
I hope the developers go back to the drawing board and develop a mini knoppix on a mini CD for the old netbooks that are in use.
Mind you Linux became famous with netbooks and Microsoft killed the bird in the NEST by dishing out outdated XP with OEMs.
They are trying the same ploy with Windows 8.
The so called UFI
My advice, if you are downloading a DVD are as follows.
1. Use  K3B of Linux and not NERO.
2. Use a good quality DVD medium.

3. Use slower writing speed to suit one´s own hardware.
Even one has new ones use a slower speed (that is Klaus recommendation). Reading speed depends on the RAM.
4. Have plenty of RAM,  if it is a laptop.
The minimum is 1 GiB.
5. Use torrent file and check the data integrity before (torrent lets you do that) and after writing, especially if you are installing it.
Above all one must patient like I have when I test a new CD/DVD.
I was very impatient few years ago and if something did not work I panic and jump to wrong conclusions but not any more.
Like the proverbial spider my intention is to climb the steep learning curve which is getting easier nowadays.
Not 10 years ago.
In my case I have to try two DVDs.
First one had a fault at  three fourth the way even though I used a high quality DVD, even for testing.
Second time round, I also checked the torrent file before writing.

None of these problems were there  with the CD.
My other recommendation is to go and buy a DVD from a reputed dealer. in the WEB.
Worst scenario one can return it and ask for a new one.
It got to be 7.0.4 and not 7.0.1 or 7.0.3.
Finally thanks a lot for the developer team for listening to the user feedback and improving Knoppix by leaps and bounds.
Overall KNOPPIX 7 is an excellent Live DVD that can be installed if one wishes.
But you cannot beat my love for dogs and Puppy is mu first CHOICE.
Dingo is my best friend in the live CD series and mind you Slacko has cloud capability too.

I forgot something and there were lot of mistakes in my writing.
SORRY.
I did it at 3 a.m, just before dropping to sleep.
If you are installing the steps are
1.Microsoft or any other proprietary Installation.
2. Knoppix Second.
3. Any other Linux distribution (Pinguy, PCLinux or Sabayon).
WHY?
Knoppix only detects Microsoft and its GRUB cannot detect other distributions,especially Ubuntu derivatives.
It gives you that option when installing and unless one is confident in configuring the BOOT LOADER please accept the default given by Knoppix.
Most of the well known distribution has a good GRUB utility and automatically detects Microsoft and Knoppix while you are sipping a cup of TEA or COFFEE.
I have about six (no Microsoft) in my laptop with 500 GiB hard disk and there is Puppy also in a tiny partition.
I am now even changing that.
I use UnetBootIn and make Live USBs to boot.
That is the fashion nowadays.
There is also Live USB creator which is much better as far as the security of your USBs are concerned and they use partitions other than FAT partition for installation.
I may write a brief, if I recover from my slumber and laziness due to prolong industrial action which is heading for the fourth month,
It is good for my soul and I am enjoying life, even though my purse is not bulky.
My dog loves my new found freedom and I hope this strike will drag on till next year (waiting for the WONDER Budget) and I have re-formatted all my computers and installed new versions except the computer I use for downloading.
I might STOP even downloading and format that computer too and have an extended vacation till Christmas and also without Linux and any updates.
However, I will carry a few USB Sticks around my neck for emergency help if somebody who has a computer with Microsoft which won´t boot up and is STUCK.
I will restore it with Linux and carry data round my neck.
I will charge for this service until the strike is over and after that all my services will be FREE.
After all we are fighting for FREE EDUCATION in the same spirit as FREE SOFTWARE.