Linux in Sinhala-Hanthana Linux

Linux in Sinhala-Hanthana Linux

I think this is the only post I made in www.distowatch.com.

I avoid publicity being an medical man in practice.

I am off practicing medicine for 25 years and I bear myself today, before kicking the bucket.

I would post a another post, of course AI Generated but slightly edited.

 

Linux in Sinhala-Hanthana Linux included (by Dr . Asoka Dissanayake (Medical) on 2011-02-21 12:09:10 GMT from Sri Lanka)
I have waited over a decade to see a Linux version in Sinhala and finally it has arrived,
Our own Anurahdha who was an expert in Linux and especially Debian initialed it well over a decade ago and he produced an experimental version named Sinhala Linux(I still have a copy).
Then after 1994 tsunami he was drawn into presidential task force (had nothing going on at that time) to steer all web applications and e-commerce and the Sinhala project was push to a back burner.
I have been testing Live CDs (over 150 now, except Ubuntu) for the last 18 months and when I tested Debian 6 I accidentally discovered Sinhala Installation Capability which was a pleasant surprise. I downloaded all the Debian CDs and some DVDs for testing and they we pretty good.
 

Immediately blogged this fact at parafox and asokaplus (using them for promoting Linux 100) my rambling spaces in the web.

I am trying to distribute these Debian CDs / DVDs after thorough testing
But I personally prefer to install them in English which is second nature to me and activate the Sinhala capability afterward since the Sinhala terminology is somewhat GREEK to me.

Mind you Debian is not for the weak minded and certainly not for a newbie or a novice.

And today I find Hanthana (I live down the Hanthana Range- on the other side of the University) Linux 3.6 GiB DVD released which is Fedora 14.
It takes 3 to 10 days to download a DVD in Sri-Lanka and very few will bother to download it.
Now I have tested all Fedora 14 releases and Fubuntu (installed only Fubuntu for further testing) and all Fedora CDs freeze in installation (tried on several of my computers) but did not bother to see Sinhala capability,
In fact because of this nuance in Fedore 14 I decided to download all the 6 (5 CDs and one netboot) Fedora CDs for posterity.

It has some problem with the Grub file too.

I cut my teeth with Redhat 8 and 9.

Debian I learned many moons later.

Then again Fedora 3 was the first Linux to allow Sinhala font in Open Office and later Mnadrake.
I wonder whether the introduction of Sinhala font into a an experimental Linux distribution is a wise decision (hope my reservation prove wrong).
Anyway we have two robust distributions having Sinhala capability.
I hope Ubuntu will pick the trend and run faster than both of them.
I won't pass my judgment just for a little while!

25-Peppermint-25

 Wednesday, June 16, 2010

25-Peppermint-25 

This was an early Linux distribution I used but soon fell out with it.

I cannot remember why. The current version is very slow to update.

Peppermint, another Ubuntu derivative is going through a rapid transformation.

I had to figure out how to boot it when I first downloaded it but the latest version boots automatically without a hassle.

It is fast to boot and install and light weight.

Added Google Viewer and Documents in its package which is a welcome a change.
Gets over 800 points from me which is above average.
Good for a newbie.
 

The synaptic repository have enormous collection of extra packages.

It has given a new face to Ubuntu clones.

Go and enjoy it.

24-Leeenux-24

 Saturday, June 12, 2010

24-Leeenux-24
Leeenux has done a great job by producing a light weight Mobile looking attactive distribution that boots up fast (Ubuntu derivative) and connects to internet instantly.

In fact it even boots up with my desktop copmputer (which is IBM based and old) even though it is meant for eee PCs.

Hat's off to guys / girls at Leeenux.

Go download and enjoy the experience and if you have problems report to them with a donation.

This post was done on the fly on RAM (which I started doing when the going got tough) having experienced the interference to my web(old) site by politically inclined cowards and psychopaths during election time.

I used Leeenux for this activity (posting and editing).

Mind you this is not an invitation to undesirables but to people with free and independent voices like Linux guys / girls with good intent.


 

23-IgLive-23

 Tuesday, June 1, 2010

 Thursday, June 10, 2010

 23-IgLive-23

One of my basic grumbles about Linux from the early days was that the lack of games in Linux consoles.

This has been addressed by gamers from Berlin.

Ig Live CD and DVD (I cannot download even Knoppix Games in this Paradise Country with the slowest domestic paid Telecom Service) have addressed this void.

CD is good (I try my best to download the DVD-might take 2 weeks of continuous downloading) and enjoyed playing Pingus very much.

The game is topical.
Global Warming one of my favorite topics now.

I live in this hill city called Kandy for Kanda (in Sinhala it is the hill) with the range of temperatures was between 68 Fahrenheit to 78-80, 40 years ago.

Now it's temperature is well above 80 and topped 97 F recently in my city (I checked the temperature when ever I can and record it with two digital thermometers with the date and time- I had to search well over 6 months to find an accurate thermometer).

Which speaks volumes and need not have a Science Degree to understand.

Our politicians who enter (99% of them) the parliament with (bear) minimum of education want know how to read a child's temperature but runs the Ministry of Health and other important Ministries.

Some of them do not know how to operate a computer and we do not have a proper IT education in school curriculum.

Talking about Linux is like Greek to them (They only know Sinhala or Tamil but most of the Tamil can speak better English than Sinhalayas).That is why I have to write this in a blog.Sorry for the diversion, I am a simple political animal with a vision for Science (visit my writing at www.writeclique.net) Education but IT and Linux is one of my aberrations!

So well done boys and girls in Berlin you are doing a wonderful job.

I have one suggestion foe you.If I were a kid I would have preferred what I going to say in a second.

 Gamer's Paradise
Have compiz included in the distribution package with few other utilities Like abiword and scientific utilities.

I thick ARCH can very well do that!

So me the kid can switch the desktop from game to utility to fool my mum and dad who have an average working knowledge in Microsoft with only one desktop (like our politicians) in mind.

But don't do the mistake of QIMO but should have parental control over the Internet which leads to many vices there.

If any one of you abroad can send me a working games DVD (Including Knoppix) I can copy and distribute it in this god (84.000 of them) forsaken country.

Keep in touch with by email please.
I will write about XBMC (Linux Media Center) and Sabayon soon.


Elive-Revisited
Elive gets over 1000 points for may reasons.
 

Any penny donated to this site for development is worth its weight in gold.
It is innovative and only other two distributions that follow that path are YOPER and GOBO-Linux.

GOBO-Linux is slow in its development cycle which is invariably a good thing.
I am waiting to write about it but thinking that it's new release would come anytime and delaying that act.
In any case I am not even half-way to hundred and not even quarter it will eventually come. either my comments or it's new release.

Going back to ELive, I like its new approach very much of asking a donation at the time of Installation which is the right thing instead at the beginning before downloading (which is irritating to me).

The newbie has had the first hand feel when he/she is donating.
What is even better is its Demo with Cassius Clay with a Kid (promoting Linux) which is the way Linux people should learn how to market a good product.
Not the Greedy way of fortune 100 companies.
It's approach to Windows Manager is classic and in fact Linux on Fire and not Rome on fire with Nero not playing!

I have not seen the Compiz effects yet and even without seeing that I recommend ELive to newbies and grooviest.

It brings a new life to graphic experience.
Go and download it and feel the pulse and send them a donation too.
Seeing it is believing!

Saturday, June 5, 2010
 

Why Mandriva Live (One) is not included?
Mandriva spring edition has done a poor remake of its Live CD.
I downloaded its 684 MB to see that it over shoots the CD by 32 MB.
I cut a DVD and boots it to see it Hangs Up in my desktop with adequate RAM.

Or is it this 64 bit version I am trying / using?

Try boot it with my Laptop.
Hangs up again!

Try download a new copy / iso image and after 684 MiB goes in to over shoot mode and even after 777 (it should be 007 of James Bond variety) it says unknown time of downloading.

I quit and write this nasty or in fact a Fact of Life for a newbie to order a copy (rather buy one).

This is a sad ploy by Mandriva becoming unbecoming!

I quit I have to test Dream Linux or Qimo and no more Mandriva please.

Same problem with Salix Live and Server breaks up!

22-Element-22

 Friday, May 28, 2010

22-Element-22
Element is a wonderful Media Center and now HTDV enabled.

It easily gets over 750 points on my scale. If they incorporated abiword light or similar document viewer and improved its installation procedure by adding an icon on the desktop and a simple line in the command prompt to say how to boot it (re-user and password), I would have given 1000 points.

In fact it took three days for me to figure out how to sign up after the graphic prompt.

This is where an excellent distribution may be lost in the wild.
Linux Guys and Girls should learn how to market the product.

In any case it is an excellent distribution for media groovies and I give thousand (1000) and above now, expecting the guys to rectify the minor irritation (documentation to be precise) in the next release.

Why not add Skype too?

Yellow Dog 6.2
Apple MAC guys now you have a free version of Yellow Dog.
Go and download it run it and send me a post to write about.

I don't have an Apple Mac and I don't intend to buy one soon in spite of it's nice Final Cut.
Posted by Asoka at 1:28 AM No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Linux Mint-Revisited
It is time for me to revisit Ububtu defivative Linux Mint.
I can now answer why it is high op on the list of choices made by newbies (and groovies like me) closely running neck and neck to PCLinux?

It is elegant and packs everything a newbie would like to have including open office (which bloats any new distribution).

It's is attractive design takes the eyesore of Ubuntu brown out of sight.

It is green and makes Greenies (every green earthlings would be happy-with the oil spill of BP doing enormous damage to every earthling which even the Oboma administration cannot ignore) happy.

I have added another category called OEM (massive 100 points) which new manufactures with commercial bias cannot dare to ignore.

Now that the OEM is available Linux cannot be a pushover in the commercial world which some of the commercial Linux versions are ignoring.

Good luck to Linux Mint.

Monday, May 17, 2010

21-Linvo

 21-Linvo
Linvo is an Slackware based based distributions with Live Script taken from elsewhere that has the feel of Linux Mint and has Skype and wine included.
It is pretty good and gets 695 points.
Package management and upgrade side were bit dicey.
That is why it did not pass 750 mark which is my winning post.

Please not that the new version is ready for downloading (point to point) and I am currently downloading it but very slowly.
I have written an update recently in view of the mistake (pointed out by an anonymous writer) that I made here stating that it was Ubunbtu based.
This was edited on the 17th of July,2011

20-Elive-20

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

20-Elive-20
Elive Enlightenment gets over 1000 points well above the 750 points for a Live CD.
I downloaded the unstable image from distromania (nobody can say I am a lifetime member of the band of distro=maniacs).
I have given extra 100 points for its commercial venture which is a new addition to my criteria list.
Linux guys and girls also live on rice and curry or fish and chips.

They also need to take home something for their efforts and sweat.

I recommend you go and buy the CD instead of going to distromania.

The buy is probably worth than the other fat commercial versions.

Mind you distromania is a very good repository for old and new distros.

Please feel free to visit them and register.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

19-PCLinux-2010.1 and PCLinuxE-19

 19-PCLinux-2010.1 and PCLinuxE-19
PCLinux-2010.1 and PCLinuxE17 are pretty good and reluctantly though I formatted my hard drive including home partition to install them in two of my computers.

I bet anybody who test the Live CDs would do that.Both have Apple not Microsoft feel.
They are my gold standards and score is well above 1200 out of 750.Hat's off to the team and I hope they will soon come out with a Server Version.
Even though the Ubunbtu 10.4 was good its Server Version had some problem with My Server naming a for b and b for a (hard drives) and I had to use Debian to correct the Grub File.
Debian's XorduS with net install of all the (top ten) major Linux distribution is making life easy for newbies and grooviest.

18-XorduS

Sunday, May 2, 2010

18-XorduS
For 400 odd megabytes this live CD with Xfce is one of the best and very very fast to boot.
Once in the in the Internet you are directed to the enormous resource base of DEBIAN and is a clear winner in the light weight category.

Hat's off to you at Debian.
It has given a knock out punch to all other Live CDs and hence, I want allocate any marks except stating it should be taken as a Benchmark to assess others.

17-ALT Linux

 17-ALT Linux
ALT Linux still disappoints me since its CD Version is only in Russian.

Its School Light version I downloaded is also in Russian.

The DVD version is heavy and has English.
Why cant the Russian learn some English (French too) and storm the market with a good distribution?

16-NimbleX

 16-NimbleX
I am patiently waiting the download which is taking an unusually long time.
It has doubled it capacity and hence will loose some points in my scale.
The claims for bloating is justified since it is not of the same mold as DSL and LXDE (takes more graphic bits).
It beats easy peasy by having administrator facility (root) and command line administration and testing network traffic.
Extra 200MB has been well utilized.
Gets 840 out of 750.
Simple, Elegant and Excellent job by the NimbleX Team.

15-EasyPeasy

 Saturday, April 24, 2010

15-EasyPeasy
This gets 740 out of 750 and a pleasing Ububtu based desktop and laptop distributions.
It does not get 750 simply because it does not have the root administrator ability.
it is of the same mold as Linux mint nut like Kubuntu graphics are pleasing.
It is a pleasing easy to mange easy-peasy and any newbie would be happy to have if they tend to dislike Ubuntu.
But remember it is Ubunbtu based only the flavour and appearance are different.t

14-YOPER

 Thursday, April 22, 2010

14-YOPER
I have given 100 points extra for its innovative approach even though it is slower than the previous Live CD.

This may be the result of KDE 4 but not the fault of the YOPER Team.

Its web site is simple but very effective and finding the downloads page was difficult.

They should go for a magazine like PCLinux.

It is well behind PCLinux but very close to ArchLinux for some unknown reason I tend to like the Arch Live CD better which include CrunchBang.

The pick is yours not mine.

I am downloading the LXDE and I bet it is much faster than the standard edition.

Anyway it is in the top bracket.

13-InfinityOS

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

13-InfinityOS
Xubuntu is a Xfce derivative promoted to be multimedia CD and it has gnome based software.
Its performance is average but games ready distributions.It has no office packages.
Gets 545 from 750 points.It's desktop is attractively laid down with some clarity.
I am one who is critical about Ubuntu cannot promote it without reservation.
If you are an Ubuntu fan you should keep it for your games and download some more games.
Unfortunately nothing educational for children.

12-CentOS

 12-CentOS
Coming from Redhat base has committed the same offence of not keeping pace with the Desktop Community.
It has scored the worse possible scenario.
Less than 400 points out of 750.
Live CD version is one I would not recommend to anybody.
It has a long way to go. Unfortunately it is heavy on the RAM not light weight.
Only good thing and the positive comment is for its ability to detect hardware easily.
I hope it will do a good job next time around and take a cue from PCLinux's Zen Mini Me and start from there.
PCLinux which comes Mandriva is basically Redhat derivative.
They should go back to the drawing board.
Fortunately they have produced 6 CD version and I have only downloaded 2 CDs currently.
I would edit this page once the job of downloading is completed which is painfully slow in Sri-Lanka.
I am sorry guys / girls I am harsh on you.
Take it in good spirit!Linux guys are good at that perhaps not girls!

Friday, April 16, 2010

11-BerryLinux-11

11-BerryLinux
Berry linux is like a red cherry to me.

It is one of the little distributions that I have in my laptop and desktop for show off.

It is pretty and cute.

Coming from Japan it has a English version unlike Vine and the little known and commercial version of TurboLinux (Japanese).

It seems some Japanese guys are suavy (Linux Guys / Girls) entering the global market in style like Chinese.

It gets over 800 points above my solid base line of 750.

Incidentally this was the first distribution I wanted to write about but for some unknown reason I started with Linux Mint.

Thank God for my lapses that it has had two new releases and today I saw it's mini version.

Currently I am downloading it and the time I am waiting for it to be downloaded is used for this piece of writing.

The extra 50 points above the 750 points that I awarded was for this reason alone even without testing it.

I am pretty sure it is going to be good (not scientific? who cares?) even without seeing it.

It has wine which is an added bonus.

It is light and fast but only hitch was it's Grub file which is unstable coming from Fedora base.

It cannot detect other multiple distributions efficiently.
Therefore one needs to install it first before other Linux distributions.In another few minutes it will be downloaded (mini Version) and let me sign off now.
If need be, I will edit this page soon.
I tested the Mini it boots up well in Japanese but hangs up and goes into a reboot cycle.
I suppose one needs to edit the mistakes in English that goes to a "go to cycle" instead of next line of command and activity.
English is a funny Language!

10-CrunchBang-10

10-CrunchBang
This gets a whopping 1000 points well above the standard 750, a distributions get with my scheme, simple because of its resource pool.

It is Debian based, light weight, OpenBox and has synaptic Package Manger which gets you even blender and many games and scientific software.

Internet access is easy and gets you both to CrunchBang and OpenBox Home Page in addition to the resource pool of software.

I wonder why I did not know about it till now.

Probably wise and hard working Linux People do not boast or start Flame Wars.

Hats off to guys and girls at CrunchBang and it goes without saying that the distribution goes with a bang.

They do not need a bandwagon!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

9-ArchBang

 9-ArchBang
ArchBang come with a bang, Based on openbox it is sleek and fast.

Live CD detects the graphic card and make a query before configuring.

It has Google chromium and connects to the Internet super fast indeed.

It has packages for monitoring the users as well as the RAM and CPU use.

It is fantastic.

For its 450 MB throughput it gets whopping 725 out 0f 750.
It has gparted and installation is Debian base bit like Yoper.

Mind you it is not only live it can be installed too.

It has basic graphic and multimedia capability but lacks a CD writer utility.

What I really like about is it has Abiword light.This Mickey Mouse can do things (Abiword Light) what Microsoft (Word 2007) Gorilla in the dinner party does in a fraction of a second.

Hope they will add a CD burner in their next release.

It is an excellent light weight (not coming from LXDE) distribution.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

8-Granular

 Tuesday, April 13, 2010

8-Granular
Live CD scores 750 out of 750 and is a excellent live CD. It boots up fast and have lot of multimedia and audio software. CD burner is although an old version is K3B.
Desktop is sleek but little difficult to manipulate due large number of software included in the CD (should not consider as a weakness).

Packaging a lot in a CD is no easy task.

The departure from Abiword and Open Office and using K office is a good idea.

It has Skype and Adobe Reader with the DVD (heavy) version.

The DVD version even though heavy in content has blender and get over 1300 points.

I am going to install the DVD version and test the Blender and Adobe.

It is a good additional companion distribution to be installed with your favorite Linux.
Posted by Asoka at 12:53 AM No comments:

7- Chakra

7- Chakra
Chakra has come of age.

It gets 740 out of 750.

It is light weight and has light weight Document Viewer instead of Abiword and Open office.

This change is a revelation for me having criticized both Open Office and Office 7.

I hear there is a light weight AbiWord too.

It has Skype, K3B and many attractions and has Arch base which is fast and efficient.

If you are fed up with heavy SuSe and Mandriva this is the one which fits your needs.

Its black background at installation is not suitable for an old man like me (I can put up with it, though) but this is probably a way to free RAM at installation.

I found it difficult to locate flash buttons and click buttons and they should improve on this in the next version.

6-ArchOne for Acer

6-ArchOne for Acer
ArchOne gets 905 well above the 750 points but not a light weight CD.
It is a DVD around 1.1 GB and has open office and Skype and Google inputs,
It is for Acer laptop but may work for other laptops.
I checked it on my laptop.
It is better than the previous version which I had problem with booting on my desktop.
It's a K-desktop is elegant.
Have fun and Arch flavor is going to last.

00-Ubuntu Family

 Monday, April 12, 2010
00-Ubuntu Family
Ubuntu
I am currently downloading Chackra for testing, since the previous version had some glitches with the Grub and partitioning. It is going to take more than one hour for the last 100 MB on a holiday evening (Tamil and Sinhala New Year) in Sri-Lanka (we have a super highway, electronically speaking, thanks to Telecom). While waiting is painful on a holiday after dinner, let me pen down few thoughts about Ubuntu in general and few specifics about Debian Linux.
Debian is the God Father of Linux. its latest 504 has 35 CDS for download and first CD I downloaded has a corrupt file unfortunately.

You can get my point, even a Linux Addict like me get put off by simple incorrigible inconveniences like slow speed and corrupt files.
So me trying to convert you to Debian is simply improper but remember it is the God Father.
If you want to enter the Inner Circle of Linux, you must have at least the first 7 of the 35 CDS available for download.

Remember that Debian spawned the Ubuntu Flavour to Linux.

My grouse with Ubuntu is and was that the desktop version does not have the Root Permission at install.

Coming from Redhat lineage this put me off completely when Ubuntu came to the scene. It did not have a server version too.

I was vocal then and this has been rectified now.

Beauty of Ubuntu is that it spawned numerous other beauties like gOS.3.1-gadgets, Linux Mint and Super OS.

I will be writing on Super OS soon.

So all what I write about the three mentioned above applies to Ububtu barring few missing software like Skype and Flash.

There is another problem with Ubuntu.

Since many are accessing their site the download speed is slow. I downloaded the version 10 but had trouble with version 9.

I had to resort to the inevitable for asking a copy form their home site.

They promptly did that including a copy of server and Kububtu.

Kububtu is superb!

Thanks to all the guys and girls at Ububtu for all what they do for the Linux Community.

5-Tiny Me

 Saturday, April 10, 2010
5-Tiny Me
This distribution of only 200 MB got 645 marks and boots up fast and installable.
It has features similar to Damn Small Linux with gparted for hard disk partitioning,

Unlike the previous version it detects hardware fast.
Even though my favorite is DSL for its utility role this has everything for an emergency including editor and abiword and fits in your shirt pocket (a Live mini CD like DSL).
However it has no CD writer but it can create a live CD.

4-PC/OS

Thursday, April 8, 2010
4-PC/OS
PC OS
This distribution got 640 points out of 750 for its less than 700 MB content.
Based on Ubuntu it detects hardware easily but web edition is poor in detection of LCD diplays and boots up quickly.

Its partitioning tool is gParted.
It comes closely behind Linux Mint.
It has Skype and Microsoft mail facility.

Its desktop is Xfce and the graphics are not impressive coming from Xfce but it is a good utility Linux distribution

Try it for fun!

Unfortunately it does not link up with its home page with Live CD.

They should improve the web edition with links to home page and some addition of Google gadgets like gOS instead of promoting Microsoft.

3-BeatriX

Monday, April 5, 2010
03-BeatriX
It is the Beatrix Potter type of distribution.

It is no wonder this little distribution got 545 points out of 750 for its less than 200 MB content.

Based on Knoppix it detects old hardware easily and boots up quickly.

Its partitioning is basic for old computer with less than 20 GB.

I use it as a demonstration Mini CD.

Compared to Damn Small Linux (DSL) it can be used on a daily basis and has open office 1.1.

It even detected a LCD but with a warning screen for possible incompatibility.

If you have an old computer in the garage this will make it “born again”.

Try it for fun!

Unfortunately nobody seems to maintain it.

Somebody should activate it and include some children games with Disney mentality

2-gOS

 
Monday, April 5, 2010
02-gOS
gOS-3.1-gadgets scores 740 out of 750 points and for a young newbie who spends most of the time browsing there is nothing to compare with.

All Google gadgets are displaced with an apple look and feel.

It is an excellent distribution which boots up fast unlike the previous gOS, has sound effects too.

If one wants to go dizzy in space he can go and download gOS space, which has excellent graphic effects.

My graphic card could barely manage its effects.

One should have a good graphic card if one is using it.

It is excellent if you are going for utility rather than Linux savvy!

Asoka with Linux

1-Linux Mint-LXDE

 Sunday, April 4, 2010
01-Linux Mint-LXDE
 

With much thought I have formulated a marking scheme for all Linux distributions from LXDE, to Live CD to DVD and special dedicated distributions for kids, education and science.

For a Live LXDE I give 750 points.

For a good Live, stable and installable CD I give 1000 points.

My gold standard is PC Linux 2009.2 which gets 1200 well above the 1000 marks.

For a comprehensive DVD the minimum is 3000 but could go up to 4000 points on its needs.

I just tabulated Linux Mint 8 LXDE and got a score of 705 out of 750.

It has no games even for a light evening.

Taking from Ubuntu it major weakness is not having an administrator.

No Skype and K3B.

Otherwise it is sleek, beautiful and elegant.

I would like to give it a newbee.

Linux-100-Criteria

 Saturday, April 3, 2010
Linux-100-Criteria

I have over 200 distributions and images stored all over my hard disks and CDs and DVDs and I continue to download at least a few more of them a week to test.

My search for (looking for) best hundred has being of no avail.

It is time for me to do it myself for the benefit of Linux fans and newbies.

Internet has being immensely helpful.
First of all I must thank the guys / girls of the following non-commercial sources and few commercial sources.

Number one goes to www.Distromania.com since they keep a catalog of old distributions and and also list the new and latest distributions.

www.Distrowatch.com also doing a good job of it but unfortunately they seem to miss some of the old ones.

Softpedia com has enormous number of pages and like Distrowatch.com do not keep a repository of old distribution images and their links.

Linux online also list distribution in their site.

Linux Live CD list is the only one which list the distributions according to to the types, education, games. desktop, multimedia. science, medicine etc.
I recommend this site for anybody who is choosy for a particular type say for kids, education.

I think Linux Freedom.com also has few archived Linux images.
 

Elive for at least releasing the development version free.

There are many more and thanks to all of them.

Couple of years ago the story was different one had to browse or read a Linux Bible to gather information, Now these guys who write books do not bother to update them since the task is extremely difficult due to the pace at which Linux is moving.

Only a rocket scientist can keep pace with.

My attempt is to fill this void.

I thought of using somewhat scientific approach using my own criteria.

My criteria are based the practical difficulties we face in this country due to poor (comparatively better compared to India but no where near the capabilities of Singapore) Internet service and download speed.

It is practically impossible to download a DVD more than 1 GB.
It takes ages even for that.

So I have concentrated on CD rather than DVDs.

My impression, it is better for us to have number of CDS rather than DVDs.

I used to download up to 7 Debian CDS in the past when we had only Redhat and Mandriva.

To decide my 100 Linux distributions of choice I will use many criteria.

1. Live CD which can be installed on hard disk 25 points

2. Easy access to Internet 20 points

3. Automatically Configure Internet 30 points

4. Browser (ideally Firefox) Capability 10 points
 

5. Other browsers 05 points
 

6. Google gadgets but not essential 10 points
 

7. Skype 15 points
 

8. Office Package (Abiword or Open office) 15 points
 

9. Light Weight (very important) 30 points
 

10. CD burner, very important(ideally K3B) 20 for K3B and 5 for others
 

11. Stable Grub configuration 30 points
 

12. Partitioning tool is essential(ideally Gparted) 30 points
 

13. Light weight games 20 points
 

14. Ability to clean up the temporary file at boot up 50 points
 

15. Updates and Package management 10 points
 

16. Reliability (most of them are) 50 points
 

17. Many versions form Mini to LXDE to Standard and Children's 25 points for each
 

18. Speed at start up (most of them are slow except YOPER) 100 points
 

19. Quick installation 20 points
 

20. Multi-Language in addition to English 25 points
 

21. Separate administrator in addition to normal user 50 points
 

22. Digikam and Gimp 20 points
 

23. Media Players (VLC) including ability play itunes and divx 30 points
 

24. Type of Desktops (Genome / KDE/ Fluxbox) 25 points
 

25. Down loader that start from where one has left / stopped earlier 50 points
 

26. Infrequent Cycles of Change (new distributions) but frequent updates 50 points
 

27. USB boot op 30 points
 

28. Live CD creator 20 points
 

29. Wine (window emulation) 20 points
 

30. Apple Emulation 30 points
 

31. Innovative approach like GOBO and YOPER 100 points
 

32. Home web site and the facility for registration and writing reviews 100 points
 

33, Scientific packages like statistics 100 points
 

34. Blender (Maya equivalent) 200 points
 

35. Children Educational packages with games 300 points

I will start with Linux Mint, gos 3.1 gadgets and Berry to begin with, which is a cute one.
Children educational packages I have given bonus marks since they should be developed as separate distributions such as youknow4kids, Knoppix for kids and sugar.
Asoka
4th April, 2010

Paradox-03

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Paradox-03
Geopolitics is changing
And especially so
In Sri-Lankan terms
And its demographic
Activities and outcomes


I fail to understand
Why the so called
Political pundits
Educated only in Sinhala
Especially the journalist and media
Have failed to recognize
The fact of life
Of current politics


Nearly 4 million voters
Have not utilized
The franchise
This time around
Which is nearly 30%
Who have no trust
On the system
Or the system has failed
To recognize
Their need to participate
As living souls


If I break this down
Further
1.5 million
Which is 75%
Of the Tamil vote
Disowned
And turned a blind eye
To their aspirations


That is 15%
Of the total population


Nearly 50%
Of the Muslim community
Which add up to
Half a million
Abstained from voting


In other words
Nearly 20%
Of the ethnic minority
Did not engage
In participatory democracy



Why is this indifference
In our 5 Star democracy?


2 millions
Of the Sinhala majority
Especially the young
And the first time voters
For some reason or the other
Have not participated
In this activity
In spite of the
Freedom gained from
The ruthless conflict
Of violence


Abstained
And no true participation!


When we add
The little over 4 million
Who voted against
The ruling majority
Staggering figure
Of 8 million
Which is almost
60% of the total
Have no leader or leaders


This is an aberration
Which the Professor Edward De Bone
Highlights in his new wisdom book
"Think before it is too late"
Meant for the new millennium
Of geopolitics


A lateral thinking
In true practice


The fact of the matter
Of our democracy is
That the 40%
Of the vociferous extremists
Of the ruling elite
Run the show
Disregarding
The silent majority


My guess is that,
Come the Sinhala and Tamil New Year
Another 1 million
Will not vote
Adding the number
Of disenchanted mass
To over 5 million
Of the total electorate
Which is staggering 40%


In actual fact
Over 6 million (43%)
Twice as much
As my forecast
Did not participate
But doing shopping
For the New Year
Instead of polling

Edited on the 10th of April

Paradox-02

Monday, March 29, 2010
Paradox-02
Many moons ago
When we got together
On a social occasion
With spirits high
Both in verbosity
And alcohol content
We had analyzed
("I" eliminated on copyright basis)
The undergraduates
Who would take up
Politics
Instead academic
And intellectual activities

On a case by case basis
In the yesteryear scenario
The analysis
Would emerge like this

There was a guy
Who was not handsome
And unable to get hitched
To to suitable element
Of the opposite
Take respite
On the unthinkable



Another guy
Not so smart in physique
Unable to compete
Or take part
In any sport
Including rugger
Becomes an instant
Socialist


Then there was a guy
Who could not crack a joke
Or enjoy a flash
Of irrelevancy
In good spirit
Or take part in
The Sing Song Band
Or the "Gonpart Army"
Just like the "Barmy Army"
Take up
The Marxist ideology


Then there was a guy
Not eloquent in "Kaduwa"
But had all
The vulgarity
In his mother tongue
Ingrained in his system
And the life style
Paste and posted
All the "Kela Paththara"
On the walls


Then there was
A shadowy guy
Who frequented the
Unauthorized quarters
Especially at night
Lot to hide
But little to show
In character
Was the most vociferous


Unfortunately
These guys
Even though few in number
In our times
Repeatedly
Failed their examinations
And were the unwanted
In their own backyards
Ended up as
"Permanent Gajayas"
Existing on the
Union money
Use politics of the extremes
To regain
Some sort of identity


And there was
No other way
In this democratic society
Of ours
For the these guys
To survive
Other than parasites
In the vague politics
Of little substance
Or relevance


Fortunately
In our times
These guys were
Extremely intelligent
Who did come
On merits
Not on area basis
Realized their fallacious
And out of the fray activity
By the time
They failed the examination
For the third time
Rehabilitated
Out of politics
In good time
And never entered
The august assembly
Or the legislature


But strangely enough
When I analyze
The current situ
And the state of affairs
Of our modern society
There is striking coincidence
That the very same type
Of guys without rehabilitation
End up in our parliament
Who fail in our
Free
School Education System
Some of them
Even as Ministers
Holding important portfolios
Providing instant jokes
To the Media
And the Masses


For them
It is their very
Survival that matters
But not the welfare
Of the voter
Who voted them in
In the day to day
Affairs of our democracy


If that
Is not a wonder
What would be
The paradox
Of our times?