| A first look at MEPIS's new Ubuntu-based Linux |
by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols (Jun. 28, 2006)
Do you like Ubuntu? Do you like KDE? Would you like to have them both in one distribution, but with more than Kubuntu can give you? If that's you, then SimplyMEPIS 6.2 is your operating system.
SimplyMEPIS, long a well-regarded Debian-based Linux distribution, will be coming out soon with a new engine underneath its hood. This time, instead of Debian Sarge, its motor is Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Long Term Service), known to its friends as Dapper Drake.
Why did MEPIS LLC, a leader of the DCC Alliance -- a group of Debian supporters and companies devoted to creating a common Linux Standard Base Debian Core -- decide to switch to Ubuntu?
It was two factors. First, Morgantown, W.Va.-based Warren Woodford wasn't sure if the DCC was going to stay on track. The other, perhaps more important one, was that like many others, Woodford has been impressed by the Ubuntu developer community's speed and quality in producing a Debian-based distribution.
So it is, that we're on the brink of seeing the first Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that's not from Ubuntu or its commercial partner, Canonical Ltd.
Here's my early peek at what you'll find.
Installation
For my test runs, I used an HP Pavilion a250n. This system has a 2.6GHz Pentium 4 processor with 800MHz bus speed, and 1GB of PC2700 DDR (double-data-rate) RAM. For graphics, it has the low-end NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX.
I also deployed the new MEPIS on an IBM T40 ThinkPad. This system is based on a 1.6GHz Pentium M processor with 1MB of L2 cache, and a 400MHz FSB (Front Side Bus). It has 512MB of DDR SDRAM memory, and a built-in ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 AGP 4x with 32MB of VRAM for graphics. The T40s came from IBM with one of three different WiFi cards in a miniPCI slot. In my case, I have the Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter.
SimplyMEPIS 6 is built on the 2.6.15 Linux kernel, with recent security patches. Unlike Ubuntu, which uses GNOME for its default desktop, MEPIS uses KDE 3.5.3. For me, KDE continues to be the better choice of the two.
While KDE is also available on the official KDE version of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, which uses KDE 3.5.2, that Linux distribution tends to be a bit behind the MEPIS curve in terms of its KDE support. As a result, if you want a Ubuntu engine, but with the latest and greatest KDE body, MEPIS is the better choice.
For example, MEPIS now includes rdesktop, so that you can use KDE's Remote Desktop Sharing with Windows remote desktop servers. That leads to another point in MEPIS's favor: it does a better job of supporting local area networks than does Ubuntu.
For example, while networking in a Windows/Samba-based network, using both NT domain style and AD (Active Directory) authentication, I found numerous slight, but annoying, problems in accessing remote CIFS (Common Internet File Systems) hard drives and printers with Ubuntu 6.06. MEPIS, on the other hand, worked flawlessly at finding and using remote resources with the KDE-based Smb4k share browser.
Smb4k share browser
(Click to enlarge)
However, on the ThinkPad, MEPIS, like Ubuntu, couldn't automatically set up the Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 card. MEPIS did detect the card, though, which is more than either Ubuntu 6.06 or OpenSUSE 10.1 could do. While the 2100 is easy to set up in Linux, it was disappointing to see that it couldn't be done without needing an experienced Linux user. The latest release of Xandros, I'll note, was able to find and automatically install this WiFi card.
Generally speaking, however, MEPIS did an outstanding job of finding and working with my hardware. For example, it didn't flinch for a moment when presented with an assortment of USB 1.1 and 2.0 devices, such as portable hard drives and memory sticks. In part, that's due to MEPIS's own MEPIS USB media handler, which replaces the default KDE one.
Because MEPIS comes as both a live and an installation CD, you can find out in a hurry if it will recognize all your hardware. Thus, you'll know where you stand with your equipment and its Linux compatibility, before you go to the trouble of installing the system. I wish more Linux distributors went to this trouble.
With MEPIS, you can also co-exist nicely with an existing Windows system, since it supports NTFS partition resizing.
MEPIS is a very easy Linux distribution to install. Even a user who has never touched Linux before should have no trouble installing it. The only bit of confusion might come with the default passwords. The system starts with two accounts: demo and root. The passwords for each are the same as the user name.
Installing MEPIS went very quickly for me on both systems. With only about 900 software packages, MEPIS doesn't waste your time.
What you get
Within that software collection, you'll find all the essentials, such as OpenOffice 2.0.2, Firefox 1.504, Thunderbird 1.504, and Skype 1.2.
Want more applications? No problem. MEPIS uses the Synaptic 0.57.8 package manager as a front end to Debian's apt utility. The program is already set to look for new and updated programs on MEPIS's and Ubuntu's own repositories.
Synaptic package manager
(Click to enlarge)
MEPIS and Synaptic worked together like a well-oiled machine. For example, I was able to download, install, and start playing music, using my personal favorite Linux-based music player Banshee, in about 10 minutes.
I had expected Banshee, which uses both Mono and GNOME libraries that aren't present in MEPIS, to be something of a bear to install. I was wrong. Better still, MEPIS also automatically placed my new music player in its proper spot on the application menu bar. I was impressed.
Banshee music player
(Click to enlarge)
I'm sorry to say that there are other parts of MEPIS menu system still need polishing. Take, for instance, the oddly named MEPIS Old OS Center. The name doesn't say anything meaningful to me. In it, you'll find the system configuration controls for the mouse, display, network interfaces, and user accounts.
Under it you'll also find system utilities, such as a partition repair program and a program to copy home and other personal use directories between desktops. The neatest application hidden away here is one of MEPIS's best, though: OnTheGo.
Using this application, you can take your Linux desktop anywhere. It works by creating a personalized live CD or USB memory stick. With it, you can boot up not just a MEPIS Linux system, but one with your own applications and files, on any x86 system.
To prevent anyone from walking away with your desktop files in their pocket, it gives you the option of encrypting the data with AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encoding. For users on the road without a laptop, this is a remarkably useful tool.
Another unique, to Linux, addition to MEPIS is that, like many Windows PCs, the operating system comes with an EarthLink icon and set-up program. With this, users can sign up with EarthLink Cable, DSL, or dial-up Internet access, or the company's TrueVoice VoIP.
While some Linux users may be put off by this at first, I think this is a really nice feature. To my knowledge, this marks the first time that a major commercial ISP has offered Linux support. EarthLink, together with MEPIS's value added reseller TaFusion, will be supporting this offering.
Overall impressions
The overall look of MEPIS is quite clean. MEPIS's default interface owes a debt to the common KDE Plastik style, but it has a clean look of its own. I think that's largely due to the distribution's use of anti-aliased TrueType fonts. You might not think fonts would make that much of a difference, but I found MEPIS to be simply more pleasant to use than many other distributions simply because it menus and the like were so easy to read.
My MEPIS desktop
(Click to enlarge)
All in all, I continue to be impressed by MEPIS. It's a good, solid desktop Linux distribution that stands above the other minor-league distributions and can give the major-league ones, like SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, a run for its money.
In particular, I think this new version of MEPIS makes an outstanding beginner's Linux. It's not only easy to pick up, but it provides easy access to more powerful tools as new users gain confidence in their Linux skills. The final version is due out on July 10, but I can already recommend MEPIS 6.0 today.
Availability
Early users can see for themselves by downloading the release candidate operating system with either BitTorrent or ftp. You can also buy a SimplyMEPIS subscription or a CD. An annual subscription, which gets you access to the distribution and related programs, is $49.95. The CD alone is $14.95.
TaFusion offers MEPIS with 30-days of online support and timed demos of Transgaming Cedega for running Windows games on Linux; CrossOver Office, so you can run Windows office applications on MEPIS; and RESTORE-PE (Personal Edition), a heavy-duty backup program. TaFusion also offers full versions of these programs. Finally, through its partner, Technologist Inc., TaFusion offers a small selection of desktop PCs with MEPIS already installed.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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