Absolutely beautiful desktop with PClinuxOS E17 edition
I have been a fan of Enlightenment for a long, long time. It's one of the most elegant desktops available today. But not only is it elegant looking, it's a joy to use, more flexible than most desktops, and lighter weight than the "big 2" Linux desktops.
The only problem with E17 is the installation. Getting this desktop installed on some distributions is a nightmare at best. So when there is a distribution that ships with E17 as the default, I always give it a good look see. One of the newest options for this is PCLinuxOS - Enlightenment edition. I thought I would share my thoughts on this special distribution.
What's included
Besides the ever-wonderful E17 desktop environment, you will enjoy the following on the PCLinuxOS E17 edition:
- Kernel 2.6.33.7-pclos6.bfs.
- Nvidia and ATI fglrx driver support.
- Multimedia playback support for many popular formats.
- Wireless support for many network devices.
- Printer support for many local and networked printer devices.
- Addlocale allows you to convert PCLinuxOS into over 60 languages.
- GetOpenOffice can install Open Office supporting over 100 languages.
- MyLiveCD allows you to take a snapshot of your installation and burn it to a LiveCD/DVD.
- PCLinuxOS-liveusb – allows you to install PCLinuxOS on a USB key disk.
- ark-4.5.3 – Archiving Client
- choqok-0.9.92 – Microblogging Program
- clementine-0.5.3 – Music Manager
- digikam-1.5.0 – Photo Client
- dolphin-4.5.3 – File Manager
- drakconfig-12.17 – Computer Control Center
- dropbox-0.7.110 – Online Backup Storage Program (2 gig free)
- firefox-3.6.12 – Web Browser (Chromium and Opera also available from repository)
- gimp-2.6.11 – Graphic Drawing Program
- gwenview-4.5.3 – Graphic Viewer Client
- k3b-2.0.1 – Burn CD/DVDs
- kcalc-4.5.3- Calculator
- kwrite-4.5.3 – Text Editor
- ksnapshot-4.5.3 – Capture Screenshots
- ktorrent-4.0.4 – Bitorrent Client
- liveusb-0.7.4 – Put PCLinuxOS on USB key disk (New on LiveCD)
- okular-4.5.3 – PDF Viewing Program
- nscd-2.10.1 -Caches name service
- pidgin-2.7.4 – Instant Messaging Program
- shorewall-4.4.11 – Firewall
- smb4k-0.10.9 – Samba Share Client
- synaptic-0.57.2 – Package Manager
- thunderbird-3.1.6 – Email Client
- tvtime-1.0.2 – Television Viewing Client (Requires a TV tuner)
- vlc-1.1.4.1 – Multimedia Video Program
- xchat-2.8.8 – IRC Chat Program
As you can see, oddly enough, PCLinuxOS E17 edition is heavily dependent upon KDE, as it is filled with KDE applications.
What you will not find, strangely enough, is an email client. You will also notice that PCLinuxOS E17 edition does not pre-install OpenOffice. You actually have to do this installation yourself. I have to admit I was a little shocked at the decision to not include a mail client and and office suite. Yes, KWrite is included, but why not add the entire KOffice suite so the distribution is complete?
What it looks like
Figure 1 shows what the default PCLinuxOS E17 desktop looks like. The only thing I have done is install The GIMP (in order to take a screenshot).
As you might expect, the desktop behaves very much in the way a standard E17 desktop would. The only thing missing (from my perspective) is the Ecomorph module. If the makers of this distribution want to take this to another level, they should consider adding that particular module to give it a broader appeal (with a great 3D compositing engine).
How it performs
Even using this distribution in "live form" you immediately feel that you are using a distribution built for speed and simplicity. What really surprised me was how stable the distribution was. With serious claims of HEAVY DEVELOPMENT you would think PCLinuxOS E17 would be more prone to bugs than it is. I have yet to come across one (other than the lack of an office suite and mail client - but you can't really call that a "bug").
Who should try it
If you are one of those that prefers an alternative desktop, or if you've been wanting to give E17 a try, this might be your best bet. Since PCLinuxOS is one of the most user-friendly distributions, you will get the Enlightenment experience with little to no headache.
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HELLO,I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT E17 ,THE NEWLY INTRODUCED DESKTOP ENLIGHTENMENT….. .IT’S AN UPDATED VERSION OF E16 .IT HAS MANY STRIKING FEATURES THAT EXCLUDE IT FROM GNOME, KDE ETC….. FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT
.http://ubuntumanual.org/posts/273/e17-enlighten-your-desktop.
xp 系統能安è£ã„‡
>Figure 1 shows what the default PCLinuxOS E17 desktop looks like. The only thing I have done is >install The GIMP (in order to take a screenshot).
Why would you use GIMP to do what this included apps does?
– ksnapshot-4.5.3 – Capture Screenshots
I tried this distro on a Celeron machine and like it… its like having a streamlined KDE… love K3b, digikam, gwenview, ktorrent, chokock…
@tunapez if you really like minimalism wait a little for the next mini PClinuxOS OpenBox (name has not been decided yet) I tested the beta and works great.
PCLinux is still not available in 64bit… no thanks. Sabayon is what I use for E17.
I personally prefer to not have an office suite/email client/packages pre-loaded. If vi doesn’t cut it I can always install my choice from synaptic…preferably one that doesn’t come with a huge library of games and Totem and Pidgeon… none of which I want.
Playing with Unity/Openbox this week, still buggy but love the minimalism. Been meaning to read up on the PCLinuxOS/Unity fork, too.
They should have gone with PCManFM or even Konqueror instead of Dolphin.
First , for screenshot > gadget e17 screenshot.
Second , version light > Ecomorph is installed.
Third , E17PClinuxOS , light or full , is fantatisc , sure.. says a user of e17 for several years.
Four , Thanks for review.
Greetings:
Agust
Apart from the errors previously mentioned (re not having an email client and posting the wrong desktop shot) you actually go on to omit one of the things that you say causes you problems with E17, i.e. the installation. If you are going to review a product and mention prior problems you should at least cover that in the main review. But seeing as you “forgot” to mention it, I will. PCLinuxOS installs flawlessly.
In a review one would expect to find some mention of installation, but this doesn’t strike me as being intended as a full review.
I had taken from the wording of his introduction that the nightmares installing E17 on some distributions didn’t apply to those in which it is the default environment, so wasn’t surprised by the lack of mention of the installation, other than the lack of programs to do specific tasks.
b
No he doesn’t mean problem in PCLinuxOS installation, he means problem getting E17 install.
I understand it wasn’t specifically about PCLinuxOS installation, and was E17 in general, BUT it being one of his concerns and commented on as one of his main problems he should of gone on to cover it in the review.
It’s very poor writing to mention it and then disregard it in the review itself. It leaves the “impression” that the OS being reviewed falls into that category.
There is also a Light version which uses smaller GTK2 applications instead of KDE 4 backend applications.
PCLinuxOS Enlightenment E17 2010.11 ISO comes with Thunderbird Email Client. It does not come with OpenOffice (CD size limitation) but you can install it via the OpenOffice Manager. The screen you posted is not how it looks. Please check out for more information and actual screenshots.
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,82087.0.html
No e-mail client? And what is Thunderbird supposed to be then???
I have PCLinuxOS E17 installed on a machine – no email client. Unless they’ve buried it in a submenu somewhere, I am not seeing it. It’s not in Internet and not in Office.
Nope – just checked through every menu and Thunderbird is not there. Firefox is, Thunderbird is not.
This, of course, could be because I am running the Live Version. But I would think the Live version should be representative of what the installed version would be. Most Live Versions are.
From the looks of the screenshot you got an old iso of PCLinuxOS E17. The new one was released about a week ago.