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Spawn of Debian faceoff: MEPIS Linux
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The default MEPIS desktop is a clean, well-lighted place. Nearly a dozen desktop icons are arranged in two columns on the left hand side of the screen. Along the bottom, the KDE task bar shows the status of your keyboard LEDs, the date and time, and half a dozen icons of its own.
The desktop icons provide one-click access to Mount Partitions, System Center, Removable Disks, Installation Center, Documents, User Utilities, Local Network, registration and support, Print Jobs, and Quick Start documentation. And a trash can, of course.
Mount Partitions turns out to be KDiskFree, which displays information about mounted file systems. The System Center provides a configuration tool to handle localization, Keyring Disks, Mouse, Display, Network Interfaces, Package Management, and other system tweaks.
Removable Disks gives me easy konqueror to whatever lives in /mnt/removable. The Installation Center now has the Install section grayed out, but still offers tools to fix problems with LILO or X. It also allows you to create a boot floppy and to test partitions.
Documents is Konqueror, focused on things like the text file I am saving as I write this in KEdit. The User Utilities allow me to clean up user space and create spam filters. If you use Samba to work with both Windows and Linux boxes on the LAN, you will appreciate the Local Network. Behind the icon is Komba2, a neat Samba network admin tool.
The registration and support icon links to the Mepis Web site, where you can purchase MEPIS and find technical support for it. MEPIS costs only $17 for the two CDs, or $10 for high-speed download. You can also download MEPIS for free from several mirrors listed on the site. Registration on the Web site is free and allows you to post questions in the support forum.
MEPIS installs nearly 1,200 apps and tools by default. The KDE icon on the task bar makes them available to you in a clear and easy fashion. In addition to OpenOffice.org and all the usual suspects for Internet apps, games, and multimedia, there were some things you don't normally see in a default install.
Remote Desktop Connection is one. If you have a VNC server running elsewhere on the LAN, this is all you need to access its desktop. The Synaptic package manager, which is a GUI front-end for apt-get is another. You can also find a tape backup tool and the QT Partition Editor used during the installation.
Connectivity
Just as LindowsOS did, MEPIS found my meant-to-be-shared HP DeskJet 842C on the LAN and made it ready for my use without me having to lift a finger. Ditto Internet access via DHCP. This category is becoming a real "Move along, nothing to do here" kind of thing for Linux.
Software maintenance
MEPIS depends on apt-get for adding and updating software. You can use it from the command line or via Synaptic. It's pre-configured to check the MEPIS deb repository first, then to check a number of the usual Debian repositories.
Security
MEPIS installs itself behind a firewall and enforces good security practices for the division of tasks between super and normal user. By default, almost all exposed services and servers are turned off.
Support
Free support is available in the forums on the MEPIS website. Registration is the only thing required in order to post questions. If you can find the answer you need by looking at the answers to others' question, you don't even need to register.
The final score
Based on feedback from readers, we've added a couple of new things to the faceoff box score: pricing for the version tested and pricing for priority software updating if available.
MEPIS is a different type of distribution than I've seen before. As noted, it is almost a one-man operation. It's not a free distribution, like Debian, but the prices for it are so low that it almost qualifies. It's probably not the right choice for non-technical Linux newbies, but it's a great choice for those on a budget. MEPIS Linux is the best value for the money of any Linux distribution I've tried yet.
| Category | LindowsOS 4.5 | MEPIS 2003.10 |
| Installation | 90 | 90 |
| Connectivity | 95 | 95 |
| Security | 85 | 95 |
| Software maintenance | 95 | 90 |
| Free/Included Support | 75 | 90 |
| Price as tested | $49.95 | $17 |
| Upgrade software maintenance | $49.95 | N/A |
| Final Grade | 88 | 92 |
Comments
on Spawn of Debian faceoff: MEPIS LinuxNote: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.
I do note in the story that the distribution is available for free download. I guess that's not real clear from just looking at the box score, though.
PS try the cd + flash-ram trick with a M$ os - I think not... Windows on a Live CD?
With a little more than 6 weeks of Linux experience, most of it with Mandrake, I decided to try Mepis (which I got as a free download). Now I've been using it for a little more than a month, and it is hard for me to imagine a more user-friendly distribution.
Don't think that because it installs from a live CD that it lacks for anything. Once you've installed it, you have access to all of the Debian apps. So far every one I've tried has gone in and worked correctly. That's the distiguishing feature of this distro: everything just works, and works well, right after the install. By everything, I mean Nvidea video card drivers are installed, flash, shockwave, and realplayer are configured, the local network is fully accessible, printing works transparently...everything important to me.
Sure you'll add software, do tweaks, and make it yours, that's what is great about Linux in general. I also had to locate a driver for one of my printers that CUPS doesn't support on any distro. I've also used alien to convert a few RPM packages that I liked from Mandrake.
As a newcomer to Linux, I couldn't be happier. I have recommended that several of my friends try this distribution.
Best of all it is based on Debian. One can easily manage the system with apt-get. Keep up the good work Warren!
Mepis is BY FAR the best solution going! Everything you need on ONE CD--not 7 like Woody or 3 like most other distro's. A better mix of software than I've seen on ANY other distro.
Mepis is today what Sid will be in 3-5 years--if they're lucky--VERY lucky!
Lance Haverkamp
>their proprietary RPM system is not apt-get.
Small correction -- Mandrake's URPMI isn't proprietary, in any sense of the word. It is, however, used by Mandrake exclusively. The code is open source, and other distros are certainly free to use the same system... but haven't. Probably because apt and yum provide the same functionality.
if you want to search for a given header ( say you are missing one in a given compilation of a package your installing ) you just:
urpmf blah.h
and it tells you what package to install to satisfy the dependency...apt nor yum can lay claim to that slick feature...so urpmi is ahead on that count anyway
you can search the debian mirror for said header file but there is no command line tool for doing the same which can come in handy...
been using Mepis for 4 weeks now, have used Icepack / Arch / Ark / Alt / ELX / Knoppix and Mandrake in the past. Not a "noob" by any means, but not really a command line guru either.This is by far the "least" frustrating distro I have used, just about everything is there, easy to use, looks good etc.
Overall I think I would score it 95%.
Excellent distro
William
You can actually test out the distro with your hardware before you make a decision to install it, or even take it to a store with you and try out a new computer that you may be considering to see if everything works with Linux.
To install from the cd, you actually boot up the live cd as user "demo", select the "I" button (the installer button) and log in with the root password (root) and then you go through the install sequence, which is pretty much self explanatory.
So, there are two ways offered, not one confusing one.
Mepis
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on January 17, 2004 06:34 AMHowever putting a price tag of $17 in the final score is a bit misleading.
I downloaded it for $0.00, and as you said, support is also free.
In fact I am told that Warren will help you by email even if you are not a paying user.
Sergio
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