Zen Walk Linux

I downloaded the .iso for the live-CD version of Zen Walk, which is based on GNU/Linux. It runs on the Xfce window manager, which I like so much in Xubuntu, and since it comes from a different branch of the Linux tree (GNU for Zen, Debian for the 'Buntus), I figured I'd give it a try.

I like the application set. It's got Firefox, Thunderbird, Gaim, Gimp, Abiword, Gnumeric and more. And I like the clean look of Xfce -- it's that much cleaner than IceWM.

The first test is network configuration. In Zen Walk, you need the root password to get into the Zenpanel (it's ZenLive, case sensitive) and then you need to click on the various items a bunch of times. I kept getting hung up, so I would log out and then log back in. Finally I got it. Total time, about 10 minutes. At least I got Ethernet running.

Zen Walk also has an app called Wi-Fi Radar ... not sure what it does, but any acknowledgement that Wi-Fi exists and just might work on a Linux distro is a-OK by me.

As far as hardware requirements, the Zen Walk people say it's Pentium III minimum, but you can try Pentium II:

Hardware requirements:

These are the minimal hardware requirements to run Zenwalk in Xwindow mode, with correct performance (some lower configs work - ie : PII - , but might be slow) :

* Pentium III class processor

* 128 Mb RAM

* 2Gb HDD

Well, at least it's realistic. I really do like the way this distro works so far (clunky net config notwithstanding). I've gotta tell you, the net config of Puppy, Knoppix and Ubuntu/Xubuntu is a whole lot easier. As I said, Damn Small Linux won't even admit that I've got an Ethernet card, let alone allow me to configure it. At least Zen Walk let me run network services. Now ... if I could only get sound.