GoboLinux 012

What is it:

GoboLinux is a Linux distribution that breaks away from the historical UNIX directory hierarchy. Basically, this means that there are no directories such as /usr and /etc. The main idea of the alternative hierarchy is to store all files belonging to an application in its own separate subtree; therefore we have directories such as /Programs/GCC/2.95.3/lib. To allow the system to find these files, they are logically grouped in directories such as /System/Links/Executables, which, you guessed it, contains symbolic links to all executable files inside the Programs hierarchy. To maintain backwards compatibility with traditional Unix/Linux apps, there are symbolic links that mimic the Unix tree, such as “/usr/bin -> /System/Links/Executables”, and “/sbin -> /System/Links/Executables” (this example shows that arbitrary differentiations between files of the same category were also removed). http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=gobo
Where you can get it:

http://www.gobolinux.org/

Where can I get support:

http://www.gobolinux.org/forum

Why am I trying it:

I’ll leave this section to give an idea of why I have chosen to try this distro over all of the others available in the world. For GoboLinux, it is the file system structure. It is intuitive, personally for as long as I have been using/playing with linux, I still get lost looking for applications, config files, etc. when trying to support an application. Open up the file system in GoboLinux and it’s pretty straight forward in regards to what you’re looking for. As great as this idea is, I don’t see it being adopted by the larger distributions as I see it as a major undertaking and for those with a lot of experience, to be a pain in the butt.
My System Specs:

• Dell Inspiron 6000
• PENTIUM M DOTHAN, 1.6GHZ, 533FSB
• 1GB RAM
• 60GB 7200 RPM HDD
• Intel 2200 b/g Wifi
• ATI Mobile Radeon 300
• 15.4″ WUXGA+ Display

From the beginning:

Popped CD in drive, set notebook to boot to CD/DVD Drive. Only thing that I was prompted with, was what language, and keyboard type. Once configured, I could type ’startx’ and boot. Upon boot, I recieved an error message:

‘Sound Server Informational Message: Error While initializing the sound driver: /device/dev/dsp/ can’t be opened (No Such File or Directory). The sound Server will continue using the null output device.’

I’d hope the sound would work out of the box, and that is basically what I’m looking for, is something that just works out of the box. If I really wanted to, I could probably figure out why it doesn’t work.

Desktop environment is KDE 3.4. Going through the list of software, that just caught my eye/stood out:

• Open Office 1.1.4
• Firefox 1.0.4
• KsIRC
• Kopete (I seem to like Kopete over GAIM or the other available clients)
• K3b (CD burning software — a necessity)

My initial Impressions:

KDE has always looked nice, and this was no different from any other experience. There is an icon on the desktop for QtParted, and an icon to install GoboLinux. System is fairly responsive, I don’t expect blazing performance on my notebook. Open Office took ~25 seconds to start, Firefox was a little quicker.

Firefox is very quick to surf around the internet. Definitely quicker than my Ubuntu Install on this notebook. Wish I could get my Ubuntu box to surf quicker

Default Resolution is 1024×768. My display will support 1900×1200. This isn’t even an option, and honestly the 1024×768 ain’t so bad.

What doesn’t work:

• Wifi — Doesn’t even recognize it
• Touch Pad — It’s very sensitive, often times mistaking the fact that I’m just navigating for clicking on something. Also the touchpad has a scroll ‘wheel’ at the bottom and right side of the pad — these don’t work.
• The Sound — see error above
• Front Control Panel — Mute, Volume Down, Volume Up, Next/Previous, Play/Pause, Stop
• KDE’s Control Center — Seemed to cache the page. Basically when I would click on one, then click to another, then on to something else, I’d pull up the properties for something else. It was a PITA when trying to get around.

My Final Thoughts:

It’s not for me. Using Ubuntu for a while now, I like Gnome too much. I can’t really see anything REALLY bad with it, that would not make me recommend it to someone who was looking for a distro to try (you should always give as many a test drive as possible). I realize that notebook support is lacking in the *nix market, but ya know what….Ubuntu works w/o issues, so it is what I’m basing it off of. I’m currently making this post while using GoboLinux, and I’m seeing some quirky behavior in Firefox with WordPress. I’m not entirely sure what it is is Firefox, WordPress or something related to the OS.

I know now that my notebook is not the best means for a review (though I’ll continue to review Live CD’s with it in the future). I may fire up one of my old Athlon 1.4Ghz t-birds and see how they work. I’d like to test CD-Burning out of the box as well as applications related to my Canon SD-200 Digital Camera. And I think the hardware in my Athlon box could be a little more forgiving in regards to what works and doesn’t work.

This has been my first review in a while related to Live CD’s and I expect this process to change a little. If there is something I didn’t review, or something you’d like to know, feel free to post up. I’d be more than happy to throw the disc back in and fire it up.