PCLinuxOS

PCLinuxOS is an open source Linux distribution based on the Mandriva operating system and the most popular distro on the Softoware website. Being designed to be used entirely from a bootable DVD media or USB stick, the PCLinuxOS features a complete and attractive desktop environment powered by the KDE project.

Plenty of boot options

In addition to the live environment, installing PCLinuxOS to the disk drive of your computer, in a simple task that anyone can achieve with a few mouse clicks. The boot menu includes many useful options, such as the ability to copy the entire live environment to RAM (system memory), install the PCLinuxOS operating system directly, check the media for errors (CD/DVD only).

Uses the KDE desktop environment

An advanced memory diagnostic tool is also integrated into the boot menu, which lets advanced users to change kernel parameters, drivers, and use the safe graphics mode in case their video card is not supported. This is the default edition and it runs the KDE desktop environment. However, one should not think that PCLinuxOS is a KDE-only distribution, as it is distributed into several different editions with other desktop environments. The GNOME, MATE, LXDE, Xfce, Openbox, and Enlightenment (E17) editions are also very popular among the PCLinuxOS community. All of them support both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures.

Includes a wide range of open-source apps

Among the default applications, we can mention Mozilla Firefox web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird email client, FileZilla FTP client, KTorrent torrent downloader, LibreOffice office suite, Dolphin file manager, KWrite text editor, and Clementine music player. The distribution also includes Skype, Google Earth, KGmailNotifier, KGet, kFlickr, Choqok, Dropbox, GIMP, Panorama, K3b, as well as numerous utilities. Additional applications can be easily added or removed from PCLinuxOS using a user-friendly apt-get front-end, called Synaptic Package Manager.

Bottom line

We recommend this edition of PCLinuxOS for modern and high-end computers. Its target audience is both novices and advanced Linux users.

What is new in this release:

• The image includes all of the updates and bug fixes from the past month. The kernel was updated to 4.9.13. KDE components were updated to Plasma 5.8.6 LTS, Frameworks to 5.31.0 and Applications to 16.12.2. Bug fixes include the menu editor, net applet in the system tray, konsole profile and better defaults for Dolphin and System Tray icons. Applications added to ISO image include gparted, nixnote2 and dropbox.

What is new in version :

• The image includes all of the updates and bug fixes from the past month. The kernel was updated to 4.9.13. KDE components were updated to Plasma 5.8.6 LTS, Frameworks to 5.31.0 and Applications to 16.12.2. Bug fixes include the menu editor, net applet in the system tray, konsole profile and better defaults for Dolphin and System Tray icons. Applications added to ISO image include gparted, nixnote2 and dropbox.

What is new in version 2017.07:

• The image includes all of the updates and bug fixes from the past month. The kernel was updated to 4.9.13. KDE components were updated to Plasma 5.8.6 LTS, Frameworks to 5.31.0 and Applications to 16.12.2. Bug fixes include the menu editor, net applet in the system tray, konsole profile and better defaults for Dolphin and System Tray icons. Applications added to ISO image include gparted, nixnote2 and dropbox.

What is new in version 2017.06.20:

• The image includes all of the updates and bug fixes from the past month. The kernel was updated to 4.9.13. KDE components were updated to Plasma 5.8.6 LTS, Frameworks to 5.31.0 and Applications to 16.12.2. Bug fixes include the menu editor, net applet in the system tray, konsole profile and better defaults for Dolphin and System Tray icons. Applications added to ISO image include gparted, nixnote2 and dropbox.

What is new in version 2017.04:

• The image includes all of the updates and bug fixes from the past month. The kernel was updated to 4.9.13. KDE components were updated to Plasma 5.8.6 LTS, Frameworks to 5.31.0 and Applications to 16.12.2. Bug fixes include the menu editor, net applet in the system tray, konsole profile and better defaults for Dolphin and System Tray icons. Applications added to ISO image include gparted, nixnote2 and dropbox.

What is new in version 2017.03:

• The image includes all of the updates and bug fixes from the past month. The kernel was updated to 4.9.13. KDE components were updated to Plasma 5.8.6 LTS, Frameworks to 5.31.0 and Applications to 16.12.2. Bug fixes include the menu editor, net applet in the system tray, konsole profile and better defaults for Dolphin and System Tray icons. Applications added to ISO image include gparted, nixnote2 and dropbox.

What is new in version 2016.06:

• Highlights include kernel 3.18.1, ffmpeg 2.5.1, mesa 10.4.0, SysVinit (no systemd) and all popular applications such as Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice and VLC have been updated to their latest versions.

What is new in version 2015.12:

• Highlights include kernel 3.18.1, ffmpeg 2.5.1, mesa 10.4.0, SysVinit (no systemd) and all popular applications such as Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice and VLC have been updated to their latest versions.

What is new in version 2014.12:

• Highlights include kernel 3.18.1, ffmpeg 2.5.1, mesa 10.4.0, SysVinit (no systemd) and all popular applications such as Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice and VLC have been updated to their latest versions.

What is new in version 2014.08:

• Kernel 3.15.9 for maximum desktop performance.
• Full KDE 4.13.3 Desktop.
• Updated desktop theme
• xorg 1.14.6
• mesa 10.2.5
• 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.
• LibreOffice Manager can install LibreOffice 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

What is new in version 2014.07:

• Kernel 3.15.4 for maximum desktop performance.
• Full KDE 4.12.3 Desktop.
• 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.
• LibreOffice Manager can install LibreOffice 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

What is new in version 2014.05:

• Kernel 3.12.18 for maximum desktop performance.
• Full KDE 4.12.3 Desktop.
• 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.
• LibreOffice Manager can install LibreOffice 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

What is new in version 2014.04:

• Kernel 3.12.16 for maximum desktop performance.
• Full KDE 4.12.3 Desktop.
• 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.
• LibreOffice Manager can install LibreOffice 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

What is new in version 2013.10:

• Linux kernel 3.4.64

What is new in version 2013.04:

• KDE 4.10.1, Kernel 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
• Latest full set of NVidia drivers; big thanks to TerryN!
• PCLOS410 theme; big thanks to Linuzoid
• QT-update-notifier; big thanks to muungwana

What is new in version 2013.02:

• KDE 4.9.5, Kernel 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
• Latest full set of NVidia drivers; big thanks to TerryN!
• Konsole with additional root-profile
• KDE 2013.02 has all the additions from MiniME above and was built to provide a general purpose KDE desktop computing environment. The DVD includes popular tools for office, audio, video, graphics, and Internet applications (LibreOffice, Gimp, Skype, TeamViewer, Dropbox, VirtualBox, etc.) as well as additional drivers and tools to setup your hardware (graphic card, network, printer, scanner, etc.).

What is new in version 2011.6:

• Kernel - The kernel was updated to version 2.6.38.8. Additional kernels are available from our repositories such as a PAE kernel for computers with more than 4 gigs of memory. A BFS kernel for maximum desktop performance and a standard kernel with group scheduling enabled.
• Xorg - Xorg server was updated to version 1.10.2. Mesa updated to 7.10.3 and libdrm to version 2.4.26. This update brings enhancements to the PCLinuxOS desktop including speed, 3D desktop support for most Intel, Nvidia and AMD/ATi video cards, better font rendering, black screen fixes for most Nvidia cards, better Flash playback and more. The most recent versions of Nvidia and AMD/ATi video drivers are included on the LiveCD and automatically configured for you. The bad news is users with older legacy video cards included in most dated computers may not function properly due to many depreciated xorg video drivers.
• Toolchain - Gcc software compiler was updated to version 4.5.2 and glibc updated to 2.10.1. Locales were updated to version 2.12.1.
• Package Manager - RPM was updated to version 4.8.1. apt-get and the Synaptic Package Manager were also updated to work with the updated rpm packages. yum and yumex will be available in the coming weeks as an alternative package manager.
• Theme Update - The 2011 release received a full makeover. PCLinuxOS features a new brush metal theme including updates to grub, plymouth, kdm, kdesplash and application splash screens. Additional themes are available as well as our previous theme from our software repository.
• Theme screenshots located here: http://goo.gl/il3CG
• Remastering Tools - mylivecd was updated to work with the latest release. mylivecd added the ability to install PCLinuxOS from the boot menu without having to go to the desktop first. There are 3 compression schemes available now for remastering your installation. xz maximum compression, xz normal compression and gzip for fast compression. xz max takes longer to generate the LiveCD but produces the most compressed image where as gzip will create a LiveCD fairly quick but the compressed image will be larger. mylivecd can also generate a LiveDVD with up to 4 gigs of compressed data. Usually a 10-12 gig installation will compress into a 4 gig DVD.
• Software - PCLinuxOS 2011 LiveCD come with the latest versions of most popular programs such as KDE 4.6.4, Firefox 5.0, Thunderbird 3.1.11, Pidgin 2.9.0, VLC 1.10.0 and Clementine 0.7.1 just to name a few. OpenOffice Manager has been replaced with LibreOffice Manager. Due to the limited size of the LiveCD the office suite is not included but can be installed through the LibreOffice Manager either in LiveCD mode (3 gigs memory required) or preferably after hard drive installation. Addlocale has updated translations and can convert a PCLinuxOS installation into over 70 different languages. The software included on the LiveCD was based on community feedback as to what the PCLinuxOS users wanted to be included by default.