Descent|OS is a freely distributed and open source operating system derived from the award winning Debian GNU/Linux distribution and targeted towards the regular desktop user. It is built around the MATE desktop environment.
A modern OS that supports only 64-bit computers
This is a modern OS that supports only 64-bit computers, downloadable as a Live DVD ISO image or approximately 1.5GB in size. While it will only boot on 64-bit machines, the distribution supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
Boot options
The boot screen is the main indication that Descent|OS is based on Debian, but only for connoisseurs. Default boot options include the ability to start the live environment with default drivers or in compatibility mode, perform a system memory diagnostic test, as well as to boot an existing operating system from the first drive.
Very lightweight graphical desktop environment with a modern layout
As mentioned, the default and only desktop environment of Descent|OS is MATE, a clone of the GNOME 2 desktop, also known as GNOME Classic. It is a very lightweight graphical desktop environment that features a modern layout comprised of a taskbar located on the bottom edge of the screen and a dock (applications launcher) on the left side of the screen.
Default applications
Default applications include the Guake Terminal terminal emulator, F-Spot image viewer and organizer, GIMP image editor, Simple Scan image scanner, Gwibber social networking client, Icedove email and news reader, Iceweasel web browser and Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger.
In addition, the Banshee audio player, OpenShot video editor, VLC Media Player, Xfburn CD/DVD image burning software, Smuxi IRC client, Transmission torrent downloader, and the entire LibreOffice office suite are also included.
Bottom line
Whether you are an experienced Linux user, or you are new into computers, or you are one of those people that always searches for a good-looking and fully functional desktop-oriented operating system, loaded with tons of software packages, Descent|OS is the right OS for you.
What is new in this release:
- It is now based on Debian Wheezy (instead of sid) and is built for stability rather than new development. Here is what is included in the new version:
- Mate 1.6 is now included. Mate 1.6 is a great successor to Mate 1.4, and has their registry system finally merged into gconf/dconf, which makes management much easier on the desktop side.
- Iceweasel(Firefox) 20: I added the backports repository for Iceweasel, so now you can get the most current version.
- Icedove(Thunderbird) replaced Claws-mail: This is more an ease-of-use call, really. Claws-mail is a great client, but Icedove is a more familiar client.
- Libreoffice replaced Apache Openoffice: I love apache's openoffice, but since I wasn't a huge fan of uploading a sourceforge-hosted repository, I decided to go back to libreoffice.
- I have a few packages from the good ol' mint repository added for more usability, as well. I have included mint's software center as an alternative to the more powerful, but less usable Synaptic.
- Openshot replaced Pitivi: I decided to go with a more well-received video editor here. I don't have blender installed, but openshot's great standalone nowadays.
- I have included GIMP with this release as well.
- Gwibber's also included, because I use it as a twitter client, and quite enjoy having that out of the box, so it's back in the ISO.
What is new in version 5.0 Alpha:
- It is now based on Debian Wheezy (instead of sid) and is built for stability rather than new development. Here is what is included in the new version:
- Mate 1.6 is now included. Mate 1.6 is a great successor to Mate 1.4, and has their registry system finally merged into gconf/dconf, which makes management much easier on the desktop side.
- Iceweasel(Firefox) 20: I added the backports repository for Iceweasel, so now you can get the most current version.
- Icedove(Thunderbird) replaced Claws-mail: This is more an ease-of-use call, really. Claws-mail is a great client, but Icedove is a more familiar client.
- Libreoffice replaced Apache Openoffice: I love apache's openoffice, but since I wasn't a huge fan of uploading a sourceforge-hosted repository, I decided to go back to libreoffice.
- I have a few packages from the good ol' mint repository added for more usability, as well. I have included mint's software center as an alternative to the more powerful, but less usable Synaptic.
- Openshot replaced Pitivi: I decided to go with a more well-received video editor here. I don't have blender installed, but openshot's great standalone nowadays.
- I have included GIMP with this release as well.
- Gwibber's also included, because I use it as a twitter client, and quite enjoy having that out of the box, so it's back in the ISO.
What is new in version 4.0.1 / 4.04 Beta:
- It is now based on Debian Wheezy (instead of sid) and is built for stability rather than new development. Here is what is included in the new version:
- Mate 1.6 is now included. Mate 1.6 is a great successor to Mate 1.4, and has their registry system finally merged into gconf/dconf, which makes management much easier on the desktop side.
- Iceweasel(Firefox) 20: I added the backports repository for Iceweasel, so now you can get the most current version.
- Icedove(Thunderbird) replaced Claws-mail: This is more an ease-of-use call, really. Claws-mail is a great client, but Icedove is a more familiar client.
- Libreoffice replaced Apache Openoffice: I love apache's openoffice, but since I wasn't a huge fan of uploading a sourceforge-hosted repository, I decided to go back to libreoffice.
- I have a few packages from the good ol' mint repository added for more usability, as well. I have included mint's software center as an alternative to the more powerful, but less usable Synaptic.
- Openshot replaced Pitivi: I decided to go with a more well-received video editor here. I don't have blender installed, but openshot's great standalone nowadays.
- I have included GIMP with this release as well.
- Gwibber's also included, because I use it as a twitter client, and quite enjoy having that out of the box, so it's back in the ISO.
What is new in version 3.0.1:
- Unfortunately, the 3.0 series had issues installing on newer hardware that needed PAE kernels, and would fail from a particularly weird issue when apt would run depmod for the kernel install through ubiquity. That said, I have had to roll back to the RC, which worked just fine, and rebuild the distro. I have removed some of the things I had added back when I released 3.0, but it should be mostly the same. The good thing is that this actually works, and will install on newer hardware, so please get out and use it!
What is new in version 3.0 Alpha 2:
- Lots of packages are now updated, and the MATE desktop seems to be behaving nicely. That said, the only work really left to do until our projected release date of August 29th is mainly cosmetic. The plymouth theme needs to be changed and branded into a Descent OS boot screen, and the Ubiquity install slide show has to be done as well. Apart from that, I am confident it can be used daily, but am only calling it another alpha in case more bugs show up and the fact that cosmetics are not completely finished.
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