pipelinux

pipelinux is a free and open source distribution of Linux based on the Fedora operating system and built around the traditional MATE desktop environment, a clone of the GNOME Classic graphical session.

Distributed as a dual-arch Live DVD

This custom Fedora MATE flavor can be downloaded via Softoware or from its official homepage (see link above) as a single, dual-arch Live DVD ISO image, designed to support both 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (amd64) instruction set architectures.

Boot options

Being based on Fedora, it uses a standard boot menu that allows you to start the live environment with default boot options and drivers, as well as to start the live session in safe graphics mode, boot an existing operating system from the first disk, as well as to run a system memory diagnostic test.

MATE desktop environment with a single-panel layout

Unfortunately, you will be dropped to a login screen where you must use the “liveuser” username and the “pipe” password to log into the MATE desktop environment, which uses an unexpected single-panel layout.

A great selection of open source applications

Default applications include the VLC Media Player, Chromium and Mozilla Firefox web browsers, Pidgin and Empathy multi-protocol instant messenger, Evolution email and calendar email suite, Disks disk manager, Gajim Jabber client, Rhythmbox music player, and Mozilla Thunderbird email client.

In addition, the Showell image viewer and organizer, Sound Juicer Audio-CD ripper, TigerVNC VNC viewer, Transmission torrent downloader and Yum Extender Package Manager are also included, along with support for Adobe Flash Player and modern pop-up notifications.

Bottom line

Summing up, the pipelinux distribution offers support for the Chinese language (fonts and input method), it provides a clean, simple, beautiful and clear user interface, as well as various open source and useful applications, such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, VLC, and many others.