wattOS

This is the standard edition of the wattOS Linux operating system, a remaster of the world’s most popular free operating system, Ubuntu. It is 100% compatible with the default Ubuntu software repositories and features several lightweight window managers/desktop environments, such as LXDE, Xfce, Openbox or IceWM.

Available for download as 64-bit/32-bit Live CDs

The system is available for download as two Live CD ISO images, one for each of the supported hardware platforms, 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (amd64). You must write these ISO images to either CD discs or USB flash drives in order to boot them from the BIOS of a PC.

Boot options

From the boot screen, the user can start the live environment with default drivers or with basic drivers, perform a system memory diagnostic test, as well as to boot an existing operating system that is installed on the first disk drive.

Includes a wide range of minimal window managers

While the default desktop environment of this distribution is LXDE, it also includes a wide range of minimal window managers, such as i3, awesome, Openbox, Window Maker, IceWM and Blackbox. However, at the login prompt you must use the “guest” username (without quotes) without any password.

Default applications

Default applications include the Chromium web browser, Audacious audio player, PCManFM file manager, KeePassX password manager, Leafpad text editor, GDebi DEB package installer, VLC Media Player, Cheese webcam viewer, FileZilla file transfer client, Transmission torrent downloader, Xfburn CD/DVD burning software, GPicView image viewer, Xarchiver archive manager, LXTerminal terminal emulator and Pinta digital painting software.

Bottom line

Summing up, wattOS proved to be a fast and easy-to-use operating system when deployed on a low-end computer, and now is the right time to rethink the way we use Earth’s resources and how we use computers in our daily lives.

Keep in mind though, that this edition is no longer maintained and you should download one of the other wattOS editions, with the MATE, Xfce or LXDE desktop environments.

What is new in this release:

• The addition of the 32 and 64bit MATE-Desktop versions
• The addition of the Lubuntu software center for LXDE and MATE-Desktop versions
• This greatly eases adding new software for casual users
• Microwatt Changes from Qupzilla to Midori Browser
• Multiple bug fixes on all versions including better software update support
• Better language support
• Updates to all versions to the latest upstream app and kernel updates
• Focus on slimming things down and making things simpler
• Changed login manager back to slim from lightdm
• Removed abiword and gnumeric
• MATE-Desktop simple menus and core apps only - very gnome classic like setup

What is new in version R6:

• 32 bit and 64 bit versions for the first time
• updated all packages to latest 12.04.1 version and updates (as of 8/25/2012)
• Updated to Kernel 3.2.0-29
• Changed to VLC for video player
• Added xfburn for simple fast CDROM and image creation
• Updated all power management utilities
• Updated Jupiter and including the latest powertop and xfce4 power manager.
• Changed from Midori browser to Chromium with flash support
• Added LXFinder - simple search utility
• Added LXScreenshot utility
• Lots of other small tweaks and improvements - Like adding windows wireless drivers gui (ndisgtk) to simplify adding drivers and arandr utility for configuring multiple monitors.
• Cleaned up and simpler theme and installer

What is new in version R3:

• Based upon ubuntu 10.10
• Autologin works on liveCD and as an option for install to hard drive
• lightweight Linux running LXDE
• New music player and music/video search tool foobnix
• New simple and fast photo editor Fotoxx
• Updated filemanager PCManFM with integrated support for network share browsing, trash, applications listed, many improvements.
• KeePassX password manager
• Osmo personal organizer
• RedNotebook Journal
• xfce4 power manager
• Lots of other small tweaks and improvements.

What is new in version R2:

• Based on Ubuntu 10.04