Zenwalk GNOME

Zenwalk GNOME is a freely distributed and open source desktop-oriented operating system derived from Slackware Linux and built around the GNOME desktop environment.

It’s available for download as a dual-arch Live CD

The GNOME edition of Zenwalk is available for download as a dual-arch Live CD ISO image that fits perfectly on a CD disc or a USB flash drive of 1GB or higher capacity. It currently supports the 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x86_64) architectures.

The distribution can only be installed on a local drive

When booting the operating system system using either a CD disc or a USB stick, you will encounter a boot prompt where you can start the installation script or pass extra kernel parameters to the kernel.

Uses Slackware’s text-based installer

The operating system features Slackware’s text-based installer, which requires you to select a keyboard layout, partition your drive, setup target partitions and install the base system.

After all the packages have been installed, you must install a bootloader and reboot the machine. The second part of the installation will require you to select your prefered system language, enter a password for the root account, as well as to add new users.

GNOME uses a classic two-panel layout

As mentioned, the distro is built around the GNOME graphical desktop environment, which uses a classic two-panel layout, providing users with a productive and easy-to-use desktop interface.

Contains mostly GNOME-specific applications

As the distribution uses GNOME as its default and only desktop environment, it contains mostly GNOME-specific applications, among which we can mention the GIMP image editor, IceCat web browser, gThumb image viewer, IceDove email and news client, Simple Scan image scanner and Transmission torrent downloader.

In addition, the Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger, gFTP file transfer client, Zenmap network scanner, LibreOffice office suite, Geany IDE, Brasero CD/DVD burning software, Rhythmbox music player, ISO Master CD image editor and Totem video player are also included.

What is new in this release:

• We are proud to announce the release of Zenwalk 6.4 Gnome Edition! As always, Zenwalk features the latest Linux technology, featuring Linux kernel 2.6.33.4 and the Gnome 2.28.2 Desktop Environment.
• The Gnome 2.28.2 desktop includes a number of new features; Totem has an asynchronous parsing API now,
• GNOME Power Manager now has support for laptops with multiple batteries and has added disk spindown support for DeviceKit disks and much more.
• The gnome panel comes back to the origin layout.
• You will find the same software base like the standard edition :
• Pidgin 2.7.0
• Totem 2.28.6
• Brasero 2.28.3
• Goobox 2.1.1
• Geany 0.8.1
• Gedit 2.28.4
• OpenOffice.org 3.2.0
• Gstreamer 0.10.29
• Xorg 7.5
• Others gnome applications are available in the extra repo :
• Soundjuicer 2.28.2
• Tomboy 1.1.0
• Eog 2.28.2
• F-spot 0.6.1.5
• Vino 2.28.1
• Other significant changes in this release are:
• Faster shutdown (the update mime database is done when it is really needed)
• Fixed NTFS auto mount during the installation
• Fixed network browsing (downgraded samba to fix this issue)
• Fixed issue with youtube plugin in totem
• Gnome-system-tools is added. It gives the gnome management easier.
• Gnome-disk-utility is added. It can manage hard drive like Gparted.
• New artwork (Thanks Zwopper)

What is new in version 6.0:

• Faster boot (tuned init scripts, with realtime I/O scheduler)
• New Zenpanel with integrated Disk Manager, Wifi and Wired Network Manager
• Gksu keyring based desktop granting system
• PAM authentication has been added to the system
• New Netpkg with orphan dependencies and "offline operation" support
• The powerful Exaile music jukebox has been added
• Gthumb has replaced gqview and gtkam for viewing images and importing them from your camera
• The lighting PIM extension for icedove is installed by default
• New artwork
• A simplified installer

What is new in version 5.4 Beta:

• Kernel 2.6.27.10 with gspca (supports many USB webcams)
• Wicd is now the main network configuration tool
• New Netpkg with orphan dependencies and "offline operation" support
• New Zenpanel with integrated Disk Manager, Wifi and Wired Network Manager
• Gksu keyring based desktop granting system
• Exaile is the main music application, replacing gmusicbrowser and streamtuner
• Gthumb has replaced gqview and gtkam for viewing images and importing them from your camera
• Totem is now based on the gstreamer backend, instead of xine-lib
• Brasero now has DVD-video creation capabilities
• The lighting PIM extension for icedove is installed by default
• gFTP has been removed from the iso, ftp transfers work perfect with nautilus