Salix OS LXDE

Salix OS LXDE is an open source distribution of Linux that uses LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) on top of a stable and reliable Slackware base to provide users with a traditional, easy-to-use and very fast operating system suitable for low-end computers.

Distributed as installable only 32-bit/64-bit ISOs

This Salix OS edition was made available for download as installable CD-size ISO images that will support computers powered by 64-bit (amd64) or 32-bit (i386) processors. The ISOs can be deployed to either CD discs or USB thumb drives in order to boot them from the BIOS of a PC.

Boot options

The bootable ISO images provide users with a text-mode boot prompt from where they can start the installer or enter extra kernel parameters. In addition, it can also be used as a system rescue CD if you choose to exit the installation after choosing a keymap.

Easy-to-use text-mode installer

Pressing the Enter key at the boot prompt will automatically start the text-based installer, which requires users to choose a keyboard layout, select an installation method (AUTOINSTALL is the recommended choice), choose the target drive, select the installation source, and choose an installation mode (FULL is the recommended choice).

After installation, the user will be asked to create a bootable USB flash drive (optional), configure and install the bootloader, setup the clock and timezone, enter a root (system administrator) password, as well as to set up users and passwords.

Traditional desktop environment with top-notch apps

The LXDE desktop environment offered in this Salix OS operating system uses a single panel located on the bottom edge of the screen from where the user can easily launch applications, cycle between virtual workspaces and interact with system tray functions and opened programs.

Default applications include the Transmission torrent downloader, Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger, Midori web browser, Claws Mail email client, gFTP file transfer client, AbiWord word processor, Gnumeric spreadsheet editor, mtPaint digital painting software, Viewnior image viewer, Meld merge and diff tool, Geany IDE, Brasero CD/DVD burning software, Exaile music player, Whaaw! media player, Asunder Audio-CD ripper, and Gslapt package manager.

Bottom line

Summing up, the LXDE edition of Salix OS is a decent and low on resources Linux operating system that uses the upstream Slackware technologies and the traditional, user-friendly LXDE desktop environment.

What is new in this release:

• Salix LXDE edition 13.1 has been released! Based on Slackware 13.1, it features the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, "an extremely fast-performing and energy-saving desktop environment", with a clean look and feel. The main applications that complete the LXDE experience are the lightweight and fast PCManFM file manager and the popular Openbox window manager.
• As with the standard, XFCE edition, this iso allows installation to be performed in three different modes, core, basic and full. The core mode installation is identical to the one you get from the XFCE edition. Basic will only install a minimal LXDE desktop with only midori and gslapt installed as extra and full will install everything that is included in the iso. That includes the lightweight Midori web browser, that uses the powerful webkit engine and the Claws-mail e-mail client, along with the Transmission torrent client and the Pidgin instant messaging client. Also included are the Abiword word processor, the Gnumeric spreadsheet and the epdfview pdf reader. The Whaawmp! Media Player is used as the main media application and is accompanied by the powerful Exaile music player/manager and the Brasero disc burning application. Viewnior is the default image file viewer and mtpaint can be used for editing them. The full set of the Salix system tools are of course included in this release.
• Users are able to use the Gslapt package manager, or the command line equivalent slapt-get, to install extra software in their systems from Slackware and Salix repositories, with complete support for dependency resolution.