USU Mini

USU Mini is an open source and freely distributed edition of the USU (formerly Learn free with Ubuntu) operating system, providing users who don’t have enough Internet bandwidth to download the Desktop flavor with a minimal workstation.

The USU project has been initiated as a starting point for learning how to use a Linux-based operating system. It is based on the Ubuntu, the world’s most popular free distribution of Linux, and built around the modern and user-friendly KDE desktop environment.

Boot options and availability

It is available for download as two Live DVD ISO images, one for each of the supported architectures (64-bit and 32-bit). The boot prompt can be used to try USU without installing, start an existing operating system installed on the first disk, or check the CD media for errors.

The Mini edition of USU looks identical with the Desktop one, except for the fact that it does not include the astonishing collection of educational application that the latter comes with. Furthermore, no games were included in this minimal USU edition.

Customized KDE desktop environment and a great selection of apps

As mentioned, the graphical session is powered by the KDE desktop environment and looks the same as on the Desktop edition, comprised of two panels, a bottom one for interacting with running programs and switching between virtual workspaces, and a top one for accessing the main menu and launching apps.

Default applications include the Mozilla Firefox web browser with support for Java and Flash technologies, Mozilla Thunderbird email and calendar client, LibreOffice office suite, TeamViewer remote control software, Skype VoIP client, Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger, VLC Media Player, Clementine audio player, and GIMP image viewer.

Bottom line

Summing up, USU Mini is the perfect desktop oriented Linux distribution designed for people who want a modern and easy to use operating system that is stable, reliable and fast.