“We are proud to release the 3.0 incarnation of Vector Linux. This is a big rewrite as we made the decision to go completely Slackware compatible and also LSB compliant. This gives us the ability to update as Slack does and keep up with security fixes and other vunerabilities on a more timely basis.” Read more for the rest of the announcement. “ This still looks and feels like Vector Linux but the base is all Slackware and includes all of slackwares configuration tools like ‘pkgtool’ so you slackers or ex-slackers should feel right at home.
All the things that make VL unigue are still there and the size only grew about 20 megs from last release of 2.5. We think that tying into Slackware will make us a stronger distribution in the future as we can spend more time on configuration and installation tools and not have to spend as much time with the base system software and libraries.
So lots of new stuff has been incorporated in this release including a graphical package installer, vecpkg and a debian apt clone called ‘autopkg’. Autopkg works the same as apt-get and will keep your system updated with the lastest in slaclware based packages with a simple autopkg –upgrade command. Checkinstall has been added to facilitate building software from source and producing your own slackware tgz packages and keeping a record of the install for easy deletion if neccesary. The installation has been improved and adds timezone configuration and new options to using the lilo bootloader. The kernel was updated to 2.4.19 and pcmcia is based on the kernel version versus the standard package which some 32 bit pcmcia cards had trouble with. All the software has been updated to there latest versions and gaim, dillo, cdrtools, xcdroast, bluefish and a great game lbreakout2 have been added to the mix. As with previous versions we are offering pentium and 386 versions with a
choice of XFree-4.2.x or XFree-3.3.6 depending on your hardware needs. You can buy the premium CD from our online CD store for $19.97 or the basic distro componants are downloadable from the ftp site minus the extra software included with the CD. So have at it my friends I think this is the best VL yet with lots more to come.”
this definatly something I need to look into.
if this is good for my laptop, I think I will trash RH.
This is something far from the usual…… no “everything but the kitchen sink”….. Amazing….. You sure this exist?
I wish all the distros offerd choices like XFCE, IceWM etc. as default install options. XFCE, and ROX-Filer*, are just as easy to configure and use without all the GNO-blote and Krashes of thoes other DEs. This will show thoes ‘X is slow’ types.
* I did not see ROX-Filer listed, I’ll have to tell them about it
I ordered Vector Linux to try it out and support them. I kept thinking it should have arrived by now and emailed them a couple of days ago and they replied and said it’s on its way. I bet (and hope) the delay was due to getting 3.0 out!
Well, after trying out the 3.0, it is the fastest distribution I’ve ever tried. And with complete GUI package such as Opera, Email reader, gftp etc, it takes less that 600MB of my partition.
Until now, almost all distros I have tried have been slow on my M2-333 system at work. I’m now running VectorLinux 3.0 (~200MB download) and it’s fast! It’s Slackware based, but with nicer installer and configuration menus, and doesn’t have the bloat of KDE or Gnome because they’re not in tje distro. IceWM is my preferred WM – the default theme is a ckeeky XP! – and comes with Sylpheed mail, Opera 6.03, Abiword, XV and gFTP. The kernel is pre-installed and if you want to recompile it (which I have done) you’ll need to get the 2.4.19 source & kernel modules from Slack 9. I’d recommend it to anyone with modest hardware. It positively flies on my home Duron 1200 system.