Parsix Linux 3.0
The very first review I wrote for Desktop Linux Reviews was Parsix Linux 2.0. Well I’m pleased to note that Parsix Linux 3.0 has just been released and I couldn’t resist doing a review of this update.
When I first launched DLR I had no idea how well the blog would be received or if it would really amount to anything. Well 30 reviews later here we are and I’m happy to see how things turned out and it’s fun to be able to take a look at another version of the first DLR review.
If you missed the first review, here’s a snippet that explains what Parsix Linux is:
Parsix Linux is a Gnome-centric distribution created in Iran and based on KANOTIX and Debian. I downloaded it a while back but never quite had time to get a review done for ExtremeTech while I was working there. Distrowatch had a good interview with him recently where he talks about why and how Parsix Linux was born and how it differs from KANOTIX. The developer of Parsix is Alan Baghumian, a native Iranian.
What’s New In This Release
There’s some good stuff in this release and here’s some of what you’ll find:
GNOME 2.26.3
Brand new kernel based on Linux 2.6.29.6 with extra patches and drivers
Updated installer system that supports separate /home partition
ext4 file system
GRUB 2
NetworkManager is finally default networking stack
AuFS and UnionFS support
SquashFS+Lzma compression for live-CD
GNU Iceweasel 3.5.3
GParted 0.4.6
Pidgin 2.6.2
OpenOffice.org 3.1.1
Compiz-Fusion 0.8.2
Parsix Linux features a somewhat bland but very functional Gnome desktop.
(9 votes, average: 3.44 out of 5)
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Desktop Linux Reviews Forum
I finally got around to installing Parsix. Just like all Ubuntu variants and derivatives, Parsix installer did not set the default resolution/refresh properly for my monitor/video card combo. Result was a very dark display. Changing the resolution from 1152×854 to 1024×768 fixed the problem. However, nowhere in Parsix, or in any *buntu, is there an option to specify the monitor brand/model or to reset the refresh frequency. I know, one can go and edit config files but aren’t Parsix and *buntus supposed to be “newbie-friendly”? A noob cannot be expected to know how or which file to edit.
The other issue I have with the installer is the black text on olive drab background. Makes it very hard to see the text.
Jim states that “adding and deleting packages is easy. As far as deleting goes, I don’t think Jim ever tries to delete/remove/purge any packages. Adding packages in Parsix works great if one accepts whatever Synaptic suggests. If one actually checks the dependencies that Synaptic displays, things are much different. I tried to add the Open Office US English Help package. Not only did Synaptic include a lot of Java packages but also the language packs for all the Asian languages (Hindi, Bengali, Japanese, Korean, etc.) It also included Pulse Audio as a dependency. The same packages were listed as dependencies when I tried to add the Open Clipart package. Another problem arose when I tried to add some GIMP packages not already installed. Every time I would either left or right click on a GIMP package to mark it for installation, Synaptic would be terminated and I found myself looking at the desktop. I would have to restart Synaptic and re-mark all the packages, this time leaving GIMP alone. I never did install any GIMP packages. Whatever the cause is, it should have been caught in alpha or beta testing.
Obviously Parsix is not totally ready for prime time.