Damn Small Linux - Not!

fstephens · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

Great to see DSL-N break the 50MB barrier. I always thought that was way too limiting. I mean does anyone really use those business card sized CD's anyway? The 185--210MB mini-CD's are hardly any bigger physically and hold lots more data.

I realize the other reason for staying small is so DSL will fit on a flash drive, but they are getting bigger and cheaper too. Keeping to around 185MB means it would also easily fit on an inexpensive 256MB flash drive with plenty of room for the users data. The load to ram option would of course require more memory, but that is in keeping with the generally higher hardware requierments anyway.

I think the ideal size for a mini-distro to be most useful is that it should fit on the mini-CD's. That would allow plenty of room for more polished apps, more diagnostic tools, user added modules & window managers for personalization etc. And it still fits in a pocket!

I think Instead of the Mozilla suite, Firefox and Thunderbird would be better, since that is what more people will be familliar with and it seems development is focused there.
Also useful would be a really good graphical code editor like jEdit (but it requires Java), GParted or QParted, NT password tool, F-Prot or other anti-virus scanner, Adobe Acrobat.
And finally, Midnight Commander!

Has there been any consideration of implementing the save to CD idea, like Puppy has? Seems like a neat trick, but maybe too many complications?

doobit · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 32

Yes! I use them. DSL in a 50MB size is great economy. Smaller is faster, not to mention cheaper when it comes to equipment and media. The reason for DSL is to run well on slower or older machinery, and it does that.

This new DSL-N has a slightly different purpose, so it's not so tied to the size limitation

fstephens · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

I'm not sure the 50MB "business card" CD's are any cheaper than the 185-210MB mini-CD's, which are hardly any larger. I have also heard of CD-ROM drive damage due to the "square" edges, and I wouldn't trust one to not get bent if carried in a wallet, so what's the point?
In reality it seems they are just a mini-CD with two sides clipped off. Seems more like a gimmick than a practical benefit to me, but since some people are using the 50MB CD's, maybe I just don't get it. Confused

Another benefit of the round mini-CD's is they are available in CD-RW. I find this really handy, since when a new version of DSL comes out I can just erase and burn the updated ISO (this also leaves open the possibility of writing back data to the CD, ala Puppy). Since I would use these mini-distos as mainly a rescue or backup system (or just for fun!), I find this a real advantage. Sure, I can do that now, but then I am "wasting" 150MB of capacity! I think this extra size could really be used to include GTK and QT libraries that would allow some "best of breed" apps used in larger distro's to be included. Or, if the inclusion of those libraries and apps proves to be too resource intensive for the DSL philosophy, I'm sure there are other ways to use it (maybe more kernel modules, even better hardware detection, more apps & utilities, man pages, documentation & reference, user modules & data, etc.) .And we would STILL have a very small distro that fits in a shirt pocket!

Sure, what DSL can accomplish in only 50MB is very impressive, but with the new version I am thinking of a leap in polish & usefulness. I realize the objective of DSL to run on really low-powered systems, but my point is that when moving up a notch with DSL-N, why not take advantage of the extra space on slightly larger media? Lots of very useful benefits, with few downsides.
And there is still the original DSL if you need the 50MB limit. I am not advocating changing that (although my slowest system now is 450Mhz, with 128MB RAM), but DSL-N has already broken that limit. I am simply proposing a new upper limit and ways to use it.

Thanks for your comment.

Peter · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 51

'round here the smaller cd's are actually [i]more[/i] expensive. When you can find them...

maxbarkly · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

First time poster, long time user.

CD Size is not an issue, really. The true issue is real size, according to Wikipedia its at 85MB now. Not over 100MB, unless issues of hardware support are at hand. The distro shouldn't be packaged with any new software in my opinion. Theres always the myDSL repository if you want more apps.

DSL makes me giddy. It has revived several computers and is faster than some new ones I've seen running XP. I showed friends DSL, and they learned linux on it... but they all moved to other distros like Ubuntu and Debian. I stuck with DSL the whole way, and now that I might be buying a powerful new laptop, DSL-N is my saving grace from retreating to Ubuntu.

I love the size of DSL, I love running an entire operating system in RAM. I love the performance and the possibility.

DSL-N is Not DSL Bloated Exclamation

Tram2535 · Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 1

[URL=http://allAngelinaJolie.info]Angelina Jolie . .![/URL] Smile

randavance · Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

I'm currently burning myself a DSL-N live CD to test out before I put it onto my USB half gig pen drive. I've used DSL before and I like it, but I completely agree with you.

We have some space still, why not use Firefox and Thunderbird. We should be looking for quality more now that the 50mb barrier has been broken, just still keep it minimal.

Personally my biggest complaint with DSL is that its not attractive by default. This may sound a little silly, but I believe appearance is a huge deal. Thats why when I do put this on my USB drive the first thing I'm doing is installing Firefox/Thunderbird. Removing the Mozilla suite. And installing IceWM with a nice theme.

I'm a strong believer in my OS looking nice, especially being I'm going to be showing this OS to a lot of friends. I might mess around with adding a few more things to it, I'm not all that sure yet. I would like to get it out of that dark drab fluxbox feel as much as possible. I'll probably replace the icons for tango ones as well.