14 DAY TRIAL // HandyLinux is a Linux distribution based on Debian and Xfce that features a rather interesting and unique desktop. A new development version has been released and the makers of the OS appear to be making good progress with it.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a unique distribution in the sea of operating systems out there, but it's not impossible. HandyLinux is proof that you can still do interesting stuff with the software solutions already available, such as Debian or Xfce. Getting users excited about a new OS is not easy, but the French developers that are building HandyLinux are not making any compromises.
If you take the handful of the most used Linux operating systems, you will notice that all of them can be identified with pretty much one look. That happens for two reasons, consistency over time and design choices. HandyLinux is a rather new distro, which means that its looks haven't settled in with the community, but the design is spot on and people will remember it.
HandyLinux 2.0 Alpha 1 is a preview of things to come
One of the major changes for the new branch of HandyLinux is the switch to Debian Jessie as the base, which isn't completely unexpected. It is also accompanied by a number of other important updates.
For example, the Thunar file manager now has tabs, the Xfce desktop supports alternating wallpapers, WhiskerMenu and Minitube have landed in the Debian repos, Skype and TeamViewer have become options and can be installed with a single click, an ultra-flat theme has been chosen, and GNOME PackageKit has been implemented instead of the Software Center.
You can find more details about this distribution in the HandyLinux release notes, but they are written in French. Don't worry, the system has English support. You can also download HandyLinux 2.0 Alpha 1 right now from Softpedia. This is still in early development, so there are bugs and the system is not a stable one. Don't use a production machine to test it.
