14 DAY TRIAL // Trisquel is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, which emphasizes free software. The latest release, Trisquel GNU/Linux 3.5 codenamed Awen, is based on the current Ubuntu 9.10 stable release but comes with a different package list, partly because of the desire to include only free software and partly because of developer preferences.
"This release is a fully free Ubuntu 9.10 derivative that includes extra software, better multimedia support, more translations and a faster configuration. For this release we used Ext4 for the root filesystem and XFS for the home one, to have a balance between speed and usability. Some important features include a much faster boot process and the ability to encrypt the home directory," Rubén Rodríguez Pérez, Trisquel project leader, wrote in the official announcement.
Highlights of Trisquel GNU/Linux 3.5 Awen:
· Linux-libre kernel 2.6.31; · Xorg 7.4; · GNOME 2.28; · OpenOffice.org 3.1.1; · Mozilla-based Web Browser 3.5; · Pidgin 2.6.2; · GIMP 2.6.7.
The announcement says all packages were updated but, as you can see, they're not always at the latest versions. For example, Xorg is now at 7.5, OpenOffice.org at 3.2 and Pidgin at 2.6.2. The web browser is based on Firefox 3.5 but Firefox 3.6 has been out for a couple of months.
This is one of the drawbacks of using a purely free Linux distribution, the software is going to be a bit behind. And if you're wondering why Trisquel doesn't use Firefox out of the box and chooses a derivative, it's because Mozilla has copyrighted the Firefox logo and trademarked the name.
About Trisquel:
The goal of the Trisquel GNU/Linux project is to create a completely free system that is easy to use and features good language support. Trisquel's logo comes from the Celtic symbol triskelion, or triskele in English, with the spiral arms being made from the Debian swirl logo. The project was created in 2004 with a sponsorship from the University of Vigo, and, by December 2008, it was included by the Free Software Foundation in the list of free GNU/Linux distributions, following a verification process to ensure the promotion of 100% free software.
Trisquel GNU/Linux 3.5 is available for download here on Softpedia.