Puppy Linux Re-Reviewed
Due to the comments left on my original Puppy Linux review, here, I have decided to re-review it using the…ahem…most current version.
This review is based my distro review framework which can be found here.
Puppy Linux version 1.0.3
- Website contains information on what versions are available: 2/2
- Working links to download repository: 1/2. Not well organized, Initially the tabs at the top of the page get you to the right place, but the ISO file repositories aren’t consisent. Easy to download wrong ISO as I did the first time.
- FAQ or Forum support: 2/2
Easy to download:
- Downloads in ISO format: 2/2
- MD5 Checksums available: 2/2
Easy to install:
- Pre GUI asks for basic configuration information: 1/2. Asks for type of mouse but offers easy to understand options.
- Installation allows for selection of a windows manager: 2/2
- Basic installation configures video, sound, networking, keyboard, and mouse: 0/2. Puppy failed to configure at least one of the basic configurations on all three test platforms. Note: I did not include networking in this review because all three test platforms are on WiFi at the moment and I don’t expect a distro to be able to configure WiFi out of the box.
Easy to use:
- Distro includes following applications: Office application, Internet browser and email, Graphics program, PIM application, File browser: 2/2
- Figuring out how to launch programs: 2/2
- Figuring out how to log off: 2/2
Total score: 16 18/22= 82%. Not Recommended for new users! (man my math sucks. Thanks Brian!
June 15th, 2005 at 3:42 am
While I almost agree with your scoring I do not agree with your adding up.
I make it 18 out of 22, which I believe makes it just suitable for a new user - which is probably about right.
I think Puppy may be much better on older machines, unlike some of the other distros. Older machines don’t have WIFI - fancy graphics cards - USB mice etc. to screw up the hardware configuration.
The Windows 9x like GUI is more suited to older machines as well. People used to Windows XP may get put off straight away.
July 1st, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Hey you can skin Puppy Linux to look like XP, love the little start penguin. And also, Puppy runs on my old laptop with Wifi card and all. Take another look at Puppy Linux, it’s only weakness is audio card configuration on some machines. Fantastic for older hardware, and the software included is very refreshing, like iCal (not Mac) Mozilla, and GAIM messenger which handles all the major IMs like Yahoo! and MSN. Other great mini linux distros are DSL (Damn Small Linux) and Feather Linux.
Puppy Linux XP Skin Screenshot From DotPup
http://kde-look.org/content/files/23014-puppy-xp.jpg
Wow!
July 4th, 2005 at 3:53 am
Hi Pitbull,
Very cool skin for Puppy. Where did you get it?
When I do reviews of distros, I always point to the criteria I use for that evaluation (which you can see posted above in the blog entry itself). My concerns surround the first few minutes of use. Since my show is geared towards beginner Linux users, I figure that most people will decide to use or not use a distro within the first 1/2 hour of use. At least, that’s pretty much what I do. With so many distros out there it seems silly to waste hours and hours screwing around when I can just plunk in another distro and see how it does.
So, with that in mind, things like skinning aren’t part of my criteria. That’s the type of thing that a user will get into later, once they have the distro installed and running and have chosen to use it…at least for a while.
In my case, Puppy failed on either the networking or video on all three machines I ran it on. Despite this Puppy still managed to squeeze in under the wire and hit the ‘recommended for new users’ level, albeit slightly. I think that’s a very fair score for Puppy since it did fail on one of the most rudimentary things (video).
Personally, I won’t be using Puppy but others are more than welcome to try it out. Each machine is different and I’m sure Puppy will perform better or worse of different boxes.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jon
July 5th, 2005 at 6:06 pm
There is a special place for Puppy Linux because of the many ways it can be run. I found it easier to set-up to use my router connection than the latest Mepis, too.
For the other poster that mentioned its lack of HP drivers…I have an HP3820 and got it to work on the HP2000. True, it’s a two, or was it, a 3-step process. With HP supporting Linux it would be nice if they tweaked it’s use with Mozilla and Firefox, too. Even Xandros doesn’t get Firefox printing on the HP1220c right, the bottom footer doesn’t print. Puppy may have the same problem, I don’t know because I forgot to set the page margins and headers/footers. In fact, I found setting up printing more intuitive than Knoppix or Freeduc LiveCDs.
I hope other website owners plan to support Puppy, they could use somewhere to store and organize their PupDot, I think. If I ever learn enough to have a Website and FTP server I certainly will help. It would be nice to see more card games and the Same game ported/packaged to Puppy, too.
Thanks for your review. Remember not everyone has the latest, greatest hardware.
Just my 3cents worth,
ChiJoan
July 8th, 2005 at 6:34 pm
Jon, here’s the DotPup repository for those who contribute to Puppy Linux:
http://www.goosee.com/puppy/wikka/DotPups
Here is the actual XP Theme “pup” file download:
http://www.goosee.com/puppy/dotpup/puppy-xp.pup
To be fair I have had some slight difficulties configuring my screen resolution on my desktop, but Puppy is very friendly and doesn’t bite!
July 8th, 2005 at 9:32 pm
Wicked, thanks Pitbull!
July 27th, 2005 at 11:18 am
I just downloaded Puppy 1.4 and love it. I am running it on a Sony laptop and everything worked perfectly from the first moment. I have even installed it on the hard drive and am running Grub boot so I can still use XP when I have to. (I use some specialist programmes which only run on ex-pee, unfortunately.)
The only thing which is missing for me is wi-fi, which I have read is coming soon (1.5?). I will also be happy when OpenOffice.org 2 comes out, but that is another story. Ooo 1.9 beta is my preferred office programme.
The PupGet package installer is the best I have used (Suse + Mandriva being the only others) as it is simple, like me. I like to click on it and it it loads and works. I was brought up with a mouse and that is how I like it. I never could get the hang of typing xzfgt*!# or whatever it is.
Keep up the good work.
July 27th, 2005 at 11:19 am
Sorry, 1.0.4
July 27th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Thanks for stopping by. I’m hearing more and more good things about Puppy so it sounds like it’s coming along.
Thanks for the feedback and good luck on the wifi!
August 8th, 2005 at 10:31 am
I am messing about with Puppy, and except for not being able to print to any of my printers, it is a fun distro, and incredibly fast.
Just wondering, although I realise Puppy does not support the most common printers, is there a site where they are available and a way to install them? It would be nice to be able to use puppy for more than an hour or so a day. Because of the lack of printer support, I can only use it for web browsing.
On the subject of web browsing, puppy is running Mozilla about as fast as other distros run Dillo. Way to go, Puppy..
Also, I am interested in finding out how to ‘theme’ puppy. I downloaded a theme, but there is no theme manager, so I imagine it has to be installed and enabled some other way..
Thanks,
RossD.
August 8th, 2005 at 10:46 am
Ok, The printing thingy is sorted. Although Puppy does not “support” my printers, the ijs- pcl2 driver seems to work ok for now on my Brother HL1240 Laser. Now to go looking at some of the other stuff.
I still cannot find a theme manager, but I suspect that if I can open the .pup file ther might be instructions???? maybe???? If I can find where it downloaded to..
Cheers,
RossD.
August 8th, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Hi Ross,
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for sharing your experiences with Puppy.
To be honest, I don’t really know that much about Puppy since I don’t run it. I just did a cursory review of it and how I think new users will find it.
For answers to your questions I would highly recommend visiting the Puppy Linux forums at this url:
http://www.goosee.com/puppy/forums.htm
There are a few forums links on that page. It looks like they’ve switched forum urls, but all the links to the various forums appear to be on that page.
Thanks again, and good luck!
Jon
October 29th, 2005 at 10:23 am
I started with Puppy Barebones and then Puppy Chubby a few weeks ago.
After trying many different distros (SuSE 9.2/9.3, Ubuntu, Vector Linux, CRUX, Lindows, etc.) I found this distro to be a perfect combination of full-featured software, even lightweighted, fast and reliable, and with an enormeous versatility as for boot and running options.
Even not necessary (unless you are a chicken as I’m) it runs perfectly into a Ms Virtual PC box, and multimedia applications work for me as none of the other did (not inside the Virtual PC, obviously).
I’m using and enjoying Puppy Linux more and more every single day, and as a new user to Linux, I found it incredibly easy while still powerful.
Good work Puppy developers!
October 30th, 2005 at 6:25 am
Hi Marcelo,
Thanks for the update on Puppy. I wrote this review back in June and it was….just OK back then :)
I’m happy to hear that the developers are still working on it and that it’s coming along.
Thanks!
November 25th, 2005 at 12:55 pm
problem with installation, pc got 1hrdsk & 3 cd drives… the puppy can’t install on the hrdsk… it ask where to put it, but doesn’t accept the input… (hda1)
November 25th, 2005 at 12:57 pm
… also can’t save anything on the hrdsk, still I find puppy the fastest leanest linux out there… I tried others… but it’s the bomb… aside from my little problems.. please help me.
November 26th, 2005 at 7:45 am
Hi KC.
I think you’ll have better luck gettting help over at the Puppy Linux site (http://www.goosee.com/puppy/).
I haven’t looked at Puppy in months.