VectorLinux 6.0 Light B2 released.

[nightflier]

The Vector Linux team has released Vector Linux 6.0 Light Beta 2.

Find the ISO here: http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-6.0/iso-release/VL6.0-Light-B2.iso
md5sum: a2e2b3f5c91e605d1319f44bff4aadf2  VL6.0-Light-B2.iso

Please test and post your feedback, comments and bug reports in this thread:
http://forum.vectorlinux.com/index.php?topic=8268.0

Thank you to all the testers, volunteers and contributors who made this release possible.

A quick overview of VL Light 6.0 features can be found here:
http://forum.vectorlinux.com/index.php?topic=8012.0
Changelog, Beta 1 to Beta 2, January 18, 2009: VL6.0-Light-B2.iso:
Upgraded: kernel, modules and source to 2.6.27.10
Installed new: alsa-driver-1.0.18a_2.6.27.10-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: rsync-3.0.2-i486-1 to rsync-3.0.5-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: tar-1.16.1-i486-1 to tar-1.21-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: bootsplash-3.0.7-i586-1vl60 to bootsplash-3.2.9-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: slapt-get-0.9.12d-i386-1 to slapt-get-0.10.0-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: libdrm-2.3.0-i486-1 to libdrm-2.3.1-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: link-grammar-4.3.8-i586-1vl60 to link-grammar-4.4.1-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: mesa-7.0.2-i486-1 to mesa-7.2-i586-1vl60
Upgraded: gftp-2.0.18-i486-3 to gftp-2.0.19-i586-2vl60
Upgraded: vburn-0.6.2-noarch-1vl60 to vburn-0.7-noarch-1vl60
Upgraded: samba-3.0.28a-i486-1 to samba-3.0.33-i486-1_slack12.1
Moved most packages from "required" to "veclinux" and "X11"
Deleted all launchers from Desktop
Added "Welcome.html" to /usr/doc/VLHelpCenter/
Replaced Desktop/welcome.text with launcher linking to above file.
Changed default background to "Utah_shore"
Edited vxconf to add "Tap to click" and "vertical edge scrolling" for touchpads
Changed pcmanfm preferences for normal users not to show hidden files

[Nick_13ro]

"Deleted all launchers from Desktop"

Does that mean all icons were removed from the Desktop ? If so... why ? I like icons on my Desktop instead of a barren one.

[nightflier]

There are two left. The "Welcome" one replaces three previous ones. "My Documents" is an internal feature of pcmanfm, so it remains.

You may add your own favorites, as many as you want. 

[Nick_13ro]

Tks.  :| I was very happy with the default ones.

[caitlyn]

I'll download as soon as I'm done downloading Standard RC3.2.

A couple of questions:

The link-grammar package is the AbiSource build.  It's really only useful with the abiword-plugins package.  I'm assuming Light still doesn't include AbiWord so I don't understand why link-grammar is included.

The one icon I really think should be restored from VL 5.9 Light is the one to mount a CD-ROM.  That makes things much more user friendly since there is no mount applet AFAIK that works with either IceWM or JWM.

I will test this build and then post.  Thanks for all your hard work, nightflier.

[Nick_13ro]

I especially liked the old releases with half the desktop full of icons lol . And now almost no icons. Vector is turning into ubuntu.

[kidd]

If vector was turning into ubuntu I'd jump of the train

If the amount of icons are a guide to know which distro ressembles which,...  well.... Nick_13ro there's much more than this


--
for(1..100) { system("touch ~/Desktop/foo$_.desktop");}

[Nick_13ro]

If vector was turning into ubuntu I'd jump of the train

If the amount of icons are a guide to know which distro ressembles which,...  well.... Nick_13ro there's much more than this

  True, but still it just seems that it's moving in that direction in this beta. I can't understand where this attitude against desktop icons some people/distros seem to be having is coming from. It's like their ideal desktop is a spartan default fluxbox or something and they just make some concessions to user friendliness/usability by not pushing just that. I mean space sure can't be the motive, icon size is insignificant and look at ubuntu for ex. how they go out of their way to remove even the default ones.

[gamfa]

Desktop icons are so Window-ish. I don't like them. They mess up my nice background photo.

[EyesOnly]

Hi Nick!

I haven't tried 6.0 beta 2 Light but 5.9 Light is my default distro of choice. It came with "Wbar" installed. Does 6.0 Light still have Wbar installed? If not you could probably install it from GSlapt perhaps? At any rate my point in posting here for you is that you may want to give that programme a try. I first discovered it when using Puppy Linux and ever since I've made it a point it have it in every distro I install---it's that indispensible!

What Wbar is, in case you've never used it before, it's like a "Mac Icon Dockbar" of sorts which may be placed anywhere on the screen. (Top/bottom/left/right.) It actually increases usability/friendliness while at the same time helps beautify your desktop---and for me it has seemed anyway---my windows have rarely ever covered the bar so that, unlike desktop icons which can be hidden by programme windows and thus useless, with Wbar my programmes are always accessible. That's why I find I can't use a computer now without it! (Or I don't want to I should rather say. LOL!)

I hope this has helped Nick?

Amicalement/Cheers!

Eyes-Only
"L'Peau-Rouge"

[Nick_13ro]

@gamfa lol and I thought just the opposite that they add to the desktop both aesthetically and in functionality. Anyway you can remove icons very quickly and easily.
@EyesOnly Hi. Merci beaucoup for the suggestion. I was aware of this type of dock clones but I feel it results in some sort of weird half-breed between one type of desktop and another both duplicating and maintaining the same functionality. it sure looks nice, but for me it doesn't feel very streamlined to have both the dock and the menu.

[nightflier]

Nice feedback 

I confess that Light pretty much reflects my own taste and preferences, which include keyboard shortcuts for the most used apps and a bare desktop. The welcome document includes most links from previous launchers and more. However, if there is community consensus for something different, we're happy to listen.

@caitlyn: links-grammar is one of many packages that I am not totally familiar with. Cdrom-mount on desktop may be a good idea.

@EyesOnly: wbar is not included, nor is it in repo yet. Make a post for it in the "New package reqests" forum section.

[Nick_13ro]

@nightflier if that means you're reconsidering the icons issue please think about something like this:





 

[nightflier]

Like I said, I'm willing to listen. Any additional desktop clutter icons would be an optional package. 

Now, I had expected more reactions to the startup sound than to the desktop icons. Either few have actually installed and run this release, or it is not an issue.

[bigpaws]

It's like their ideal desktop is a spartan default fluxbox or something and they just make some concessions to user friendliness/usability by not pushing just that.

Fluxbox is far from spartan. You would probably consider Ion, DWM, ratpoison and awesome as not
even useable let alone productive. Then there is screen.

Nick would you expect the same thing from Light as SOHO then?

Bigpaws