Libra Systems LibraNet 2.7

I'm a Linux newbie really, I try tons of distros just out of curiosity but Libranet 2.7 is really very well put together and I highly recommend it to newbies alike and advanced users. You won't be disappointed.

Libranet is one of the most effective software computer operating systems you can get for a PC. It is relatively inexpensive to purchase, yet it has one of the most complete sets of software that could possibly be crammed into 2 CDs of software. But if that's not enough, it is a relatively easy matter to locate stable, testing, or unstable Debian network sources and obtain the software you want. In the Debian world, when they say testing or unstable, that doesn't necessarily mean "doesn't work", though there may be some issues that haven't been completely resolved. In my experience, what that means is flexibility.

Libranet begins with a really solid base of stable Debian 3.0 software from the Woody release, then they add additional software. Libranet calls their software a complete system instead of a distribution, like most Linux vendors, because what they sell is a complete system that just works.

Libranet doesn't have a fancy graphical installation system. Instead, it has a fast, flexible text menu based installation system. Nothing about it is difficult, but it does ask you many questions, in order to provide the exact kind of system you want and need. If that doesn't bother you, then this is one of the best systems you can get anywhere. IF that does bother you, chances are this is not the kind of software you want to use.

I've yet to find any problems with using Libranet 2.7. It installs rapidly, works well, and can be easily upgraded.

It does not come with much documentation. You only need documentation if you are new to software installations. The small printed documentation provides some good guidelines, and the online Web page and Email forums provide help, just in case you're not sure about something or you happen to run into a problem.

I've found the forums and the developers extremely responsive. In the past I've made product suggestions and my ideas have been taken seriously and adopted and put into practice.

I'd recommend this software for anyone except someone who's afraid of installing software and can't figure out what "computer messages" mean. For such people, this software might still work, but that might be the one audience better served by something else. Nevertheless, this is one of my absolute favorite packages of software, and as for me, I give it my highest recommendation!

Libranet Linux 2.7 is based on the famed Debian Linux distribution and is perfectly suitable for the novice user with no Linux experience. If your system has a Pentium class processor or better, you can have Libranet 2.7 up and running in much less than an hour.

The entire distribution comes on 2 CDROMs in the mail or you can download the ISOs and burn your own CDs.

The best features of Libranet are the MASSIVE number of programs included on the CDs and the fabulous Xadministration system administration program. The programs first.

Libranet comes with KDE 3 and Gnome 2, OpenOffice, SIAG (Scheme In A Grid), Abiword, Evolution email, Mozilla and Opera browers, games and quite literally several hundred more programs. Only SuSE Linux came with more software and it took 3 CDs to do it. I don't know how Tal and the Libranet people packed so much stuff in but I guarantee you that you will NEVER find yourself saying 'I wish there was a program for such-and-such'.

But if you have programs you like better out there on the Web, Xadministration will not only get it but download it, compile it, AND drop it onto your hard drive.

The Xadmin menu is the best part of Libranet. Everything is presented like tabbed file folders. Click on a tab and you're ready to go. No more hunting down admin menu programs (hear that, SuSE?). For examply, if you want to download a new program (package) you will find a tab for both the Libranet CDs and the Internet. Simple.

The real beauty of this distribution is that it makes NO assumptions about how much or little you know about Linux.