What is ZevenOS ?

ZevenOS is a GNU/Linux Distribution with a focus on a fast and easy to use system with a touch of BeOS.

Since 2001 BeOS is no longer developed. We took some of the main advantages of BeOS and integrated them into our distribution

Including i.e. :

– Performance

– Compatibility and Ability to run on old Hardware

– Easy to use Interface (oriented at BeOS)

The heart of our system is the Linux Kernel which is a very modern piece of software thats supports dozens of hardware components.

So almost every hardware will work right out of the box with our system.

Besides that we include a large number of great software products, like Word processing, Spreadsheet management, Multimedia and Development tools like Gambas 2 or Python 2.5.

With MAGI 2 ZevenOS has a very slick and fine tool for starting applications and managing the system (more info about MAGI 2)

ZevenOS includes the best known software from the OpenSource and FreeSoftware world and provides an good experience for beginners and advanced users.

Technology

ZevenOS is based up on Ubuntu thats based on Debian.

Debian has a conservetive way in including software and especially kernel versions. Therefore we based our system upon the Ubuntu Kernel as it provides a wider and better hardware support.

The kernel version we are using is Kernel 2.6.31 wich is provided by Ubuntu 9.10 “Karmic Koala”

We included Ndiswrapper to have a larger support for Wifi cards with using the Windows Inf Drivers.

On the Desktop we are using the fast and lightweight Sawfish (Window Manager) Sawfish provides several themes. The standard theme is a BeOS look a like.

The default filemanager is Thunar which includes thunar-volman for handling HAL and Devices like Network Shares or external Hard Drives

The Office Suite consists of Abiword (for Word Processing) and Gnumeric (Spreadsheet)

For Multimedia Playback we included audacious (for mp3 playback) and Rhythmbox (for Music Management) and Totem (Videoplayer) + Avidemux (Video Editor). We also included Encode which allows everyone easily covert video files and create VideoCDs/DVDs.

For Development there are simple editors like vi, medit or geany. As full IDE we included Gambas 2.

Systemrequirements:

Intel Pentium or compatible CPU with minimum 500 MHZ

192 MB RAM

3 GB free HD Space

16 MB Graphicscard

Mouse, Keyboard and Monitor

recommend : Soundcard, Networkcard (for Internet)

Background / Philosophy

ZevenOS is following a Ideologie. This Ideologie is based on the Free Software Movement and the OpenSource Movement.

We are absolutely sure that Free and OpenSource Software is the future for the technological market.

With OpenStandards like ODF (OpenDocument Format) we have a universal format for exchanging Documents worldwide without the to fear about incompatible Document-Specs.

Free and OpenSource Software have a lot of advantages for small business and home users.

Home users and businesses are making themselfs more robust and self manageable when using OpenSource and Free Software products. So you can’t be forced to update an existing software if you don’t like the updated version.

If you want to change something in the code of the software to make it more productive in your work you don’t need to pay lots of licensing fees or need to buy new hardware just for optimizing your software and work experience.

This help the nature in not throwing away too much still hardware and not producing too much electric garbage