repeat, a lot? Although not meant as criticism but as a child in the back seat of a car longing to go to that place where you have fun. In complete contrast to my previous article, way to talk about possibly my GNU / Linux distribution favorite among end-user oriented and, in all, to which I would like to see grow more and more.
all started when I came across the news of the arrival of the new beta version of Elementary OS moon or, put another way, the successor of Jupiter, which mark the route great aesthetic project that started as an icon theme with the same name. Then threw a GTK + theme and continued to grow to the point of putting together an operating system based on Ubuntu and a couple of new applications. However, this did not happen overnight: the issue of icons dating back six years and the GTK + theme five years ago, brought from the hand of Mr. ~ DanRabbit on DeviantART (or at least there I know I ).
these icons always fascinated me, maybe not so much the theme of GTK +, so I started paying attention to what was happening. I do not remember with precision but for the moment I met them, they appeared sketches of what would become a future operating system with some inspiration from Mac OS X. I looked promising because by then I was pleasing visuals of the latter system. Time passed and Jupiter was born in 2011. Of course, as the first version, not expected best still saw promise. I figured it would be a matter of waiting a while, taking into account the update rate of the most popular distributions.
From time to time entered the site and did not see any update. In one of these, I found that had begun with the current version, Luna, and even pictures to prove it existed but only for developers. Finally, there appeared a beta near the end of last year. I thought that meant it would not take long to reach the final and for the time, write a review or something like that. Some of that comes the title: a lot? I do not take it, and here I am writing about Elementary.
Returning to the subject matter. Elementary OS is a system that is the general (remember that the base is Ubuntu) and define your style as modern and minimalist, again, rooted in the style maquero how strong is following since the beginning of millennium. For desktop environment, GNOME 3 has but, watch out, another shell which is called Unity and Pantheon. I must admit: the first time I feel comfortable in GNOME 3, in fact, I’m enjoying it.
To start testing, first LiveCD image copied to a USB key (with the famous UNetbootin) and started on my computer (this time no virtual machines). As you can see in the image below, the desk is pretty clean with Plank on the bottom and a selection of applications that cover basic needs. At the top, we have the bar known as the new GNOME with the difference that the start menu Slingshot handles it turns out to be both lightweight and non-invasive, does not occupy unnecessary space as the original GNOME Shell. Both the latter as Pantheon, specifically made for this system.
On installation
not much to say it brings the same installer as Ubuntu, which is a good thing as it is comfortable and works. The only thing I would recommend is do not check the box to update when installing , it happened then the system would not start. It took me an update performed again, this time through apt-get, and at the restart, everything went back to normal. I remember that Jupiter had this kind of problems. Luckily no one was to reinstall the system.
Once ready, welcomes us in 33 seconds (timed) with a beautiful screen with the logo of Plymouth Elementary shining as the system load (such as the image of this item ). As I said an article last one, I prefer the traditional start with letters and know what is happening but as letter, is very nice. With respect to the default applications have as Midori web browser, Empathy instant messenger like, Totem and video player, the Software Center to install applications, Files file manager, Noise music player, Geary calendar, Mayan calendar, Shotwell photo manager, among others.
are a couple of things you need to do before you start are: put the point system and install Synaptic. Personally, I had trouble installing Flash from the repositories, not working with Midori although with Firefox. As I am the last user or problem I took apart must not ignore the fact that this is a beta. initial configuration itself is very pleasant , the concept with the wallpaper is very interesting, a simple grid but due to the simplistic concept around the system, and the issues, well, I said that is precisely what I like about Elementary.
However, something we can touch. For example, in my case, I’m not used to the close button on the left and also need a button to minimize. Simple ways but … why change? This brings me to the GNOME system preferences … although much I found out there so I’ll have rebuscármelas differently to accommodate the buttons. Luckily there dconf-editor (in package dconf-tools). By changing org / pantheon / desktop / gala / appearance / button-layout menu: minimize, maximize, close , we return to the usual, of course also applies to another order.
What’s interesting about this distribution is that if it is more of the same, brings new things . There is a set of personal applications that look really good and interesting point is that they are all programmed in Vala. One is Files or Files, which is just the file manager, which fits perfectly with the style of the system and also works very well. It’s pretty basic, perhaps the most important thing you need to edit is the open folders and files with a click or two (incidentally, the default is with a click). It is neither PCManFM or Thunar but does the job.
Another interesting application is Maya brings a calendar or planner . While I am not using a lot of these applications, I used KOrganizer but I always found very large and very complete for my needs. Instead, Maya, following the style of Archives, is quite compact and simple. It’s just a calendar with a button to add events. Little colorful for my taste but it seems very accessible to organize an agenda not very busy.
There is a complete system without a media player . Noise is also made for Elementary and is a music player or, rather, a music library. In this case, yes I am touched by the simplicity of the application. I am listening to a lot of music and I like to have everything sorted by artists and others. The problem here is not only very slow for heavy import a folder, but does not have a file browser to explore folders without importing anything. Nor categorized as other specialized programs, in sections, but leaves all together in a list, if it is too long, is endless. Also, like the other programs, fulfill its function to play music but definitely not suitable for music lovers. 
also have developed a text editor, very simple indeed. Scratch is called and there is much to say except for one thing: once we name we are writing a file, it starts automatically saved each time you make the slightest change. It took me a while to realize, especially when I began to despair because they could not find the button to save, when you press a random button, closed the program. After that, it’s an editor for ordinary text.
Finally, Geary is that, although not made for Elementary, is also scheduled in Vala and worth mentioning . Find a program to manage email accounts I never bought by some other reason. Finally, I stuck with Thunderbird but I think I just found a potential replacement for my needs. Its interface is not very difficult to understand and displays messages as it should be. To better analyze this tool, you will have to give everyday but, for now, I’ll give it a try.
As for performance, is lightweight by today’s standards. Let’s say that the memory is consumed takes approximately 830MB open Firefox, no go by the percentages of CPU usage, it feels pretty good even using the animations on the desktop environment. I clarify that my computer, but still stands the test of time, it is modern in video card. To be a beta did not encounter major problems. In fact, I’m happy with what I’m experiencing. In comparison, much better than my last experience with Fedora and Ubuntu , but if we put them on the scale, not a system Elementary as mature nor much support.
Furthermore, for users with NVIDIA cards, I did that once in the system, the animations were not smooth because, by chance, had installed proprietary drivers. Simply open the drivers menu that appears at the top right, I saw that it was marked that driver. Only turn it off and restart the system, I turned to good old Nouveau, with the difference that no Elementary logo appears while charging. I’m sure there must be a solution (in the LiveCD did not have that problem), but I’m not interested bother with that. The rest works perfectly.
In conclusion, despite having met things I did not like, Elementary is improving and growing, maybe not fast, but in a good way . It is an interesting project because it arises from a sense of style and that can serve to nourish the rest of the projects, ie, there are discussions about whether it is right or wrong to have more distributions derived from other, which only serves to further complicate things , however, beyond the distribution fails or becomes popular, it is more than a series of light and compact applications, the concept of desk you need and nothing more. Of course not a new concept nor is the first distribution to exploit, in fact the very thing raised Unix philosophy, but I think it is the first time in recent years, you get something to popularity.
Anyway, I think I’ve said all I had to say except the following: Elementary unfortunately that does not grow as you deserve!
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