Mepis 6.5: Superb Distro

[ThinkBuntu]

So I got bored with Zenwalk for the moment and decided my MacBook needed an equally capable friend. I'd heard good things about MEPIS, and I must say that the rumors are true.

I've used Ubuntu Edgy and Feisty, Zenwalk, Sabayon (briefly) and Arch (briefly) and this is my first experience in which I didn't have to do anything to get my machine running as I expect it to (beyond customizing with the various system tools, all graphical front-end).

If anyone has any questions about MEPIS 6.5, feel free to ask me them (so you know the answers before you install...).

Great, great distro! But I'll keep helping the Zenwalk community because I think that, being based on Slackware (which I think is the fastest), it has the highest ceiling.

[iamhugeinjapan]

I just installed 6.5 over top of my Ubuntu Edgy install on my laptop, I was wanting to use KDE again and I heard SimplyMEPIS was the best for it. Just by chance 6.5 had just been released.

I am very impressed with it. Nice to see my laptop running Beryl out of the box, wireless is easily configured, flash and multimedia codecs out of the box. It's a whole different world to Kubuntu definitely. The look and feel is nice too, something different than the standard KDE icon set.

I think I'll keep it around for a while. My main and work desktops are still destined for Ubuntu Feisty though!

[rai4shu2]

I just wonder why they use such an old kernel. They have to know there are a lot of users like me who can't use something that old with relatively newer hardware.

[kerry_s]

Hey, which line is it based on? dapper, edgy, feisty.

[ThinkBuntu]

Konqueror's settings indicate that, by default, its browsing footprint is "Mozilla/5.0; Konqueror...3 (like Gecko) Kubuntu 6.06 Dapper." So I imagine it is based on Dapper. Makes sense that it would be implemented over the long-term stable release, too.

[Amorphous_Snake]

I did try MEPIS 6.0 a while ago, although I didn't install it. I didn't like it! I didn't like their website and I didn't like the aquarium they had in the taskbar!

So, what's the advantage of using MEPIS over Kubuntu after installing 3D drivers and codecs. Is it that different from Kubuntu or is it like Mint to Ubuntu (i.e. codecs and plugins, but nothing new)?

[igknighted]

I did try MEPIS 6.0 a while ago, although I didn't install it. I didn't like it! I didn't like their website and I didn't like the aquarium they had in the taskbar!

So, what's the advantage of using MEPIS over Kubuntu after installing 3D drivers and codecs. Is it that different from Kubuntu or is it like Mint to Ubuntu (i.e. codecs and plugins, but nothing new)?

Mepis does have MadWifi set up by default. But I think that fits into that non-free category you mentioned already. Its a mix of Dapper and some newer pieces (newer Xorg, amarok, and a few others). I think that overall Kubuntu feisty is a much better choice as long as installing the non-free stuff isn't an issue for you.

[darksong]

is it possible to customise the kde? I don't like the way they set it up, its go the colouring of windows 9x, hate that sort of dull grey. Also the bar down the side of the kde menu - is it possible to change if from gears?

[igknighted]

is it possible to customise the kde? I don't like the way they set it up, its go the colouring of windows 9x, hate that sort of dull grey. Also the bar down the side of the kde menu - is it possible to change if from gears?

It's KDE, as with any KDE (or gnome or Xfce) version you are free to customize it to your heart's desire.

[ThinkBuntu]

is it possible to customise the kde? I don't like the way they set it up, its go the colouring of windows 9x, hate that sort of dull grey. Also the bar down the side of the kde menu - is it possible to change if from gears?
You can remove that image, but I'm not sure if you can change it. It's coming from somewhere on the system...

And as for customization, you can edit it to be just about anything. I changed mine to a standard KDE desktop...the MEPIS folks in West Virginia should stay away from graphic design!

[SunnyRabbiera]

Mepis does have MadWifi set up by default. But I think that fits into that non-free category you mentioned already. Its a mix of Dapper and some newer pieces (newer Xorg, amarok, and a few others). I think that overall Kubuntu feisty is a much better choice as long as installing the non-free stuff isn't an issue for you.

Nahh I think Mepis is much better then Kubuntu any day, even if I have not had a lot of luck with it on my main computer I still check how it does with drivers and junk...
Mepis is much better when it concerns proprietary drivers.

[BarfBag]

Mepis 6.5 is amazing. I used to HATE Mepis too.

The only problem I have with it is that it refuses to detect my nVidia GeForce 7600 GT out of the box. I have to go in through vesa and do a dpkg-reconfigure. Don't have to do that with any other distro.

[Down8ve]

I've been hopping around distros for months... an addiction, really. At the moment I have a WinXP/Mepis6.5/Ubuntu7.04 machine.

Mepis looked really promising, but many of us are having cd and drive mounting problems. For me it is really a show-stopper. Lots of good things about it, though, like installation and it did get my Nvidia 7300 right with Beryl.

Still, there's just something about it that is not as appealing to me as Feisty.

I really liked PCLinuxOS, but they are really begging folks for cash for their server space and such. Not sure about their longevity. That's a real shame.

Sabayon is the most tempting to me, but that portage thing ...ack! Perhaps my fears will be clamed with the new package manager they are creating for the next release.

Linux Mint 2.2 is terrific too. We'll see if they can make the same magic in KDE soon, I suppose.

[dekalbave]

I can't think of a better laptop distro than Mepis 6.5. A lot of work went into supporting Broadcom wireless, and mine works flawlessly. And the choice of screen resolutions is extraordinary.

Of course, the problem with two optical drives was very disappointing for the desktop, but that has more or less been fixed now with two upgraded .debs and the manual creation of a desktop icon for the second drive. And it does have Beryl out of the box, plus some upgraded KDE apps that are in the Mepis, not Ubuntu Dapper, repos.

[crag277]

I just tried MEPIS 6.5 for the first time the other day, and I must say, I was blown away. As someone else noted there was literally nothing to configure / install after the main install was complete.

I would have probably left it installed, but for some weird reason it kept freezing my system after using it for a few minutes. I wish I could provide more info to possibly get a solution, but it would just happen out of nowhere. It seems to happen most frequently when I'm navigating the KDE system config menus and windows. Also, it doesn't matter if Beryl is on or off. If memory serves me correct I seem to remember having a similar problem with Kubuntu dapper which prompted me to switch to gnome.

I have an Intel 865 mobo with a P4 Prescott CPU and Radeon 9700 Pro AGP.

Do you think this is a MEPIS or KDE issue?

[jrusso2]

I just wonder why they use such an old kernel. They have to know there are a lot of users like me who can't use something that old with relatively newer hardware.

Well according to Warren the mephis developer the reason for the kernel choice is that there is only one good linux kernel each year and they ask Linus which one it is and use it.

Thats why Mephis has better hardware support then Ubuntu.

[mattotoole]

I just tried the Mepis 6.5 live CD in my T20 laptop. Everything seems to work, especially the wifi. For some reason that I can't figure out, my wifi doesn't work with Dapper or Edgy, so I'm stil using Breezy. This is true with Kubuntu also. I prefer Gnome though, so I'll stick with Ubuntu. I haven't tried Feisty yet.

I wonder what Ubuntu did to break wifi support in Dapper and Edgy, and what Mepis did differently in 6.5.

One area where Kubuntu is still better than Mepis is organization of the start button menus. Stock KDE is so cluttered and disorganized, and Mepis is hardly better.

[ThinkBuntu]

Linux Mint 2.2 is terrific too. We'll see if they can make the same magic in KDE soon, I suppose.

I've spurned Mepis for Mint, and I hope they stick with their GNOME. It includes a few additional graphical frontends over Ubuntu, and is far faster from boot and in use than MEPIS. The desktop seems to me to include the best of GNOME (simplicity) with the best of KDE (well-organized kicker, good graphic design).

[igknighted]

I've spurned Mepis for Mint, and I hope they stick with their GNOME. It includes a few additional graphical frontends over Ubuntu, and is far faster from boot and in use than MEPIS. The desktop seems to me to include the best of GNOME (simplicity) with the best of KDE (well-organized kicker, good graphic design).

They are going the Ubuntu route... KDE/Gnome/Xfce versions, plus a "light" version, which is really an OSS version (no codecs, etc.). I like what mint has done, they will be a force in the linux world before too long.

[dca]

Mepis is superior. I'm sorry, but it is 10x better than Kubuntu... Kubuntu would lock up on my old Penguin PIII server, where as Mepis would not. I'm going to get kicked off the forum for this but why doesn't Canonical drop any reference to Kubuntu and throw some schmeckels and support to Warren?

[igknighted]

Mepis is superior. I'm sorry, but it is 10x better than Kubuntu... Kubuntu would lock up on my old Penguin PIII server, where as Mepis would not. I'm going to get kicked off the forum for this but why doesn't Canonical drop any reference to Kubuntu and throw some schmeckels and support to Warren?

Have you tried Feisty? As far as the gnome version was concerned I thought Feisty was sub-par... but Kubuntu Feisty is awesome. Dapper and Edgy were huge busts, but Kubuntu with the 7.04 release became much more viable in my eyes. I can't entirely describe why, but the awkwardness that existed before (some looks, some function) is gone, and it feels like a solid, smooth system now.

[dca]

I'll probably give both of them a try as I did when 6.10 was released... I'm particular to GNOME out of habit but for PC(s) I build for family and friends I stick w/ KDE because it's easier when transitioning from MS Windows. Other than that on the server end and my own systems I'll probably stick with whichever ends up being an LTS release. call me crazy......

[Down8ve]

I've spurned Mepis for Mint, and I hope they stick with their GNOME. It includes a few additional graphical frontends over Ubuntu, and is far faster from boot and in use than MEPIS. The desktop seems to me to include the best of GNOME (simplicity) with the best of KDE (well-organized kicker, good graphic design).

Ditto to what you said. I spent four days configuring and trying to make a decision with a distro. Linux Mint 2.2 won me over. Absolutely flawless, especially after installing those ms fonts.

As to the KDE-centric issues mentioned earlier, perhaps there is a bit of truth in that. I got real tired of that blasted glass-breaking sound on Kubuntu 7.04, Mepis 6.5, Suse 10.2 and PCLinux 2007 (TR3).

[julie_lebou]

Where can I download the Mepis live cd?

[julie_lebou]

Nevermind, just found out it's not free :-(

[igknighted]

Ditto to what you said. I spent four days configuring and trying to make a decision with a distro. Linux Mint 2.2 won me over. Absolutely flawless, especially after installing those ms fonts.

As to the KDE-centric issues mentioned earlier, perhaps there is a bit of truth in that. I got real tired of that blasted glass-breaking sound on Kubuntu 7.04, Mepis 6.5, Suse 10.2 and PCLinux 2007 (TR3).

I turn sounds off in KDE, theres a setting in the control panel where you can disable them. Nice to have them as an option though. The organic nature of a response when an action happens is a nice touch in an OS sometimes.

[iamhugeinjapan]

Nevermind, just found out it's not free :-(

It absolutely IS free. Download links here:
http://www.mepis.org/mirrors

Enjoy!