TooMuchGreen

Up and away from the industrial depths of server side technology and groupware the lighter side of the “home-user” Linux desktop continues to offer a changing face of optional identity. Obviously at ground level we have base GNOME, KDE and XFCE window managers but around the big three rotate a whole array of tweaked distros all claiming to offer the definitive desktop interface of today. Some are barely functional, some are too functional, some try too hard and are confusingly neither and some have completely missed the point, but, there are an odd one or two which actually survive the statutory 60 minute evaluation period and for me gOS is one such release.

gOS stands for “Good Operating System” and is produced by a correspondingly named and relatively recent company based in Los Angeles (Good OS LLC). Through 2007 onwards gOS achieved somewhat greater exposure than regular distros due to pre-installation on the Everex Green PC sold by the US supermarket giant Wal-Mart, several releases later and here we are at version 3.1 – “Gadgets“.

gOS utilises the lean and snappy “Enlightenment E17” window manager in conjunction with GNOME, it’s Ubuntu based which adds to it’s flexibility (all the best distros are these days) and presents a nicely rounded Mac-esque feel focusing heavily on the Web 2.0 world of Google grooviness to provide the full range of G’Apps ready to roll from the OSX-ey style doc. It’s so “Google-centric” they’ve even gone as far as to include Picasa through a pre-configured installation of WINE, a VERY nice touch which offers seamless installation for extra Windows programs (should you wish to install them). There’s a menu tab to install Google Gears and Gadgets are accessed from a task-bar icon for the usual array of desktop annoyance (although I do seem to have taken a shameless liking to the virtual flower pot and to be honest the clock is more useful and less aesthetically cluttering than I thought it would be).

Other pre-installs on the dock include the ubiquitous (and wonderful) Skype VOIP app, Open Office and Pidgin plus configured web links to Firefox, Blogger and YouTube, it’s all very well thought out and comprehensively ready to roll for the Google-ised web populous.

“Regular” Ubuntu appears as normal from the expanding program menu’s to line up all the old favourites (including Thunderbird mail for non Googlers) and although the more hefty Linux user may be disappointed with Tasksel offerings (there’s only a solitary DNS option) gOS isn’t really produced as a server platform, that said Ubuntu is Ubuntu (is Debian) and until Terminal is removed completely the option to add some meat and configure it via the CLI means those of us who wish to do so can still be “serving” under the hood whilst enjoying some fresh eye-candy up front.

For home use I really rate gOS. I think the company is pitching and presenting with intelligent simplicity and I’m also most intrigued with their other offering, the “yet to be released” Cloud, a “browser only” operating system bearing a more than noticeable resemblance to Googles own “yet to be released” Chrome OS (or vice-versa?). Most intriguing indeed.

gOS 3.1 “Gadgets” can be downloaded for free (of course) from the website HERE.