Bayanihan Linux 4.0, Proudly Philippine Made: It is my honor to review the latest release version of our very own Debian-based distro named Bayanihan Linux. The Bayanihan project was initiated by the Open Source Group in Advanced Science and Technology Institute last October 2001. Its main goal is to provide the best alternative desktop solution to Filipinos. In details, it aims to provide a better hardware support, operation simplicity, speed, efficiency, stability and Windows portability.So now let’s find out if this government sponsored distro is worthy to be called one of the Linuxes.
Test Machine Specs:
Processor: 3.40 GHz Intel Pentium D
Hard Drive: Samsung 80GB ATA
Memory: 2GB DDR2 RAM
Display: ATI Radeon X1050 [Display adapter]
Installation:
You can download Bayanihan Linux4.0.iso by clicking here. The installation CD is only about 700MB. I installed Bayanihan via VMware v5.5 on my OpenSuse 10.1 system. So it was Linux on Linux. It only took about 15 minutes to complete the installation and the latest version of Anaconda, Bayanihan’s Fedora based installer, is a breeze to use and much simpler than the older version. The installation was completely finished without a single problem. Audio and Ethernet worked fine. The screen resolution was at 1280 x 1024 on my 17" Samsung Syncmaster monitor.
Look and feel:
Bayanihan has a KDE 3.5 desktop. Any Filipino will know that this distribution is made by Pinoys by just looking at the default desktop. The K menu has a sun with 8 rays that can seen on our national flag. It doesn’t have Beryl or Compiz eyecandy but it does have commendable artworks like its default wallpaper and boot splash image. Like any other KDE desktop, it is highly configurable.
Package Management:
Some important softwares are already installed in Bayanihan. To name a few, it has Firefox 2.0 as web browser, Gimp 2.2 as image editor, OpenOffice 2.1 for office applications, MPlayer 1.0 for multimedia, Python 2.3 and Perl 5.8 for programming, and if you are into 3D modelling there’s Blender. You can always use its Synaptic package manager to add packages that you like or easily uninstall some software that you don’t need.
Stability:
I have only tested this distro for about two hours and only in VMware. I haven’t encountered any noticeable bug the entire time. Bayanihan comes with Guarddog firewall and ClamAV antivirus, so I can say that it could run stable for a much longer period of time as it is safe and secure to use.
Wish List:
1. Java and Shockwave Flash should be installed by default
2. A Gnome version
3. A live CD installer
4. Compiz or Beryl eyecandy
5. A redesigned Bayanihan website
Conclusion:
This is a very clean and simple Linux distribution filled with ready to use software for educational purposes and for productivity. The easy installation which is ideal for beginners is what I like most. This could be a worthy Windows replacement if our government is concerned about saving some national budget because Bayanihan Linux is totally FREE.
UPDATE: Bayanihan Linux 5.0
Thank you for the review. I agree with you, their website is slow.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering about the Bayanihan Linux licensing claim that it is free only for educational and Non-profit use, but a license in required for commercial use.
ReplyDeleteAs a Debian based distribution, they are bound by the Debian social contract, and should be free.
As a product of a government institution paid for by taxpayers money, it should be free.
Even if we push aside those issues, if it wants to be the "national Linux," then it should be free so it can be adopted by Internet Cafes so they would have the same Linux in Cafes as they would have in schools.
Also, making it free also means that business would be more willing to adopt it, creating a justification for schools to use it>>>because that is what businesses use.
By insisting on a "commercial" license, Bayanihan Linux is just killing itself and preventing the adoption of what could be a "National Linux"
i agree,linux spirit should be free.Why does the Ph gov try to put licensing on linux,arent they feeling the chains of Windows yet?how it monopolizes,that even if u buy a Windows OEM in Ph u cant use that license in US..and an OEM windows when installed and ur computer bug down,its license is none transferrable? is that what the Filipino government is hugging right now? where is the heroic spirit that are heroes sacrificed in order to free our country in oppression. Is Microsofts binding chains not enough for Filipinoes to join our brilliant minds to produce a friendly Linux OS to free our country from Software licensing such as of Microsoft?lets accept it...we earn less because we are peso not dollar earners, dont you think its time to do heroic sacrifices for our country. We are known worldwide in being passionate. Please keep the spirit of BAYANIHAN LINUX FREE. because help u get in a REAL "BAYANIHAN" is FREE
ReplyDeleteBayanihan has no such licensing claim regarding commercial use. Anybody can download a copy, share it and use it for any purpose they see fit.
ReplyDelete