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TurboLinux 1.0, Pacific HiTech's new Linux distribution, is now available for i386 systems.
Linux is an efficient operating system which takes full advantage of current computer hardware
platforms. This distribution is designed to benefit both the advanced and novice users by providing
easy installation and powerful configuration tools. A Japanese i386 version will be available in
November, 1997. PowerPC versions (both English and Japanese) are coming soon.
TurboLinux is powerful, easy to install, and easy to use. Here are some of the highlights:
- Completely floppy-less installation -- boot directly from the CD, or use LOADLIN from DOS. Alternatively, you can use a single boot floppy image if you prefer, or if your system does not support either of the other two boot methods.
- TurboProbe - This new installation feature will automatically detect your SCSI, ethernet, and video adapters without the user having to specify them (this feature can be bypassed for those who wish to manually select their hardware).
- TurboPPPConfig - This program is both a stand-alone utility and an incorporated part of the installer. It lets you set up your ppp connection during the initial installation, or at any time after the installation, without having to use X Windows.
- RPM-Compatible - TurboLinux uses the RPM package management system. This means that any package which can be installed on Red Hat Linux will also work with TurboLinux.
- TurboDesk - This is an all-new desktop environment designed to look and perform better than the OSF CDE. It's based entirely on free components such as the AfterStep window manager, the OffiX Drag-and-Drop libraries and utilities, and xpostit+, among others. Turbodesk has an all-new, coded-from-scratch configuration program to allow users to change their desktop settings without editing any dotfiles. Click here for screen shots!
- More system administration tools - TurboLinux 1.0 comes with a graphical DNS nameserver configuration program, an automatic package updating system that can run either interactively or automatically (through cron), a topographical TCP/IP network manager (scotty/tkined), qps (an X11-based version of 'top'), and more.
- X Applications - TurboLinux comes with many useful applications for X:
- Word Processing/Text Editing: LyX word processor, GNU emacs, pico, vi, joe, jed, vim, and others.
- Spreadsheets: WingZ 1.4.2 (shareware version)
- Graphics packages: xv, xpaint, GIMP, povray, and others.
- Networking Applications - TurboLinux includes a full suite of TCP/IP, IPX, and Appletalk DDP utilities. Your system can act as an internet client using telnet, ftp, rsh, rlogin, rcp, irc, snmp, and, after you download Netscape for Linux, WWW capability as well. Your system will also act as a server for all the services mentioned above, plus some others such as finger. Your system will act as a Novell Netware client and as a Novell Netware server (although this code is not yet 100% reliable). Your system will also be set up to act as an AppleTalk server (unfortunately it cannot act as an AppleTalk client).
- Extra Utilities - TurboLinux also comes with a host of 'helper' utilities, including clocks, calendars, datebooks, usage meters, desktop navigation tools, desktop locking tools, screen savers, wallpaper, and more.
- Upgradability - As with Red Hat Linux, TurboLinux is seamlessly and instantly upgradable from one version to the next without sacrificing your data and settings, and without the need to back up your hard disk. Upgrades also come at reduced cost -- if you have purchased Turbo Linux once at full price, you receive all subsequent versions for $10 less. (this policy is subject to change without notice)
- Hardware Support - TurboLinux supports just about every single piece of hardware that is sold for Intel PCs today. If you have a question about a specific piece of hardware, email sstone@turbolinux.com and ask about it.
- Documentation - TurboLinux will include full written documentation, both printed and in HTML format on the CD-ROMs themselves.
- Technical Support - Purchasing Turbo Linux entitles the user to an unlimited amount of e-mail tech support.
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