The Media Lounge is a resource for journalists and toaster fundi's. It provides resources for reports and stories about the freedom toaster, for anyone who wants to spread the word!
What software would you like to see on the Freedom Toaster?
We haven't added any 64-bit distros, because we're having a tough enough time keeping all the current content updated. Adding more items to the pile will just add to the frustrations. Perhaps we should look at narrowing the selection and only make the most popular distros available, and drop the fringe...(clusterknoppix, whitebox, etc) Let me know what you think?
Being new to Linux, I don't feel qualified to comment on what to leave in / take out. I'm not sure how many people use / have downloaded cluster Knoppix.....
Not having ADSL though, I am not able to access a 64-bit / dual processor version except through the freedom toaster (seing as my 500MB contract will get blown by one download), hence my request. If you use R/MB as a measure, the toaster is still the fastest way to get a serious amount of MB - most Linux distros are BIG MB ....
I'd like to second the idea of adding OpenBSD and NetBSD distro's. Also maybe OpenSolaris ? And the System Rescue CD. Maybe a firewall distro or two like IPCop. And LinuxFromScratch is almost a must. Not only should we be promoting OpenSource in general, we should also be promoting learning how OpenSource ticks.
I also really like the idea of a collection of dev tools, like apache, eclipse, etc, maybe things like vim, sed and grep for windows. I'm sure there are many more. On that note, what about including the GNUWin II cd?
Submitted by gmanrhoda2001 on Sun, 2006-01-22 11:07.
hey guys keep up the great work,how about including Mepis on your software list,it's a great distro live or installable if you wish,easy to use,it just works and very well at that.I work in an internet cafe and have been handing out Mepis disk to customers who want it,those who have installed it on there systems,like it's ease of use,most of these people have never heard of Linux before.
I think the distros on the toasters needs to be updated! And why isn't there any 64-bit Gentoo/etc. on there??? I mean, we live in a world with AMD x86_64 and Intel IA64 and Windows support for it is a joke to say the least. Some 64-bit Linux distros would be nice. By the way thanx for thinking of the geeks aswell ie. the "real" linux distros like Slackware, Gentoo, (*and maybe non SysV freeBSD aswell??*)
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windows security update... what windows security?
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Is it posible to add a CD/DVD containing development tools for Windows platforms, to enable people that have to run such platforms to develop open source software.
Things like DJGPP, Cygwin, Perl, Phython, Ruby, GCC, FreePascal, PHP, Mysgl/Postgress, Apache, free DLL,'s libraries etc, so that persons whishing to develop open source software on Windows, can have the tools for doing so. Also include code snipptes/examples, tutorials, how-to's, free books, etc. The Windows platform is seriously lacking in the ability for people to develop things on it without buying expensive development tools. I do feel this has held back a number of people who might otherwise be developing opensource software on this platform
I love ubuntu, but one thing is that when you get it, it comes with limitted aplications, codecs, etc. You can install all these off the internet, but this requires fast, reliable connections. However there is a Add-on-cd available with all the required add-ons. I think it should also be included on the toaster. Also Ubuntu 5.10 is out and should also be included.
Submitted by carlbellingan on Tue, 2005-09-27 23:21.
There are a couple of Knoppix based distros that can be installed to and run from a USB key/memory thing. These are a great "spreading-the-word" tool (if that is what you are into) and some are great system maintenance utilities or thin clients.
This is one of the few distros that support full RW to NTFS partitions using the brillian captive-ntfs (the kernel is not yet stable in this regard). This is a great little distro and it is small.
It is based on this one, which is also a great distro. http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
We are busy experimenting with USB distros. We want to enable the Toaster to do everything required to get a distro on your USB stick. Picture this: You go along to a Toaster with your 256Mb USB key, plug it in, select which of the USB based distros you would like, hit "burn-em", and have it installed on you USB key right there. No messing around.
We also want to enable the uploading of content to the Toaster via USB keys. The application we'll be focussing on is Creative Commons licensed sound samples and music (http//www.creativecommons.org). This will potentially transform the Freedom Toaster into a powerful community collaboration tool.
I is called a USB flash drive and u get them up to 1Gig now and Samsung are already developing tecnology that will make their size up to 16Gig. So in the near future you will be able to load entire disto's of Linux on a flash drive....
We're getting there. When we did the last update the Debian DVD images for Sarge weren't available. We'll also be adding the option to burn the CD iso files to a DVD.
What about adding some open source application development software for IT-related students? An example of some useful OSS would be: Eclipse, Apache Tomcat, and Cloudscape.
I would like to see some of the Firewall distro's such as IP-Cop, Smoothwall, Tiny Sofa, Devil Linux (?) , maybe a collection of the single floppy distro's.
While on the subject of small Distro's, what about a collection of the Distro's that run on a USB memory stick, sorry, I don't recollect the names, but Damn Small Linux comes to mind.
I'd like to see a specialist music distro such as Agnula Demudi or Planet CCRMA available as it opens up Linux to a new specialised audience (semi- or pro audio people). Setting up Linux for acceptable latencies and getting all the sound apps to work together is notoriously tricky so new users are unlikely to ever get to try them without a pre-configured package. I'd prefer Demudi because it is self-contained, as opposed to Planet CCRMA which needs RH already installed.
It'd be great to see a static-html offline copy of Wikipedia on the toaster. Its not exactly software, but certainly useful open content. I'm not sure that Wikipedia have ISO images available, but they do offer their content as static-html format for downloading. Worst case someone needs to put together a new ISO every six months or so.
Thinking about it a bit more, perhaps this idea could be extended. What about access to an offline copy of Wikipedia running on the toaster via the touch screen? That way I could use the toaster as a kind of info booth to resolve arguements too ;-)
Great idea! We have a special concession with the folks at Wikipedia to distribute the fullblown snapshot (incl. images), to our tuXlab schools. AFAIK, it takes up 6 CDs.
Since almost nobody in South Africa could afford to download 600MB of video over a crappy Telkom line, why not stick the Go Open TV series onto the Toasters, perhaps in a variety of formats to suit whatever players are available.
I have the Go-Open TV series vol1 (The first 6 episodes) on cd in mpeg4 format. You could use Realplayer with QuickTime installed to view the files. I have found the series to be very informative and appluade the effort of every one that worked together to produce such a quality show. Then also to the creators of this site and the freedom toaster :)Good Job!! "We are the creators on this Earth"
Well the Firemonger CD is on the Bloem Toaster and that contains Firefox/thunderbird for the WIN platform, these are usually part of most Linux distro's
64-bit AMD Versions
Hi
Please could you add some 64 bit AMD distro's on the toaster? That would really help.
Also, is anything happening? I don't see much movement on this site.....is anybody listening?
AK
64-bit
We haven't added any 64-bit distros, because we're having a tough enough time keeping all the current content updated. Adding more items to the pile will just add to the frustrations. Perhaps we should look at narrowing the selection and only make the most popular distros available, and drop the fringe...(clusterknoppix, whitebox, etc) Let me know what you think?
64-bit
Being new to Linux, I don't feel qualified to comment on what to leave in / take out. I'm not sure how many people use / have downloaded cluster Knoppix.....
Not having ADSL though, I am not able to access a 64-bit / dual processor version except through the freedom toaster (seing as my 500MB contract will get blown by one download), hence my request. If you use R/MB as a measure, the toaster is still the fastest way to get a serious amount of MB - most Linux distros are BIG MB ....
AK
Second that
I'd like to second the idea of adding OpenBSD and NetBSD distro's. Also maybe OpenSolaris ? And the System Rescue CD. Maybe a firewall distro or two like IPCop. And LinuxFromScratch is almost a must. Not only should we be promoting OpenSource in general, we should also be promoting learning how OpenSource ticks.
I also really like the idea of a collection of dev tools, like apache, eclipse, etc, maybe things like vim, sed and grep for windows. I'm sure there are many more. On that note, what about including the GNUWin II cd?
Fedora Core 5
Yes! It's finally come out!
Any chance of Fedora Core 5 appearing on the toasters anytime soon?
I do notice that even the latest Ubuntu has not yet been added.. and it's been out for more than six months!
Unless it's just this site that's outdated - I haven't actually been to a toaster in over half a year.
That said I really, really could use FC5.. please!
Update The Distros!
I agree with slacknix, and maybe even throw in KUbuntu as well as the "Unofficial Ubuntu Help Guide"?
"For Freeeeeeedom!"..."but with gr8 power comes great responsibility" (=)
MepisLinux
hey guys keep up the great work,how about including Mepis on your software list,it's a great distro live or installable if you wish,easy to use,it just works and very well at that.I work in an internet cafe and have been handing out Mepis disk to customers who want it,those who have installed it on there systems,like it's ease of use,most of these people have never heard of Linux before.
The distros on the toasters are getting outdated & 64bit??
I think the distros on the toasters needs to be updated! And why isn't there any 64-bit Gentoo/etc. on there??? I mean, we live in a world with AMD x86_64 and Intel IA64 and Windows support for it is a joke to say the least. Some 64-bit Linux distros would be nice. By the way thanx for thinking of the geeks aswell ie. the "real" linux distros like Slackware, Gentoo, (*and maybe non SysV freeBSD aswell??*)
=================================================
windows security update... what windows security?
=================================================
server distro's
Any chance to have server distro's included in the machine? For example: SLAMPP or LiveLAMP.
Developers Resource
Is it posible to add a CD/DVD containing development tools for Windows platforms, to enable people that have to run such platforms to develop open source software.
Things like DJGPP, Cygwin, Perl, Phython, Ruby, GCC, FreePascal, PHP, Mysgl/Postgress, Apache, free DLL,'s libraries etc, so that persons whishing to develop open source software on Windows, can have the tools for doing so. Also include code snipptes/examples, tutorials, how-to's, free books, etc. The Windows platform is seriously lacking in the ability for people to develop things on it without buying expensive development tools. I do feel this has held back a number of people who might otherwise be developing opensource software on this platform
Ubuntu Add-on-CD
I love ubuntu, but one thing is that when you get it, it comes with limitted aplications, codecs, etc. You can install all these off the internet, but this requires fast, reliable connections. However there is a Add-on-cd available with all the required add-ons. I think it should also be included on the toaster. Also Ubuntu 5.10 is out and should also be included.
Edubuntu
Any chance of adding Edubuntu to the toaster selection?
USB based distros
There are a couple of Knoppix based distros that can be installed to and run from a USB key/memory thing. These are a great "spreading-the-word" tool (if that is what you are into) and some are great system maintenance utilities or thin clients.
http://www.inside-security.de/insert_en.html
This is one of the few distros that support full RW to NTFS partitions using the brillian captive-ntfs (the kernel is not yet stable in this regard). This is a great little distro and it is small.
It is based on this one, which is also a great distro.
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/relatives.html
The ability to make a bootable USB device directly from a toaster would also be great.
Cheers, off to use the toaser now
cB.
USB developments
We also want to enable the uploading of content to the Toaster via USB keys. The application we'll be focussing on is Creative Commons licensed sound samples and music (http//www.creativecommons.org). This will potentially transform the Freedom Toaster into a powerful community collaboration tool.
USB key/memory thing
I is called a USB flash drive and u get them up to 1Gig now and Samsung are already developing tecnology that will make their size up to 16Gig. So in the near future you will be able to load entire disto's of Linux on a flash drive....
Other Live Linux Distro's
How about adding a few not-so-famous linux distro's (especially live cd's), like:
Live Distro's
More distros
Adding more distros is a challenge. We have to be careful about having too many available. It just adds to our update woes.
CentOS
How about CentOS 2,3 and 4? :)
Source RPM's & LFS
What about the source rpm disks?
Also what about "Linux From Scratch" (I already attempted to post about this, but I must have done something wrong)
The LFS project has a live cd which includes everything you need to build lfs... it's a great way to learn more about Linux.
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/livecd/
DVD isos
We're getting there. When we did the last update the Debian DVD images for Sarge weren't available. We'll also be adding the option to burn the CD iso files to a DVD.
OpenOffice 2.0 Beta 2
How about version 2.0 beta as well as version 1.1.5 RC3?
Software Development Software
What about adding some open source application development software for IT-related students? An example of some useful OSS would be: Eclipse, Apache Tomcat, and Cloudscape.
Eric Long
Firewall Distro's
I would like to see some of the Firewall distro's such as IP-Cop, Smoothwall, Tiny Sofa, Devil Linux (?) , maybe a collection of the single floppy distro's.
While on the subject of small Distro's, what about a collection of the Distro's that run on a USB memory stick, sorry, I don't recollect the names, but Damn Small Linux comes to mind.
Open Source Accounting Packages
How about adding Open Source Accounting packages such as Tubo Cash, and Cubit, now that it has been released under the GPL.
Specialist music distro
I'd like to see a specialist music distro such as Agnula Demudi or Planet CCRMA available as it opens up Linux to a new specialised audience (semi- or pro audio people). Setting up Linux for acceptable latencies and getting all the sound apps to work together is notoriously tricky so new users are unlikely to ever get to try them without a pre-configured package. I'd prefer Demudi because it is self-contained, as opposed to Planet CCRMA which needs RH already installed.
Fritz Meissner
Specialist music distro
Thanks, I'll download the Demudi live cd and try it out. I like the fact that it's self-contained and looks easy enough to setup.
Specialist music distro
Wouldn't mind a Music Distro myself.
Wikipedia
It'd be great to see a static-html offline copy of Wikipedia on the toaster. Its not exactly software, but certainly useful open content. I'm not sure that Wikipedia have ISO images available, but they do offer their content as static-html format for downloading. Worst case someone needs to put together a new ISO every six months or so.
Thinking about it a bit more, perhaps this idea could be extended. What about access to an offline copy of Wikipedia running on the toaster via the touch screen? That way I could use the toaster as a kind of info booth to resolve arguements too ;-)
Wikipedia
Great idea! We have a special concession with the folks at Wikipedia to distribute the fullblown snapshot (incl. images), to our tuXlab schools. AFAIK, it takes up 6 CDs.
I'll look into it.
Go Open TV series
Since almost nobody in South Africa could afford to download 600MB of video over a crappy Telkom line, why not stick the Go Open TV series onto the Toasters, perhaps in a variety of formats to suit whatever players are available.
Go-Open TV series vol1
I have the Go-Open TV series vol1 (The first 6 episodes) on cd in mpeg4 format. You could use Realplayer with QuickTime installed to view the files. I have found the series to be very informative and appluade the effort of every one that worked together to produce such a quality show. Then also to the creators of this site and the freedom toaster :)Good Job!! "We are the creators on this Earth"
Go-Open
I'm working on it ;)
How about basic apps?
Like OpenOffice, Mozilla/Firefox, Thunderbird and maybe some multimedia titles just to show folk that Linux makes for a really good home PC as well
About Basic Apps
Well the Firemonger CD is on the Bloem Toaster and that contains Firefox/thunderbird for the WIN platform, these are usually part of most Linux distro's