A Symphony For Viola: Parsix 1.5r0 Review

REGULAR readers of this blog will know I'm a huge fan of Parsix, the Debian-based Linux distribution created by a small team in Iran.
In my in-depth review of version 1.0 I said:

“The fact that it's all sitting on a Debian base is hugely reassuring, and my initial concerns about using a system primarily designed for Persian users – with all the language-based implications that brings – have been completely erased. Parsix 1.0 comes very highly recommended.”

Now we have Parsix 1.5r0, codename 'Viola', with the promise of extra features and improvements to what was already a fine operating system.
As of June 25th, all the packages in Parsix 1.5r0 have been synchronised between the Parsix and Debian Lenny (Testing) repositories, so rest assured, you're getting pretty cutting edge applications with this release.
Let me pick out some highlights: Linux 2.6.24.4; GNOME 2.22.2; X.Org 7.3; GNU Iceweasel 3.0 RC-2; OpenOffice.org 2.4.0; Glibc 2.7; Pidgin 2.4.2; GIMP 2.4.6; Synaptic 0.62; Exaile 0.2.13 and xFarDic 0.11.4.
Further, the developers have replaced GQView with gThumb image viewer, Camorama has been dropped in favour of the Cheese webcam utility, and both iptraf and nmap make a return.
For the first time – and this is where things get really interesting - Parsix Viola officially supports Compiz-Fusion, VirtualBox-OSE and GNU Flash Player, all of which I'll return to in due course.
The Parsix artwork team have been busy for this release: Gone is the Black/Blue/Orange theme; it's now Black/Green/Orange, along with a nice green default background with a distinctly oriental feel. It's a pleasing, professional look.Installing Parsix Viola is a fairly straightforward affair – it's done from a live CD environment (you don't have to install at all if you don't want to – just keep using Parsix as a live CD).
Just a note here about the boot options available when you first fire up the live CD: There are some nice options, including one to load into a 1200x800 widescreen resolution.
Installation is done by double-clicking on the desktop icon (you'll need the root password, which is 'parsix').
The only potential installation snag for new users is the fact that you have to have to have partitions ready for it at the outset.
The installer won't create those partitions for you; instead, you're pointed in the direction of Gparted in the System menu, which does the job nicely.
There's a really good installation guide here, which is suitable for absolute beginners.
It's as trouble-free an install as any I've come across and takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
Once you boot into your HD install you're faced with a comprehensive range of programs sufficient to keep you productive in just about any area: Balsa handles your email; GIMP and Inkscape satisfy your artistic cravings; Brasero takes care of your burning desires; OpenOffice takes care of business; Transmission copes with your torrents and VLC keeps you entertained.
These are all well and good, but it was the newcomers that particularly interested me.
Primarily, I'm talking about VirtualBox and Gnash.
While 3D effects are of little interest to me, I should also report that Compiz works flawlessly and that there are excellent configuration utilities for both it and the Emerald theme manager, so if whizzy globes and burning windows are your thing, Viola has what you need.Given that you'll need 3D drivers before you can take full advantage of Compiz, there are also great guides for ATI and Nvidia graphics cards on the Parsix website.
Now to VirtualBox, my favourite piece of virtualisation software.
VirtualBox has started to appear in a lot of distribution repositories, but this is the first time I've come across it pre-installed in a distribution.This is the Open Source Edition (OSE) which, in the past, has tended to be a little flaky and lacking in features when compared with the full version downloadable from the VirtualBox website.
It's no longer either of those things, however, and the fact it's pre-installed means users not having to jump through the configuration hoops which have troubled us in the past.
This, alone, makes Parsix worth trying, in my opinion.
Unfortunately, I can't report the same level of satisfaction with Gnash, the free/open source Flash media player which comes with Viola.
I checked on the Gnash website first, to make sure my expectations weren't unrealistic, and I have to report that it wouldn't play YouTube Flash vidoes, as advertised.I then checked on the Parsix forum to see if any other users were having the same problem, and found one posting which advised dumping Gnash completely and replacing it with the Mozilla-Flash-Player.
A quick Google revealed Parsix users weren't the only ones having trouble with Gnash, which is a shame as I'd really like this project to be successful... maybe it's still just too early for it. We shall see.
I can't praise Parsix 1.5r0 enough: It's stable while being cutting edge, stylish while being practical and is certainly in my top five favourite distributions, which is saying something given how low-profile it remains (it's still only at No 57 on the Distrowatch page-hit ranking list, which is ridiculously low).
Try it – please – and you'll see what I mean.