Mint 10 LXDE USB

[utu]

Some thoughts on Mint 10 LXDE for USB

I thought I'd compare Mint 10 LXDE for USB with my Knoppix 6.4.4
'install' on a 2 Gb SanDisk and my Dell 1545 laptop.

Both of these have snappy LXDE/PCManFM desktops. I've become a
little critical of Knoppix 6.4.4's fragile X, so I am looking to
see just where that problem resides.

I used a Windows Pendrive installer to create a USB directly from
a downloaded Mint 10 LXDE CD iso. No intermediate CD required.
This works fine, providing persistent store as well. Gives an almost
identical initial footprint; however, OpenOffice isn't included.
Adding OOo and a few other tweaks, I find there's about 300 Mb
less space to begin with. Probably best to use at least 4 Gb
if you have it.

As most distributions are, Mint 10 is initially hostile to Broadcom
wireless. I get around this by temporarily using an external wifi
adapter that has the right political correctness, firing up synaptic
and installing three bcmwl programs. Rebooting on the internal wifi
then works just fine.

Mint 10 is also initially hostile to using a nano/mouse rather than
the built-in touchpad. No way to simply disable the touchpad.
Adding a one-liner /etc/X11/Xsession.d/15x11-synaptics solves this
same as in Knoppix 6.4.4.

My initial housekeeping includes uninstalling Ubiquity, and
disabling mint-fortune. Have begun my usual warfare with ntp in
order to retain my own idea of desktop local time; usually works
well until first automatic time correction.

So far, no hiccups in X, but it's not been in use long. Stay tuned.

ps. No Compiz, none at all.

[utu]

Additional notes:

Pendrive Windows program:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

Mint 10 LXDE kernel (uname -a):
Linux mint 2.6.35-22-generic #35-Ubuntu SMP Sat Oct 16 20:36:48 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux

Mint 10 LXDE promo:
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1705

Mint Forums:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/

[utu]

Correction:

Compiz is not installed by default;
it is available via synaptic.
Not a recommendation, just an observation.

[utu]

Additional notes:

Known Meerkat issues (Mint 10 based on Meerkat):
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MaverickMeerkat/ReleaseNotes#Known%20Issues

Distrowatch package list for Mint:
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint

Distrowatch package list for Knoppix, for comparison:
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=knoppix

[dinosoep]

I use mint on my laptop and knoppix on my usb. But I have a free 8g laying around. I'm going to give it a shot :D

[utu]

@dinosoep

I think you may like it.
Their material suggests no less than 3 Gb, and I agree.
I think there is lot of Gnome stuff which takes a lot of space.

So far no X hiccups.

Good luck on your install.

[utu]

Mint 10's LXDE/PCManFM desktop seems solid enough to me. I don't
detect any 'weakness' in its handling of X-duties over several days
and several boot-ups. Never had an occasion where I needed ctl-alt-
backspace or a re-boot to recover my control over the X-territory.

There is an inconsistency though that is hard to overlook.
Mint has many nice GUI amenities; many, I suppose depend on
the Gnome infrastructure. The whole purpose of the LXDE
approach was to get away from Gnome and/or KDE infrastructures'
demand on computer resources.

In comparing Knoppix 6.4 USB with Mint 10 LXDE USB, therefore
we find that 2 Gb will suffice for Knoppix, but 3 Gb is required
for Mint. Of course you can't buy 3 Gb, you have to buy 4.
Considering the array of amenities, an 8 Gb install might even
be preferable to sample all the offerings. But then why would you
need a lightweight desktop in this situation. Takes all kinds, I guess.

This experiment has exploded my prejudice that LXDE/PCManFM is
inherently disposed to a weakness, which I've nick-named 'Fragile-X'.
In my 2 Gb Knoppix 6.4.4 USB I occasionally have a hang-up in X which
requires ctl-alt-backspace to recover. Occasions that require a
full re-boot are quite rare, but they do occur.

I now expect this 'weakness' may be unique to my own usage pattern or
installation history, rather than unique to the basic design. I do know
I'm not the only one having similar occasional problems, but that doesn't
explain what's going on. 'Fragile-X' is a fact in my install, but just
what does explain the phenom is unknown at present.