Usability the watchword for Red Hat's new Linux

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 1 Oct 2002 at 12:47

Dubbed as a 'user-friendly interface for personal and small business computing', version 8.0 of Red Hat's Linux distro features an updated UI.

The new default desktop interface - Bluecurve - is designed to be more user-friendly for a range of users, spanning both personal and professional. The well-established environments of GNOME or KDE, however, are still optionally available.

Other new features in version 8.0 include: a new suite of configuration tools, for setting up firewalls and managing Apache, Samba, and small network settings; the Apache 2.0 Web server; an office suite from OpenOffice.org; and accessibility features such as GUI support for Braille.

'With this release we have given more attention than ever before to usability', said Erik Troan, Red Hat's senior director of product marketing. 'Red Hat Linux 8.0 demonstrates that we can deliver great new functionality for hobbyists and professionals and at the same time make the product much more friendly for mainstream users.'

The Linux kernel is version 2.4.18. Other Open Source elements include gcc 3.2, GNU Emacs 21.2, GIMP 1.2.3, GNOME 2.0, KDE 3.0.3, Mozilla 1.0.1 and Perl 5.8.0.

Red Hat Linux 8.0 is available in Personal and Professional editions. The Personal version includes 30 days of Red Hat Network Basic Service support and costs from $39.95. The Professional edition, costing, $149.95, includes 60 days of technical support.