Up until a few years ago I was getting fed up trying to show Japanese friends that linux was a viable option to Windows XP SP2, because the input method that Linux used at the time quite truthfully stank. The conclusion was that with an English keyboard, Windows was the way to go because of the (then) fancy Japanese input method applet.
Later on, I found out about Berry Linux, a Japanese LiveCD distro based on RedHat/Fedora that can easily show off Linux and allow users to do things like compose email that Japanese people can actually read (common problem on Windows), and surf the web in Japanese by default, instead of having to manually choose codepages and the like, which frustrates must computer users (if they haven’t already given up).
Berry Linux got an update today (to version 0.75), and now supports fancy-pants XGL – which I’m sure you’ll agree kicks Aero’s behind quite handily (footily?). If you’re trying to run Berry Linux Mini as a virtual machine you’ll get a console instead of X and you’ll lose the XGL capabilities, so I’d recommend testing it on a physical machine instead of a virtual machine – it’s a LiveCD so it’s quite safe to do so.
Here’s a feature rundown taken from the Berry Linux site’s English page (corrected a few typos):
- Common Features:
- Support for Kernel-2.6. ALSA, ACPI, selinux.
- Overlay Filesystem Support.
- XGL, 3D Desktop, support.
- Berry Linux is not necessary to install. (Root partition is in the RAMdisk using initrd, all commands are operated by being transfered from CD-ROM)
- It can install on Windows without parting partitions to use Setup.exe or install.bat. (Using squashfs/cloop/loopback device)
- It can install to your hard disk on Linux. (Use Berry Linux Installer or Copy under /BERRY/, and set up LILO or grub)
- Berry Linux can boot from USB-HDD/memory.
- Berry Linux uses WHIZ, a very sharp Kana-Kanji conversion system. (WHIZ Project)
- If you push the windows key, and show the K-Menu.
- Automatically recognizes USB storage, and show icons.
- Berry Linux uses free Japanese True Type Fonts.
- Berry Linux uses bootsplash when booting.
- Berry Linux uses DHCP to connect the Network. (If you’d like to use PPPoE, you should setting up it on the Terminal)
- It’s possible to save personal setting.
- Red Hat Fedora compatible.
- Using new technologies.
- Berry Linux’s Features:
- You can listen to mp3 using BMP/XMMS, and play DVD/DivX using MPlayer, XINE and Kaffeine.
- You can edit files of Microsoft Word, Excel by OpenOffice(TM).
- Berry Linux Mini’s Features:
- Minimum Linux environment is available by using Berry Linux Mini.
- Its file size is very small. (148.0MB)
- It’s light. Because of the Window Manager is Fluxbox.
- You can enjoy comfortable Linux environment.
- Berry Linux Server’s Features: (Published Berry Linux Mini as alpha version)
- Build the Linux Server easily.
- Minimum Server Linux enviroment is available by using Berry Linux Server.
- Its file size is very small. (161.3MB)
- It’s light. Because of the Window Manager is WindowMaker.
- You can enjoy comfortable Linux enviroment.
- To do:
- Support Software Suspend.
- Support Captive NTFS.
- Known Bugs: (Please help me!)
- Kernel panic on boot after realtek RTL-8139 ethernet intialization. (Kernel Bugs)
- Using cloop with kernel-2.4.22-pre7 to 2.4.23-pre2 sometimes stops in boot. (pre5 is OK)
- Sometimes gcc 3.3 is not good ! (Berry Linux 0.19 only)
- krb5.h isn’t in krb5-devel-1.2.8-4. (Berry Linux 0.19, 0.20 only)
You can grab Berry Linux from the SourceForge page or the Berry Linux main page – but I’d recomend using SourceForge if you are in North America as it is much faster.
