The first public step towards the release of Fedora 17, code-named Beefy Miracle, was taken yesterday with the release of Fedora 17 alpha. Live CD installation images for the main edition, which uses the GNOME 3 desktop environment, the KDE, Xfce and LXDE Spins, were released. Also released, was a DVD installation image of the main edition and a bfo image for network-based installs.
Fedora fans are encouraged to download, install and report bugs to the Fedora QA team. From the test installation of this alpha release that I have made, bug hunters will be very busy. I know I will be. Download links are available here. Some features that would be of special interest to desktop users have been listed hereMeanwhile, KDE fans can enjoy a few screen shots from a test installation.
The default desktop. By the way, the KDE desktop is powered by KDE 4.8.
The desktop showing the Kickoff Menu.
The desktop showing the Lancelot menu, an alternate menu style.
Another shot of the desktop showing the Lancelot menu.
Dolphin, the file manager.
Another view of the desktop, this time, from the KDE Plasma Netbook interface.
The KDE Plasma Netbook interface showing installed Internet applications.
Updates candidates as seen from Apper, the graphical application manager.
Very interesting preview!
Fedora 17 looks very nice.
I still have to decide which one I’m going to install first: Fedora 17 or Mageia 2?
The GNOME editions of both I’ll not touch with a 10-foot pole. The KDE editions, on the other hand, presents very interesting options. For out of the box just works-ness, my money is on Mageia. However, Fedora’s excellent disk encryption features is a very compelling reason to consider it. Not to mention many enterprise features – if a server install is called for.
I totally agree.
With Fedora you get a continuous flow of updates (almost every day), kernels included. It depends on its nature of being cutting – edge.
Mageia is more stable. And then its life cycle will be longer (nine months).
Fedora wallpaper looks beautiful, though … 🙂