Slax Linux is a handy portable operating system that can be a useful alternative to bulky, more complicated Linux options that install to a hard drive. However, it is far from a complete out-of-the-box solution. That is not a bad thing, though. Slax works. Copying just one folder from the downloaded ISO directly to a USB drive gives you a fully functional Linux OS. Without any tinkering, you can add applications and change configurations with all changes permanently stored on the USB drive.
Mint is my distro of choice, and I always like to have a bootable USB with persistence to allow me to deal with problems on other people's computers (and, rarely, my own). However, it is a real hassle making a persistent USB and on a 8GB pen drive, you really don't get much space.
Preferring WPS over libre office, it's just great Slax is so minimal as I can just install the minimum I need. Also, being Debian, should be very familiar. I'm thinking there is a distinct advantage of being a different distro too - when a new version of mint comes out I always want to put it on the USB, but really it's unecessary.
Definitely will look to replace my 'emergency USB' with Slax, as long as boot time fast. As for having such a device, I recommend to everyone. In a high pressure work environment I have saved so many colleagues that needed to print out a document but forgot their windows password, or had a system crash but data intact. At home, I also know that no matter what, I can play a film or access my data. I indeed thought that USB or SD OSs were going to be the future of computing (everyone just having shareable terminals) but doesn't seem to be going that way.. maybe will be done through phone one day, connecting to terminal (with automatic online backup)
Cleverly Reimagined Slax Distro Pushes Portable Linux’s Limits
Posted by: Jack M. Germain November 22, 2019 10:44 AMSlax Linux is a handy portable operating system that can be a useful alternative to bulky, more complicated Linux options that install to a hard drive. However, it is far from a complete out-of-the-box solution. That is not a bad thing, though. Slax works. Copying just one folder from the downloaded ISO directly to a USB drive gives you a fully functional Linux OS. Without any tinkering, you can add applications and change configurations with all changes permanently stored on the USB drive.
Preferring WPS over libre office, it's just great Slax is so minimal as I can just install the minimum I need. Also, being Debian, should be very familiar. I'm thinking there is a distinct advantage of being a different distro too - when a new version of mint comes out I always want to put it on the USB, but really it's unecessary.
Definitely will look to replace my 'emergency USB' with Slax, as long as boot time fast. As for having such a device, I recommend to everyone. In a high pressure work environment I have saved so many colleagues that needed to print out a document but forgot their windows password, or had a system crash but data intact. At home, I also know that no matter what, I can play a film or access my data. I indeed thought that USB or SD OSs were going to be the future of computing (everyone just having shareable terminals) but doesn't seem to be going that way.. maybe will be done through phone one day, connecting to terminal (with automatic online backup)