Every wanted to use debian sid, but were afraid of the text based install… Well sidux is everything found in sid but better.
What is Sidux
Sidux is a distro that strives to be 100% compatible with Debian Sid while providing its own scripts and kernel builds to make unstable stable. Because it is essentially Debian sid, you can do what you want to your system with no restrictions. There are no metapackages, like on ubuntu, and none of your system is hidden. Also you get unrestricted access to the legendary debian repositories and the stability found in Debian (yes debian sid is stable, despite what its name implies). Outside of Gentoo, Sidux probably has the most up to date kernel out of all major distros. Literally at times it seems they provide nightly builds with custom patches. The current kernel in the repository as of May 13, 2008 is 2.6.25-3 while Hardy Herons is still 2.6.24 and Fedora 9, released today also has a 2.6.25 kernel.
Installation
Installation of Sidux could not be easier. Simply load up the live cd, select the install icon, and go. There are no more than 5-7 steps (including partitioning). Total installation time with formatting a partition was under 6 minutes on my laptop. Immediately after installation you have a complete system, coming with your standard FOSS applications (gimps, openoffice, etc…) and a kde desktop. You also get several nonstandard scripts and a sidux control center.
Wireless and other hardware
Unfortunately for many users (me included) our wireless firmware is not included in sidux by default, due to liscensing issues. Sidux, wanting to be 100% compatible with debian, follows debian beliefs of being a 100% free distro (hence why firefox is iceweasel), many wireless cards do not work out of the box on sidux. If you read the manual (or even the download page) it provides instructions on how to install your firmware and drivers for wireless, which is extremely simple if you have a wired connection you can temporarily use. Video drivers are also the free drivers but this won’t be a problem once you get wireless working, as siduxcc can update these for you (if you want).
Sidux Scripts
The SiduxControlCenter (siduxcc) is a fairly powerful control center. From it you can upgrade/remove kernels (with auto updating of grub), configure things such as default browser and your wireless card (including ndiswrapper), and configuring Xorg. Configuring X includes the automated install of nonfree drivers, automatic configuring of your graphics card in X, resolution and refresh rate, etc. From siduxcc you also can manage your services (both those that start at boot and others), view your upgradeable packages, and display all system info.
Sidux does not currently come with a package manager such as synaptic, because of their belief (correct belief in that) that due to the dynamic repositories of sidux (updated constantly, especially with major programs like X.org and kde) synaptic, adept, and other package managers tend to break things. Sidux comes with its own upgrade senteniel, called smxi, which will show you what packages require updating. Currently I have installed synaptic (as I can break my system without fear of losing anything important) but I would not recommend it unless you are willing to risk your system (or parts of it) and are proficient enough in apt to understand when it will hose your system… More info on updating packages:
http://sidux.com/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-5542-highlight-synaptic.html
Looks, Looks, Looks
Currently the default theme for sidux is very pleasing (much more eye appealing than the ubuntu brown in my opinion). The background image (found here) is very appealing in my opinion. Compiz-fusion is found in the repositories, as is software such as avant-window-navigator. So basically if you want to go all out in your eye candy, you can without even adding any extra repositories.
Overall
In Software sidux gets a 10 due to it having the sid repositories.
In Usablity sidux gets an 8, solely due to the package management being different from essentially every debian based distro.
In Looks sidux gets an 8 as it lacks eye candy but is pleasing to the eye.
In Installation sidux gets a 10 as it couldn’t be any easier or quicker.
Overall sidux is about a 9/10 and if you are looking for a distro which uses apt, is bleeding edge, relatively stable, and easy to install, I recommend you try sidux.
