OpenGEU is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. What sets it apart from the rest of the brood is that it comes bundled with not GNOME, and not KDE, but a customized version of E17 aka Enlightenment window manager. Enlightenment window manager E17 is touted as the next generation of UNIX graphical environments. It is not just a window manager but also a Desktop shell. It is still under heavy development, though very usable. Enlightenment window manager is considered to be very fast – even on old machines with just 64 MB RAM. More over, you do not need a graphics card to use the desktop to its full potential which includes animation effects.

OpenGEU is offered as a LiveCD image which can be burned to a CD and run without installing on your machine. I downloaded the latest version of OpenGEU 8.04.1 called Luna Crescente. It booted right into the E17 desktop which is a fabulous desktop albeit with some occasional quirks. OpenGEU has lots of useful applications installed by default. Such as Firefox 3, GIMP, Inkscape, ClawMail email client, Pidgin, Sun Java 5, Brasero CD/DVD burning software, Abiword word processor, Gnumeric spreadsheet, sound editors like Hydrogen and many more (Watch the following video).

It is worth noting that the OpenGEU developers in each case, have bundled applications which have a low memory footprint which keeps the overall memory usage well within the limits. This makes it possible to run OpenGEU even on low end machines.

Adobe Flash is not installed in OpenGEU, instead you have GNU Gnash – an alternate open source flash player installed. This flash player was crashing Firefox web browser and so the first thing I did was to uninstall Gnash and install Adobe Flash plugin for Firefox. For some reason, Firefox was refusing to install the plugin. And so, I had to dirty my hands and manually copy the file into the Firefox plugins directory. Another task I had to carry out was to install all the multimedia codecs. But fortunately when I tried playing a video file in Totem,it offered to download all the Gstreamer multimedia codecs and install them. And in no time, I was playing my favourite music in OpenGEU.

E17 desktop bundled with OpenGEU by default has two themes namely moonlightmurrina and sunlightmurrina which are fabulous. But if you fire up Synaptic and  search for themes, you will find additional 18  OpenGEU themes for the E17 desktop. I found the Cairo based theme very pleasing to the eyes.

OpenGEU Sun Theme

OpenGEU Moon Theme

E17 OpenGEU login screen

OpenGEU is no doubt a fabulous Linux distribution. If you are looking for a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, which has a relatively low memory footprint but does not skimp on features, comes with the gorgeous E17 desktop which is still under heavy development (I may add), then you should give OpenGEU a serious try. I am sure you will be hooked for good.