Activa Sistemas releases ASLinux Desktop 2.0

Activa Sistemas releases ASLinux Desktop 2.0

Seville (Spain), 10th February 2005

After 16 months of intense work in order to offer the best desktop
Linux distribution in the spanish-speaking market, Activa Sistemas
presents today the new version of ASLinux Desktop, a platform
resulting from years of work in the design, development and deployment
of Debian based systems.

ASLinux Desktop 2.0 is a Linux distribution aimed to desktop PCs,
either workstations, corporative clients or domestic computers, and to
any kind of user, whatever his/her expertise level with PCs and
Linux. Available for 32-bit Intel and AMD CPUs, ASLinux Desktop 2.0
offers a complete, stable and intuitive environment that easies access
to Linux and that includes all the features that any end user may
demand: office tools, Internet, multimedia, education, games and fun,
etc., along with the most complete security systems, like a personal
firewall, a Windows virus analyzer and a spam filter. ASLinux Desktop
2.0 combines Linux's strength and stability, Debian Sarge's power and
versatility and KDE's friendliness and usability.

This 2.0 edition deepens into one of the most celebrated
characteristics of the Desktop series, which is the inclusion of only
one application per task, instead of offering hundreds of software
packages among which the user eventually gets lost, favoring a
satisfactory experience with the system. ASLinux Desktop 2.0 is based
on Debian Sarge and comes with and optimized kernel 2.4.29, XFree86
4.3.0, KDE 3.3, ALSA 1.0.8, OpenOffice.org 1.1 (with spanish
dictionaries), Mozilla Firefox 1.0 and MPlayer 1.0, in addition to
numerous packages that cover the most typical areas of desktop
computer use, like access to mobile devices, e-mail, Internet
messengers, graphical design or CD recording, just to name a few.

ASLinux Desktop 2.0 offers these new features:

* an improved and more intuitive installation system

* better support and management for all kind of modern hardware: SATA
  disks, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3D cards, PDAs, mobile phones, TV cards,
  ADSL USB modems, etc.

* specific support for laptops: PCMCIA devices, power management, etc.

* a more organized and intuitive menu hierarchy

* new and better system management tools, integrated in KDE Control Center

* easy access to Internet and VPNs

* new plug-ins that enrich Web browsing

* greater security thanks to the improved personal firewall and the
  new Windows virus analyzer and spam filter

* support for running Windows software on ASLinux through Wine
  (generic support), Cedega (games) and CrossOffice (office tools)

* the wizards that ease the installation of proprietary software that
  could not be included in ASLinux Desktop CDs, like Microsoft's
  TrueType fonts or Adobe's Acrobat Reader

* and many new tools and applications so the user doesn't miss anything

ASLinux Desktop 2.0 is presented in two editions:

* Live CD: 1 CD that allows to run ASLinux Desktop from the very CD
  without having to install the distribution in the PC. It's an
  edition that offers all the features but a subset of all the
  software of the Official edition, allowing the user to evaluate
  ASLinux characteristics and its awesome hardware compatibility
  before installing the Official version. This CD is available for
  download from Activa Sistemas' web site, besides the 5,000 pressed
  CDs that the company will distribute through different channels and
  organizations.

* Official: 2 CDs with all the software of ASLinux Desktop 2.0, ready
  both for a fresh installation and an upgrade from an already
  deployed version 1.0. This edition will be available for download at
  the end of February. Activa Sistemas will also distribute boxed
  editions through its Linux virtual shop
  (http://www.activasistemas.com/linuxtienda) and its partners, a DVD
  case containing the 2 CDs, a printed stating guide and 90 days of
  premium access to ASLinux web portal, where the user will find
  advanced services like software updates, assorted documentation,
  technical support or a newsletter, among other features. This boxed
  edition will only be available in Spain and will have a suggested
  retail price of 19.95 EUR + VAT.

Within the next weeks an english version of ASLinux Desktop 2.0 will
follow.

Activa Sistemas establishes a new life (12 months) and support (18
months) cycles policy with version 2.0. This way, there will be a new
version per year and users will have access to updates and new
software until one year and a half after the publication of each
version.

Activa Sistemas wants to dedicate ASLinux Desktop 2.0 to the memory of
Pedro Garcia Gutierrez.

About Activa Sistemas (http://www.activasistemas.com)

Activa Sistemas was established if September 1998, in Seville
(southern Spain), with the goal of introducing and deploying
Information Technology in local companies, organizations and other
entities to enable them to optimize their own resources, using Free
Software and Linux as the main tools. Activa Sistemas also aims to
popularize this new way of understanding technology called Free
Software through wide range of products, services and
performances. Finally, Activa Sistemas supports Free Software through
the donation of code and effort to several projects and the
organization of information and awareness events.

Activa Sistemas has been official reseller and partner
of several well known Linux brands like SuSE, Mandrake or Loki. It
also opened the first Linux virtual shop in Spain in January 1999.

All the mentioned trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

-- 
Activa Sistemas, S.Coop.And.   Avda. de la Innovación, s/n
http://www.activasistemas.com  Edif. Convención, mod. 310 - E-41020
Sevilla
Tlf: +34-954076060             Fax: +34-955155000