Knoppix 4.0 DVD - Like a Kid in a Candy Store

A totally new release of Knoppix was unveiled at LinuxTag 2005, Knoppix 4.0. This is the release that introduces the split between "maxi" DVD and "mini" CD releases. I've tried out the 4.0 DVD and let me tell you, I'm like a kid in a candy store.

Note: This DVD is not yet available for download. Klaus often creates a special version of Knoppix for LinuxTag that then gets released to the general public (often with some updates) a few weeks afterward. In the case of Knoppix 4.0 I imagine the DVD being handed out at LinuxTag will be pretty similar in features and software to what gets released to the general public. Still, think of this review as more of a preview of what the download release likely will be.

Klaus Knopper has always been able to fit tons of useful software on his CD releases. With each release it was amazing just how much functionality he squeezed into a 700Mb CD image. However some time around the beginning of the 3.x series you could tell that it wouldn't last forever. With each release it seemed like some software had to go--the Koffice suite for example--as major packages such as KDE and OpenOffice just kept getting bigger. It seemed from the outside like the largest efforts going into Knoppix were just figuring out what to keep and what to leave behind, and how to squeeze everything on the CD.