I had alluded to it a few days ago, and here it is: now available for download, the beta version of the next EDU-Nix Dual Mode CD: Mobile Office Edition v6. WooHoo!
This CD features a Linux Live CD Environment based on Slax 6.0.6, and includes the OpenOffice.org productivitiy suite (spreadsheet, word processor, presentations, formula editor, etc), Scribus Desktop Publishing, KMyMoney personal finance manager, as well as Krita and Karbon for graphic and image creation and editing.
The CD also includes the OpenClipart collection, which enables you to be instantly productive out-of-the-box, so to speak.
Within the Live CD Environment, the OpenClipart is linked into the OpenOffice.org gallery:
- Click on the EDU-Nix K-Menu icon
- Office -> Word Processor
- Insert -> Picture -> From File…
- You will be presented with folder categories of the available clipart, ready to jazz-up your documents and presentations.
- Enjoy the clipart.
In addition, the Live CD Environment also provides a Web Browser, Instant Messenger and even a Network Folder Wizard which enables simple access to available shared folders and ftp servers. Also available are the KPlayer multimedia player, KSudoku and Patience (solitaire) for the occasional diversion from the drudgery of typing.
Oh, and did I mention that each of the productivity applications - OpenOffice.org, OpenClipart, and Scribus Desktop Publishing are also included on the CD as Windows installers? In addition, the V6 CD includes the PDFCreator virtual printer, which allows Windows users to create PDF files from just about any program they can print from.
Just drop the CD into your Windows PC and execute the autorun.exe file if your PC is not set to autostart, then select the program you would like to install from the list and click “Install Now”. This way, you can be assured that your documents you work on on your home or school PC are completely compatible with your Mobile Office CD.
In short, the Mobile Office CD hopes to include all of the tools any student could need to research, create and edit papers, reports and projects - at home, at school and wherever else they can ‘borrow’ a PC, and be assured they have unfettered access to the same necessary software anywhere, anytime.
Never again will a student be frustrated that their version of Word is too old to edit their report from school, nor learn the hard way that MS Works is not quite the same as Office. OpenOffice.org is free to use for any purpose, legally redistributable, and compatible with every major office suite and document format, including the OpenDocument standard which provides for future-proof interoperability and access to your information.
So, if any of the above features interest you, please test it out and let me know what you think.