thelinuxlink.net

Here are the test results:

gOS 1.0.1 (Enlightenment)
Firefox 2.0.0.10 1st load: 30 sec.
2nd load: 15 sec.
OpenOffice 2.3 1st load: 56 sec.
2nd load: 21 sec.

Ubuntu 6.06 (GNOME)
Firefox 1.5.0.13 1st load: 21 sec.
2nd load: 10 sec.
Open Office 2.0 1st load: 44 sec.
2nd load: 26 sec.

Wolvix Hunter 1.1.0 (Xfce)
Firefox 2.0.0.6 1st load: 19 sec.
2nd load: 12 sec.
OpenOffice 2.2 1st load: 37 sec.
2nd load: 23 sec.

Wolvix Hunter 1.1.0 (Fluxbox)
Firefox 2.0.0.6 1st load: 22 sec.
2nd load: 12 sec.
OpenOffice 2.2 1st load: 42 sec.
2nd load: 23 sec.

Slackware 12 (KDE)
Firefox 2.0.0.8 1st load: 24 sec.
2nd load: 14 sec.
KOffice 1st load: 19 sec.
2nd load: 16 sec.

Slackware 12 (Xfce)
Firefox 2.0.0.8 1st load: 8 sec.
2nd load: 8 sec.
KOffice 1st load: 15 sec.
2nd load: 13 sec.

Slackware 12 (Fluxbox)
Firefox 2.0.0.8 1st load: 9 sec.
2nd load: 9 sec.
Koffice 1st load: 15 sec.
2nd load: 13 sec.

Xubuntu 7.04 (Xfce)
Firefox 2.0.0.10 1st load: 18 sec.
2nd load: 9 sec.
OpenOffice 2.2 1st load: 36 sec.
2nd load: 22 sec.

Ubuntu 7.04 (GNOME)
Firefox 2.0.0.10 1st load: 17 sec.
2nd load: 10 sec.
OpenOffice 2.2 1st load: 40 sec.
2nd load: 18 sec.

Debian 4.0 Etch (Xfce)
Firefox 2.0.0.8 1st load: 10 sec.
2nd load: 10 sec.
Open Office 2.0 1st load: 17 sec.
2nd load: 17 sec.

But the biggest thing to come out of this test is that standard Ubuntu pretty much crushes gOS. The new, hot distro may be green in color, but it's incomplete and slow.

That said, the idea of doing most work in the browser and drawing on Web-based portals for not just e-mail and "social networking" purposes, but also document creation, photo editing and storage is becoming more attractive and viable all the time. In this realm, gOS is making a big "idea" contribution to the OS game, but in terms of sheer performance, polish and basic tools, it has a long way to go.

The average user -- even newbies -- would be better off with Ubuntu or Xubuntu on the Everex. And as these tests show, the Xfce desktop environment, in most instances, provides more bang for your MHz.

I wanted gOS to be great, but when it comes to Linux and BSD distros, greatness only comes with time and painstaking effort. After all the hype over the gOS-Everex-Wal-Mart effort -- some of it even generated by yours truly -- I didn't expect to see gOS beaten by every single established distro I threw at it. I don't usually do extensive time tests, but the sludginess of gOS drove me to it.

And while I expected Slackware and Debian to acquit themselves well, I wasn't prepared for out-of-the-box Ubuntu to best gOS. It wouldn't make as great a story -- "Wal-Mart chooses Ubuntu" -- but it would be way better for those buying the $199 box from the world's largest retailer.