Probably most popular is Vector's KDE free download version. As the name implies it is based on a stable KDE desktop and is usually dubbed their SOHO Edition. 6.0, the latest stable version, features multimedia support, OpenOffice, proprietary drivers, and lots of handy applications.

Other versions are designed to be lightweight. These are the Light and Standard editions. The difference between these are the size of the download, specific window environment, and included software.

VectorLinux 5.9 is now based on Slackware 12. VectorLinux 5.9 comes with quite an impressive system components. They are the Linux kernel 2.6.22.14, gcc 4.1.2, glibc 2.5, X.Org 7.3, fully customized Xfce 4.4.2, Fluxbox and Jwm. Unlike VectorLinux 5.8, the new VectorLinux 5.9 comes packed with much more softwares in its bigger iso image, which also augurs well with its goal of providing users with a plethora of choices.

VectorLinux includes its own graphical system configuration suite called the Vector Administration System Menu. The program opens a window containing a menu that lets you change your user password, set up which window manager to use, reset the skeleton files entries (skeleton files set default behaviors for an application or process to make it more functional or user-friendly) in part or as a whole for a fresh configuration, and perform deeper system configuration requiring the root password.

VectorLinux provides three editions (Standard, Deluxe, and SOHO) to cater to almost any Linux user. The SOHO Edition (Small Office, Home Office) includes KDE rather than the lightweight window managers provided with the Standard Edition. Despite the resource-hungry KDE desktop, VectorLinux SOHO still manages to be probably the fastest non-source distro on the planet, thanks to its use of a Slackware base, refinement of boot and shutdown scripts, well-chosen applications, and the loading of only necessary services.

VectorLinux is based on Slackware and the goal of the Standard Version is to support especially Internet workstation on older machines. They decribe the softwae as: “Secure, stable and sleek” but also “incredibly fast” on modern computers.

This is a detailed description about how to install and set up VectorLinux.

No, it's not new. It's not revolutionary. What it is is a derivative of Slackware Linux that has been optimized to run beautifully on any PC new or old, and with a most excellent compliment of included applications. All of this on two CDs. VectorLinux is, without a doubt, the single most impressive redistribution of Slackware available. Why? Because it retains Slackware's ease of use and overall feel, but adds a nice performance boost and extra applications to the package.

VectorLinux isn't lacking either. Just because they aren't shipping with a spindle full of CDs doesn't mean that you'll be spending hours grabbing everything you need after the initial install. They, and a handful of other distros, have proven that you can provide a well defined and robust Linux distribution with only a disc or two. I guess that's pretty much Vector's game though... providing a slim, fast Slackware build that even older Pentium machines can run.

Firefox is the default browser. Thank you! No more choose between 5 different browsers. Glad someone made a choice in this direction. On that note, do we Linux users really need twenty different text editors? How about just one...Choice is good, but do we need that much choice? Sure, you can uninstall all the extra stuff, but it's getting a bit rediculous to do that with multiple CD distributions, such as my beloved Slackware.

Based on one of the worlds most rock solid Linux distributions, Slackware Linux, VectorLinux has always promised to be just like its parent but leaner, meaner, and able to outperform almost every other distro on older hardware that might otherwise be tossed aside for newer components. Every time I've reviewed it, there has been no doubt it was living up to the promise with ease.

The latest version is VectorLinux 5.0, which is based on Slackware 10.1 and runs on a 2.4.29 kernel. The SOHO Edition has everything I need: MPlayer (which gave me headaches back when I was still using Slackware), amaroK 1.2 (if XMMS doesn't satisfy your needs), Firefox with extensions, GAIM 1.1.2, the GIMP, and Blender, as well as KMLDonkey, Kopete, Gwenview (my favorite image manager), Abiword (which I prefer to the bloated OpenOffice.org), and K3b 0.11.17 for CD and DVD burning.

When it comes to hardware, VectorLinux does very well

Boot speed is pretty remarkable in comparison to other distros, including Slackware Linux. This is due to the boot time services being tweaked and fine-tuned for desktop use. You won't see RAID, PCMCIA, Samba, etc. flying by as it boots. This is all disabled by default, so the system boots quickly. This is important to me when working on older hardware (even though the test system was fairly new).

Finally, as I stated earlier, this system is fast. The developers have done well with this distro in regards to raw computing power and speed. VectorLinux is a lean, mean Linux machine. No doubt about it. If you are looking for a speedy system and don't mind doing a little work to get all of your favorite applications installed, VectorLinux is probably for you.

VectorLinux can (and always has been able to) take an old dinosaur of a computer and render it just as useful as the day that it was new. Seriously. Built on Slackware Linux, one of the most stable and best performing distributions available today, VectorLinux has been optimized to the point that it outperforms every other distro I've tested on older equipment... without fail. So, if you've got an older computer that you were getting ready to throw out the door, dust it off, purchase a copy of VectorLinux, and bring it back to life.

Basically, Vector is an attempt to capitalize on the strength of Slackware but to make things more user friendly and accessible. This is the formula for a great version of desktop Linux. I tested SOHO 5.1.1 and also the LiveCD version, SOHO 5.1.2. Make sure not to confuse it with 5.1.2 SOHO Deluxe edition, which is not free and is a two disc set.