Why SimplyMEPIS Linux?
MEPIS has undergone a lot of changes between the release of 3.4-3 and 6.0. The biggest change is that now approximately 75% of the packages in SimplyMEPIS are Ubuntu-maintained. Most of the other 25% of packages are Debian-maintained. The remaining packages MEPIS uses are MEPIS maintained, which gives you "The Magic of MEPIS"TM. Most users will not notice the changes because the unique details that make MEPIS what it is are still there. We still use our own custom installer, and things are tweaked as they have always been, so that, on most machines, MEPIS "just works." Now it just works a little better, and runs a little smoother.
On the software side, Simply 6.0 uses KDE 3.5.3 for its desktop environment. Updated versions of Firefox, Thunderbird, and OpenOffice are all included. The MEPIS Desktop OnTheGo feature is still included, but the OnTheGo icon has been removed from the login screen.
The Ubuntu pools and community are a good match with MEPIS. Ubuntu's pools are stable, and they have a high engineering standard. The Dapper Drake pool is going to be maintained for up to 5 years, and MEPIS plans to support SimplyMEPIS 6.0 for 3 years. Because of the collaboration with Ubuntu, MEPIS is able to focus on improvements users will see instead of working under the hood.
To navigate software packages in MEPIS Linux, you will use the K Menu, which is similar to the "Start" Menu in other operating systems. Click the links below to check out the packages that are preinstalled in MEPIS.
SimplyMEPIS comes with several popular games preinstalled. Many more games will be included on the upcoming MEPIS Extras CDs or as a download from the MEPIS and Ubuntu pools.
Arcade Style Games
Planet Penguin Racer: A 3-D racing game in which players guide Tux, the Linux mascot, down the snowy hill, avoiding trees and rocks. Works best with 3D acceleration enabled.
KSirtet: Tetris-style game in which players attempt to fit falling pieces together to form full lines.
Tuxkart: A 3-D go-kart racing game with several race courses to choose from. Works best with 3D acceleration enabled.
Board Games
KMahjongg: Mahjongg for KDE where players must remove all the tiles, one pair at a time.
Shisen-Sho: Mahjongg-like game for KDE.
Card Games
Patience: A single player card game where you can choose any of 14 games such as Spider Solitaire and Free Cell.
KPoker: A single player video poker game.
Tactics & Strategy
SameGame: A game based on the Macintosh SameGame in which a player tries to remove as many stones as possible in the largest groups possible.
KSudoku: Sudoku game for KDE.
SimplyMEPIS provides a variety of programs and tools for viewing, creating and editing graphics.
KdeprintFax: Utility for sending faxes.
showfoto: An image viewer that also performs minor editing.
digikam: A digital photo management application that makes it very easy to import, organize and manipulate digital photos. Digikam has an easy user interface which allows you to connect a digital camera, preview images and download and/or delete them.
Kooka: Utility for scanning images.
KSnapshot: An applet for taking screenshots of the whole desktop or a single windows.
XaraLX: A vector graphics program that handles photos and drawings.
KColorChooser: A utility that makes it easy to choose colors.
KColorEdit: A color palette editor, can be used to choose and name colors.
KFax: Utility for viewing faxes.
KIconEdit: This editor makes it easy to create and edit icons.
KRuler: A screen ruler that supports inches, centimeters and pixels. Also mesaures color.
SimplyMEPIS includes several packages to make it easy for you to connect to and browse the Internet, set-up and check Email, and chat.
Gaim: Instant messaging client capable of using AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, IRC, Jabber, Napster, Zephyr and Gadu-Gadu all at once.
Pan: A newsreader that supports offline newsreading, sophisticated filtering, multiple connections and many more features for power users and alt.binaries fans.
Akregator: Feed reader program allows you to quickly browse internet feeds.
Sun Java 5.0: Sun Java for Linux.
Mozilla Thunderbird: Email client from Mozilla. Supports IMAP, POP3, multiple accounts, junk filtering and more.
Mozilla Firefox: Redesigned Mozilla web browser previously known as Firebird and Phoenix.
Konqueror: Advanced file manager, web browser and document viewer.
gFTP: A multithreaded FTP client features simultaneous downloads, resuming of interrupted file transers, file transfer queues, downloading entire directories, FTP and HTTP proxy support, drag-n-drop support and more.
KGet: A download manager which keeps all your downloads in one dialog and allows transfers to be paused, resumed, queued or scheduled.
JBidWatcher: Ebay bidding tool.
Skype: Free internet telephone includes conference calling for up to five groups, global directory, customization, mobility and multiple Skype accounts on one PC.
Camstream: Collection of tools for webcams and other video devices.
XChatIRC: Graphical IRC Client.
Dictionary: Online dictionary.
Krdc and Krfb: Tools for remote desktop sharing.
KTorrent: Bit torrent client.
Bluetooth Chat, OBEX Client and Server: Tools for Bluetooth-enabled laptops.
ADSL/PPPoE configuration: Package that allows you to connect to ADSL internet service providers that use PPPoE.
Guarddog: A firewall configuration utility that is easy to use, even for those with little knowledge of networking and security.
KPPP: Modem dialer and ppp frontend, it automates the dialing in process to your ISP while letting you monitor the entire process. Also allows for interactive script generation and network setup.
Smb4k: SMB (Windows) share browser for KDE.
| MEPIS Application |
Windows Program |
| Skype | Skype |
| Gaim Instant Messenger | AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo IM |
| Konqueror | Internet Explorer |
| Mozilla Firefox | Internet Explorer, Firefox |
| Mozilla Thunderbird | Outlook |
| XChat irc | mIRC |
SimplyMEPIS has a variety of multimedia applications preinstalled, including CD burning software and several media players.
Amarok: Audio player for KDE featuring drag and drop playlist creation, collection-indexing support, album cover support, and much more.
K3b: Fully functional CD burning software with many features.
KsCD: Audio CD player.
KWave: A simple sound editor for KDE.
Kaffeine: Video media player that supports multiple player engines, letting Kaffeine access CDs, DVDs and network streams.
KPlayer: A multimedia player based on MPlayer.
KMix: Sound mixer applet.
Kid3: An MP3 ID3 editor for KDE.
RealPlayer 10: Media player that plays RealAudio, RealVideo, MP3, 3GPP Video, Flash, SMIL 2.0, JPEG, GIF, PNG, RealPix, RealText and more.
Kino Video Editor: Digital video data editor allows you to record, create, edit and play movies recorded with DV camcorders.
| MEPIS Application |
Windows Program |
| K3b | Roxio/Nero |
| KMix | Volume |
| KsCD | CD Player |
| RealPlayer 10 | RealPlayer |
| Amarok | WinAmp |
SimplyMEPIS has a full office suite, OpenOffice 2.0, preinstalled. With OpenOffice, you have a word processor, spreadsheet program, presentation maker, and more!
OpenOffice saves files in the OpenDocument format, which allows you to access your files from any OpenDocument compliant software. Also, OpenOffice programs can read Microsoft Office file formats and save your work in Microsoft Office format.
SimplyMEPIS also includes other office productivity software, such as a personal organizer, contact manager, checkbook tracker, desktop publisher, and more!
Kontact: Personal information manager combines KMail, KOrganizer and KAddressBook into one interface which makes it easy to access mail, scheduling, address book, and other functions.
OpenOffice.org Base: The database component for OpenOffice.
OpenOffice.org Calc: A powerful, all-purpose spreadsheet application.
OpenOffice.org Impress: A program for creating multimedia presentations utilizing 2D and 3D clip art, special effects, animation and high-impact drawing tools.
OpenOffice.org Writer: A fully equipped word processor program. Writer allows you to make any of your documents into .pdf files with one-click.
Checkbook Tracker: Program that allows you to record and balance checkbook transactions.
KPDF: A PDF viewer for KDE.
KGhostView: A PostScript viewer for KDE.
Scribus: A desktop publishing program for designing brochures and newsletters to laying out newspapers and magazines.
Kate: Kate is a multi-document editor based on KWrite. It is a multi-view editor which allows a user to view multiple files for easy reference or simultaneous editing. Kate also works well for editing big files, extensible syntax highlighting, and selectable encoding.
Kedit: Kedit is a simple text editor that can be used with Konqueror for text and configuration file browing. It also works well for creating small plain text documents.
KWrite: KWrite could be considered as a partial alternative to more powerful editors, but also works very well as a simple text editor. It may be best used in conjunction with Konqueror for source file browsing for different languages.
| | MEPIS Application | Windows Program |
| | Checkbook Tracker | MS Money/Quicken |
| Kontact | Outlook | |
| OpenOffice.org Calc | Excel | |
| OpenOffice.org Impress | PowerPoint | |
| OpenOffice.org Writer | Word | |
| KEdit | Notepad | |
| KWrite | Wordpad |
SimplyMEPIS has several programs and tools to help you manage and configure your system. This includes tools for configuring your desktop and menus, monitoring your system usage and network status, adding and removing software packages, and more.
KlamAV: Anti-virus software.
Keep: Automatic back up software.
KInfoCenter: KDE information center.
MEPIS System Settings: MEPIS custom utilities for configuring your system.
Synaptic Package Manager: A package management tool that enables you to install, upgrade, and remove software packages. Also allows you to view software that is currently installed and search available packages.
Konsole: A terminal program which provides a commandline interface.
QTParted: A tool for creating partitions on your hard drive.
KPowersave: Power management tool for laptops.
Desktop Settings Wizard: An easy to use wizard for setting up your KDE desktop.
KPackage: A package management tool that allows you to view currently installed packages, available packages and install/remove packages.
KDE System Guard: A program that allows you to monitor various statistics about your computer.
KUser: A user/group administration tool.
| MEPIS Application | Windows Program |
| KDE System Guard | Task Manager |
| Info Center | System information/Device Manager |
| Konsole command line | Command Prompt |
| KPackage | Add/Remove Programs |
| Synaptic | Add/Remove Programs |
A variety of applications can be found in the Utilities section. Packages include a calculator, alarm, various tools for managing a Palm Pilot or similar device, and more.
KMouseTool: A mouse manipulation tool that clicks the mouse when the cursor pauses briefly. Designed for those with repetitive strain injuries or for whom pressing buttons hurts.
KMag: A screen magnifier tool that can be used to magnify part of the screen.
Klipper: A clipboard utility.
KNotes: A program that lets you write sticky notes, which are saved automatically when you exit the program and display when you open the program. Also allows you to print or mail your notes.
KCalc: A multi-function calculator, works in regular mode and scientific mode.
KTip: A utility that provides tips on using KDE when you log in.
Ark: A program for managing various archive formats. Archives can be viewed, extracted, created and modified. The program can handle various formats such as tar, gzip, bzip2, zip, rar and lha.
KPalmDoc: PalmDoc converter.
KFileReplace: A batch search-and-replace tool for KDE.
KGpg: GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG), provides file encryption, file decryption and key management.
KDE Groupware Wizard: KDE-based wizards for configuring eGroupware, Kolab, and SUSE Linux Openexchange servers.
KJots: A note taker program.
KAlarm: A utility that allows you to schedule personal timed events and set reminders. The alarm can be a text message, a spoken message or play a sound file.
KTNEF: A tool for unpacking attachments that are encapsulated into the TNEF attachment, which would have required MS Outlook in order to view the attachment.
KFloppy: Utility for formatting 3.5" and 5.25" floppy disks.
KPilot: An application for synchronizing your Palm Pilot or similar device, similar to the Palm HotSync for MS-Windows.
KJobViewer: Print job viewer.
KTimer: A timer application. It allows you to execute commands after a certain amount of time and also supports looping commands.
KFontViewer: A simple font viewer.
KCharSelect: A character set selector.
Ksensors: KDE frontend for monitoring motherboard temperature and fan speed.
| MEPIS Application | Windows Program |
| Ark | WinZip |
| KCalc | Calculator |
| Klipper | Clipboard |
This page lists MEPIS directory names and the comparable directory in Microsoft Windows.
| MEPIS | Windows |
| Home (Personal Files) | My Computer |
| Documents | My Documents |
| Music | My Music |
| Pictures | My Pictures |