sidux 2008-01 is a Sid-based Live CD. For those who need a 'more-friendly' and more stable Debian sid, then sidux is for you. I think sidux would also appeal to those users who prefer a rolling-release type of Linux distro, so that they don't have to reinstall the resident Linux distro whenever the 'hot cake' arrives every 4 to 6 months.

The live CD's hardware detection worked well on several systems I tried, and the hard disk installation was an easy step-by-step process that walked me through partitioning, formatting, base package installation, configuration, updating the system, and installing additional software. The installation routine lets users choose Xfce, fluxbox, or fvwm-crystal as a window manager instead of the default KDE. The installer itself did most of the work -- I got a cup of coffee. The meta-package installation, which downloaded optional additional packages, took almost three times as long as the base installation, for a total of about 45 minutes.

With sidux you get more than an up-to-date, easy-to-use system, however. Although it is not officially supported, many sidux users have enjoyed Beryl on sidux. If a 3-D desktop isn't your style, you still have plenty of customized artwork to choose from to make your sidux box look spiffy.

While I didn't encounter any problems with sidux, it is cutting-edge software, so you can probably expect to run into a few problems. That is the price you pay for having constant upgrades as soon as possible. Yet sidux is easy to use, fast, and for the most part it just works. It is more true to the Debian way than Ubuntu is, and it retains compatibility with Debian where Ubuntu does not. There is an active community to provide support, and the documentation is available in many languages. All around, sidux is an excellent distribution.