Pinguy OS is an Ubuntu-based distribution targeted at beginning Linux users.

It features numerous user-friendly enhancements, out-of-the-box support for multimedia codecs and browser plugins, a heavily tweaked GNOME user interface with enhanced menus, panels and dockbars, and a careful selection of popular desktop applications for many common computing tasks.

Ubuntu may be the most popular desktop Linux choice, but it wouldn't surprise me if the total install-base of its derivatives proved to be the more impressive of the two.

Out of the box, Ubuntu does a lot right, but it does leave a lot up to the user in terms of installing codec support, tweaking tools that are actually worth using, common proprietary applications and of course, some eye candy.

For that reason, distros like Linux Mint have deservedly earned a die-hard fanbase over the years, as it looks good, takes care of many basic post-install chores for you, and is enjoyable to use.

With that, take the idea behind Linux Mint and pile on extra applications, a completely re-configured GNOME 2.32 environment, Compiz support from the get-go, applications that have been tweaked according to popular likes and dislikes... and then call it Pinguy OS. What does the name mean, and how is it pronounced? I have no idea on either account, but I do know that this is one of the most hassle-free distros I've tested out in a long time.

While Pinguy OS' core is based on Ubuntu, it wouldn't be fair to call it an 'Ubuntu Derivitive' because that's just the beginning. According to the installed repositories, it also grabs packages from Linux Mint and Elementary OS; perhaps others. A fairer but subjective term might be 'best of all worlds'.

Updates (via Distrowatch):

Antoni Norman has announced the release of a special edition of Pinguy OS for netbooks, an Ubuntu-based distribution with a custom user interface, power-saving features, and extra WiFi drivers: "Pinguy has released Ping-Eee OS 11.04, an Ubuntu-based remaster especially designed for netbooks. It comes with Jupiter (which has Super Hybrid Engine support) and Granola to help with the power consumption and most applications from Pinguy OS: Docky, Nautilus Elementary, Firefox, Thunderbird, Skype, LibreOffice, Dropbox, Deluge, Empathy, VLC, Déjà Dup backup tool, Linux Mint Update Manager, WINE and more. There's also Clementine instead of Rhythmbox. Ping-Eee OS also comes with extra WiFi drivers for many devices which are not normally supported out of the box on other Linux distributions.

Here is the full release announcement.

Download: Ping-Eee_OS_11.04.1_i686.iso (1,405MB, MD5).

Recent releases:

• 2011-07-09: Distribution Release: Pinguy OS 11.04 "Ping-Eee"
• 2011-05-15: Distribution Release: Pinguy OS 11.04
• 2011-05-04: Development Release: Pinguy OS 11.04 Beta
• 2011-02-12: Distribution Release: Pinguy OS 10.04.2
• 2010-11-13: Distribution Release: Pinguy OS 10.10

What Is Pinguy OS?

Ubuntu is a great OS and undoubtedly the most popular and easiest Linux based Distro to use but even with its default setup and chosen programs it's still lacking functionality and ease of use for most new users. So what I decided to do was build a Distro that looks good, could do everything most user would ever want to do and that was very simple to use.

I started out by listening to what my friends and family wanted to use their PC for and found the most user friendly programs for the task they wanted to do. After a while I got a good idea what most people use their PC for and what programs were the easiest to use. Like using Shotwell for easily uploading images to Facebook, gtkpod for putting music, photos and video on a ipod/iphone and Arista for converting the video to a iPod friendly format.

So all the programs in Pinguy OS have been chosen because of their ease of use and functionality, I also changed every file type to open with the right program, like for some reason by default .iso are opened with Archive Manager so I changed that to Brasero Disc Burner.

As I already said apart from it being easy to use I also wanted it to be a very good looking operating system. There are now a lot of programs out there for Linux to give the OS a very smart and polished implementation, like CoverGloobus, Gloobus Preview, GNOME Do, and Docky. These programs don't just give the OS a good look and feel but they are also very useful and handy.

Pinguy OS is an optimise build of Ubuntu 11.04 Minimal CD with added repositories, tweaks and enhancements that can run as a Live DVD or be installed. It has all the added packages needed for video, music and web content e.g. flash and java, plus a few fixes as well. Like fixing the wireless problems, gwibber’s Facebook problem and flash videos in full-screen.

Everything is set-up for samba, all you need to do is right click a folder you want to share and add a password in samba using system-config-samba.
It also has a UPnP/DLNA server (pms-linux) so you can share your music, video’s etc. With a PS3, XBOX 360, Smart Phones or any other UPnP/DLNA media reader.

Nautilus has been replaced for Elementary-Nautilus with added plug-ins so it can get music and video Elementary using ttf-droid font with Docky and a custom Conky. art from the web. The default theme is
I have also added DVB support to Totem for anyone with a TV card that wants to watch tv on their PC but doesn't want to install a dedicated program like myth-tv.

For a full list of installed programs and repos for 10.04.2 *OLD* download this file.

If you prefer to download and install the LTS (long term support) 10.04. It can still be downloaded from here.

If you like this Distro and would like to help it improve and grow you can always donate, it doesn't matter how small the amount is, it all helps.

Screenshots.