LXLE extends life of ageing computers

LXLE's default desktop includes the Conky system monitor
Source: LXLE project

LXLE, the Lubuntu Extra Life Extension, is a respin of LXDE-based Lubuntu, aimed at ageing computers. Based on the last LTS release (12.04) of the official Ubuntu derivative Lubuntu, it retains drivers and utilities for older graphics and audio hardware that have been dropped from newer releases. The developers say that with the normal Lubuntu releases, "support is sometimes lost too quickly with a 6 month core release cycle" and that LXLE is designed to bridge the gap between LTS releases.

Alongside the legacy drivers, LXLE includes backports of newer versions of LibreOffice, GIMP and Openshot. The distribution presents users with the Conky system monitor on a default desktop that changes its wallpaper automatically. It also includes an "aero snap" like feature that is not part of the standard LXDE desktop.

LXLE is available in three different versions: a 32-bit version for newer computers with more than 4GB of RAM that has a PAE-enabled kernel, a 32-bit version for older computers without PAE and a 64-bit version. All three versions can be downloaded from SourceForge. More detailed information about the distribution is available on the about section of the LXLE web site.

(fab)