Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 07:09:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Nat Friedman <nat@helixcode.com>
To: letters@lwn.net
Subject: Helix GNOME Preview release.


Hello everyone!

   We are proud to introduce "McKinley," the first preview of the
Helix GNOME desktop.  This is a beta release of the Helix Code GNOME
distribution.  The URL for Helix GNOME is:

        http://www.helixcode.com/desktop/

   The purpose of this distribution is to simplify the task of
installing a fully featured, up-to-date version of GNOME on your
favorite GNU/Linux distribution.  You can now experience all the joy
and all the excitement that goes into the wonderful world of GNOME
without agonizing through long, arduous build processes.

    Helix GNOME includes all of the core GNOME packages and a number
of extras.  The entire Helix GNOME desktop is pre-configured to be as
attractive and simple as possible.  You can see some screenshots here:

    http://www.helixcode.com/desktop/screenshots.php3

Currently the Helix GNOME desktop is available for the following
operating systems:

	* Red Hat Linux 6.0 and 6.1
        * SuSE Linux 6.3 
        * LinuxPPC 2000 
        * Linux Mandrake 6.1 and 7.0 
        * Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 

   In the next few weeks we will be releasing an updated version that
will include support for other Linux distributions and other Unix
systems.  And of course, we're constantly adding packages to the build
system and releasing new packages as new versions of the GNOME
software become available.

How to install
--------------

   We have made installing the full Helix GNOME desktop as easy as
possible.  You just need to download the Helix installer program, and
it will take care of it for you:
 
   You can find installation instructions at:

	http://www.helixcode.com/desktop/download.php3

   
Mailing lists
-------------

   If you want to subscribe to our announcements mailing lists, drop a 
message to:

	announce-request@helixcode.com

   And in the subject of the message put "subscribe".  If you want to
join the list of beta testers for the Helix GNOME distribution, send
mail to:

        beta-request@helixcode.com

    A complete list of our mailing lists is available at:

        http://www.helixcode.com/about/lists.php3



Questions and Answers regardin the Helix GNOME Desktop
------------------------------------------------------


Q: What does Helix Code do?

A: Helix Code is an open source software company devoted to improving
   GNOME, the leading desktop environment for Linux. We want to make
   GNOME the best desktop on the planet, and make it available to
   everyone.

   Helix Code believes strongly in the importance of free software,
   which is why all of our software is licensed under the GNU GPL, and
   why all development is done in the public GNOME CVS repository.

   Our main task is producing free applications for GNOME.  Evolution
   is our first project: a groupware communications suite which
   includes an advanced mail client, calendar software and address
   book service.

   We are also developing and improving the Gnumeric spreadsheet.

   Besides that, we maintain a number of core and peripheral packages
   of the GNOME system.


Q: What is the Helix GNOME Desktop?

A: Helix GNOME is a service offered to the GNOME user community by
   Helix Code, Inc.

   The purpose of this distribution is to make it easy for end-users
   to install a fully-featured GNOME desktop on their favorite Unix
   system.


Q: Is this "Helix GNOME Desktop" another GNU/Linux distribution?

A: No, Helix GNOME is an add-on to your existing GNU/Linux
   distribution.  You need an existing GNU/Linux system to
   run Helix GNOME.


Q: Is Helix GNOME free?

A: Yes, Helix GNOME is completely free.  We are just packaging the
   latest and greatest versions of the various GNOME tools and making
   them as easy as possible for people to use.

   As with other free software, you get the freedom to copy the
   software, modify the software, redistribute the software, and
   redistribute modified versions of the software.


Q: Can I buy a copy of Helix GNOME on a CD?

A: Helix GNOME will be available on CD in April.


Q: Does Helix GNOME distribution include support for Debian/Corel
   Linux?

A: Not yet, but we plan on supporting these systems in the near
   future. 


Q: Does the Helix GNOME distribution include support for BSD?

A: The initial release of the Helix GNOME distribution does not
   include support for the free BSD systems, but we are on it.


Q: Will you provide timely updates to the various GNOME packages?
   
A: Yes, we will.  GNOME is constantly under development.  Whenever
   a new version of any piece of GNOME software is released, the
   dutiful hackers at Helix Code will do our best to make a packaged
   version available to you as quickly as possible.

   Better still, the "Helix Update" application allows you to
   automatically update your GNOME desktop from the Helix web site
   whenever new packages become available.  You can read more about
   Helix Update here:

            http://www.helixcode.com/desktop/updater.php3


Q: Are you improving GNOME, or just shipping binaries?

A: The Helix GNOME desktop includes a number of improvements and
   patches that have been posted to public mailing lists, or have been
   committed to the GNOME CVS repository (but might not have been yet
   released to the public in source package format).  This is all in
   the interests of making the best possible desktop experience
   available to GNOME users.

   The Helix hackers are also constantly improving GNOME and the
   various GNOME tools, libraries and components and submitting patches
   to the various maintainers of those packages.

   Helix Code employees actively maintain a huge number of GNOME
   packages, including: Bonobo, Achtung, Gnumeric, Go, Erdos, libzvt,
   gnome-terminal, gnome-core, gnome-applets, bug-buddy, gmc,
   gdk-pixbuf, eof, gnome canvas, evolution, gb, gtkhtml, gnome-vfs,
   camel, gnome-pim, glade, libibex, and others.

Q: Ok, I give up.  What's spidermonkey?

A: Yes.


Enjoy!

The Helix Code Team
http://www.helixcode.com