Corel Linux - The (Word)Perfect Operating System

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WordPerfect isn't a name you hear too often these days. But there was a time when it was the king of word processing software. And sometime in the late '90s, Corel released a version of it for Linux. Oh... and an entire distro for it to run on. Let's check it out!

Chapters:
00:00 - Setting the scene...
00:27 - Some backstory
03:33 - Unboxing
06:48 - Installation
09:32- First boot
10:43 - Initial exploration
11:42 - WordPerfect
13:53 - What happened to Corel Linux?
14:26 - The Office Suite
15:48 - A brief look at the included software
17:25 - Desktop customization
20:40 - GIMP zone
23:21 - Outro

● Affiliate Links:

● Music/Credits:
$5 Windows 98 PC illustration created by Kurtis Black

Background Music:
"Ersatz Bossa" and "Brighton Lights" from the YouTube Audio Library

Outro Music: Silent Partner - Bet On It

Some materials in this video are used under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, which allows "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, and research.

#MichaelMJD #WordPerfect #Linux

[rymu]

wait this is so sick. I love how old linux distros always aim to look like windows 9x! i love seeing really old versions of modern projects like gimp. gread vid again <3

[ottergauze]

For an early to mid 2000s linux distro, this is *surprisingly* polished. Using something like Debian in 1999 would've been an exercise in frustration, and this (mostly) just works.

[brentgoeller]

I have a Corel Linux tux sitting on my desk right now. He has watched over me for decades. He is a plushy. Came out of a Corel Linux box. He's actually like a hacky sack type thing. If I could share photos I would.

[ceglakos]

It's amazing that a 25-year-old operating system had more desktop customization options than Windows 11 :D

[Lotster]

Oh wow! Corel Linux was the first Linux distro I ever used. Couldn’t figure it out, and found it wouldn’t install my games, so I gave up and went back to Windows. (Yes, I was young and stupid at the time.)

[RampantLeaf]

Windows alternatives from this era are super interesting

[themoley]

I have a big soft spot for Corel for a lot of reasons: as a Canadian of course, because some of their kids' games were the first software I remember using, and because Paint Shop Pro was how I learned graphic design. Still respect them for making solid software alternatives like that without getting into the subscription crap. They were Adobe before Adobe got as big (and evil) as they did, really.

[katrinabryce]

The version of WordPerfect you are showing is a native Linux application written in Motif. They released a later version of it which was a Wine port of the Windows version.

[puyol]

Man, this takes me back. My grandfather gave me an install disc with Corel Linux when I started taking a broader interest in computers when I was around 13. I think he got it from a magazine. I couldn't get it to work on my hardware sadly so I never got to try it out myself, but it did however send me down the Linux rabbit hole with Ubuntu 5.10 being my first successful Linux install and now, almost 20 years later, I'm still using Linux as my main daily driver.

[bryanwharton]

I remember using GIMP as a kid on my mom’s windows 7 laptop for drawing effects on Lego Star Wars stop motion videos I was making. It was good for making force lightning effects

[arlandi]

after watching the video:
starting up PCem, download the Corel Linux from the internet, create a emulated PC Slot 1 Pentium II 450 512 MB Ram 1GB Hard Drive. Starting Install.
Thanks Michael, I was not having any idea what to do this weekend.

[MegaManNeo]

As someone who started his Linux journey with KDE 3.3, this all looks very familiar safe for the file manager.
Back then there were wizards to rearrange the desktop's UI to closer resemble either macOS or Windows too, so your actions could be automated.
Still a cool distro to look at and honestly, probably good enough for the average office person.
Provided their hardware works properly with this old Linux distro, that is.

[dp-]

The really cool part about WordPerfect for Linux and Unix was that it was a native app that also ran in the terminal through version 8. Version 9 (also called 2000) was the Wine port. Taviso ported the old Linux console version in 8 to modern linux.

[dbsql]

I remember running Word Perfect 4.2 on my Amiga 2000 back in the day. It was nice that they ported it to different systems.

[phlash-]

I LOVED this era of linux. The early KDE was so perfect. I really wish there were some great current day distros like this that out of the box was trying to have this classic/vintage windows look. I really detest most current window managers as they are all just trying to be so clean and flashy, taking all the character out of the interface. Give me a modern Corel Linux with this exact desktop environment, just an updated linux kernel and we'll be good.

[DaVince]

Corel Linux was the first Linux I had ever heard of, period, before learning more about what Linux really was. It always seemed intriguing to me as a teenager but I never got to try it out back then, so it's nice to see this video pop up in my recommendations.

[Velo]

I remember using WordPerfect in college. So cool to see this again because I’d forgotten about this program.

[friarlawless]

OOH! This was one of my first distros. Got it on a jewel case rack at Fry's Electronics. Great to see it covered. This one and Xandros Professional have a special place in my memory.

[agy]

I liked Corel Linux back in the day. I still have my copy

[cyberhard]

Corel Linux was awesome. I remember installing it on a PC at work. The installation was flawless. Just a couple days before, , I installed Windows 98 on the same PC. Win98 failed to install the drivers for the graphics card (a matrox) and the NIC (a 3com).