MEPIS Linux, the KDE based Linux distribution, released the beta1 of MEPIS 8.5. MEPIS Linux was one of the easy to use Linux distributions besides PCLinuxOS, before Ubuntu arrived. The users who wanted to use the latest Debian’s snapshot, but afraid of all those text mode configuration tricks found MEPIS as the Debian for the masses. MEPIS Linux has some of the best configuration utilities around, to configure X and Networking (including WiFi). The arrival of Ubuntu and the fact that as this distribution has no specific release schedule (this is developed by a single person) might have reduced the fame of this distribution. I’m trying this beta after a long time just to check how MEPIS is doing now and overall, I must say that I’m pleased with this beta release.