OSNews

To judge College Linux fairly, it helps to keep their goals in mind: 1. creating a simplified entry point to Slackware, 2. providing useable system for desktop users/small office environment, and 3.creating environment for learning about Linux.
Things like no choices regarding installed software or other limitations of the installer (ext3 is the only option, no scsi enabled kernels) are explained by their desire to simplify the process. In CL's favour, it also provides auto-detection/configuration of hardware based on Knoppix and thus going beyond standard Slackware, for example auto-configuring video display.
Lack of Open Office is suprising, and I understand it was the result of some last-minute problems. It will probably be fixed, eventually.
I imagine Apache/PHP/MySQL are intended as a learning aid, rather than a production server. If you think of it this way it becomes understandable, and if you're going to do some web development it will be nice to have.
Some other good things about CL: pre-configured browser plugins, Webmin for system administration tasks, and Slapt-get with a Konqueror front-end for software installation and updates. This is still in early stages, and at the moment does not offer a huge advantage over standard Slackware. But it will come into its own once their repository is populated with packages enhanced to work with Slapt-get.
CL is totally compatible with Slack 9.1, Gnome is not included but for those who want it there is no problem at all with installing Dropline.