Balsa 1.7 includes a program to easily back up the Balsa user's data --EasyBackup 1.4
EasyBackup comes pre-configured for the typical Balsa user, but the documentation for EasyBackup isn't available on a running Balsa system. This is due to a bug that will be fixed in the next release of Balsa, You can download it (about 1 megabyte) now: Easy Backup User's Manual.

The Balsa 1.7 Beta 1 has been withdrawn and is replaced with Balsa 1.7 Beta 2. Users should update their Balsa images.
 
If downloading the full image is too difficult, this file contains a small program that will fix the bug that was introduced in Beta 1.
 

SIL's Language Software Development team for Linux (LSDev-Linux) is pleased to announce the 1.5 Beta 2 release of the Balsa system. There's a Quick Start here.
 
Balsa is a system that runs on an SD card that turns a netbook into a Basic Language Software Appliance. It contains basic language software with a simple to use interface.

We've now converted the old Balsa release for OLPC-XO machines as SD card images.
You can now use a Windows machine or a Linux machine to download and create the Balsa SD card for an OLPC-XO. Details are available at this link: Balsa Jaunty Release (for OLPC-XO)
 

SIL's Language Software Development team for Linux (LSDev-Linux) is pleased to announce the 1.0 Beta 1 release of the Balsa system. There's a Quick Start here.

Balsa is a system that runs on an SD card that turns a netbook into a Basic Language Software Appliance. It contains basic language software with a simple to use interface.

If you have internet access and are using the internet or email on your XO, you should update your Balsa installation periodically, using the Synaptic icon from the Panel.

Click on the Panel icon and provide password when asked. Click on the "Mark All Upgrades" button on Synaptic's toolbar. Then click Apply to  perform the upgrade.

If you are running version 4.1.4 or later of Adapt It, there is an alternative view that makes AI's menus and toolbars show up better on the XO screen. To activate this XO view, do the following:

Update!
Balsa v 0.6 has been released, based on Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty. See instructions and download here: Latest version
This will be the final Balsa version that can run on the OLPC XO-1.0.

Instructions for installing Balsa (Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid, customised for language workers in remote parts of the world) have been moved. Find them under the "OLPC" menu item to the left, underneath the main Title, BALSA, on this page.

For help with any of the programs contained in Balsa, please see these pages

 Configuring programs included in Balsa

For help or questions about the XO computer, or the Balsa environment--

Update!

[19 August 2010] The new Balsa v0.6 works on most older netbooks, laptops and desktop computers as well as on the XO-1.0. See Latest version for details.

The next version of Balsa will work on most newer (2010) netbooks as well; but it will no longer support the OLPC XO-1.0. If interest develops in running Balsa on the next generation XO-1.5, we will look into this as well.