Syllable is a new kid on the Linux block, as clearly shown by the beta version number.

I think this review took the longest, as it took me nearly a year to get all these screenshots compiled. I've used the Syllable VM on three different computers within that timespan.
Why did it take so long? Well, simply put, it is also the slowest operating system I have ever used. Seriously, even with 906 MB of memory allocated to the VM it still felt as if I were using a Commodore 64. And that's bad. Hopefully it will be fixed with the official release.

The install is completely CLI-based, although it pops up the GUI window manager to run a terminal window. Interesting approach to a CLI-based installer. Surprisingly the install took only about ten minutes.

Almost ten minutes after installing, the login window finally shows up.
Apart from the speed issues and the desktop, Syllable appears to be pretty polished on the user's end, and nothing managed to crash while running.

And here is the default desktop. As I had stated, it looks obviously incomplete as there is nothing really to show for on the taskbar.
Syllable is probably not based off of a desktop environment, rather it is likely a completely new UI that is unique, as I have never seen anything like this before. Actually I like it.

Syllable, when complete, boasts to be a lightweight OS suitable for running on old hardware.

For those wondering what that random search bar on the taskbar is, that will search the internet for whatever you type into it. Took me until the very end to figure that out.

It took nearly ten minutes and six tries to display the menu after I clicked on it, but here is the Syllable menu.
It's basically just like the GNOME Applications menu, with the shutdown settings and about options combined into it.

The Syllable about dialog.