Linux.com Article DB: First Impressions of Mandrake 8.1

Summary

On the Plus Side

Mandrake continues to push the limits of hardware auto-detection. It probably has no equal when it comes to this. It boasts one of the finest Hardware and driver databases available during the install of any Linux Distribution. Familiarity on install is a huge bonus and Mandrake continue to use familiar interfaces to their installs. By incorporating programs like Sylpheed into their distro, they are expanding the applications in their distribution. This not only helps new users to explore the possibilities, they also are pushing the Open-Source movement by doing so. Perhaps giving new authors a much appreciated push. Mandrake customer support is on par with anyone whether you use the forums, their website, or channels on IRC. Ease of installation, and using plain English will be a big plus for the desktop user new to Linux. While I did not cover all of the CD's in the Professional or Power pack release I can say that you may never download another thing (other than security updates). The incorporation of the 2.4 kernel and the latest Kde 2.2.1 and Xfree86 updates is a good thing. Even the ATI radeon cards are somewhat supported also a plus. Mandrake constantly makes use easier, while tools that some distros include even old users call cursed. Mandrake 8.1 makes the transition for a Windows user to Linux almost painless.

On the Downside

The fact default and even expert installs don't auto-select the development and documentation is a minus. Without these it is very hard for a normal user to accomplish what they will need to accomplish running Linux. I find that not being able to choose Hardware or UTC, timezone, region and so on also a minus. Also the fact that most of North and south America is all grouped as one very long pick list in menu options is also a minus. Likewise a lot of unneeded services being enabled by default is also a minus, much like installing Palm-pilot apps when not even asked if you have one.

Conclusion

On a scale of one to ten I have to give Mandrake's latest offering a 8.0. While the ease of install is excellent, the fact that some very basic things are omitted or over looked entirely till far later is a drawback. All in all though Mandrake is still the best Distribution of choice for a first time user, and especially for desktop users or windows converts. The ease of install will be a welcome thing to them, but some major omissions in what should be a default install may cause them nightmares.

Reviewers note: The lack of support for some cards especially video and DSL modems and such should not be construed and is not intended to imply a fault of Mandrake's or any other distribution's releases. The fact is a lot of card manufacturers are closing their source to developers, so there is no way Mandrake or any distro could make a driver for them.

LINKS

Main Mandrake website

Screenshots of Mandrake 8.1

Links to Online Documentation

Online support forum for all releases of Mandrake

Originally Published: Friday, 26 October 2001	Author: David Mckee
Published to: enhance_articles_sysadmin/Sysadmin	Page: 3/3 - [Printable]
First Impressions of Mandrake 8.1 Those of us with few other skills are always thinking about: "what will be the next big hot thing?" Well, here's a clue, two Mandrake 8.1 reviews in a single week on Linux.com. Is that an astonishing development, or what? Is this distro as hot as these tantalizing statistical indicators would lead us to believe? Read on for the exciting conclusions.

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Summary On the Plus Side Mandrake continues to push the limits of hardware auto-detection. It probably has no equal when it comes to this. It boasts one of the finest Hardware and driver databases available during the install of any Linux Distribution. Familiarity on install is a huge bonus and Mandrake continue to use familiar interfaces to their installs. By incorporating programs like Sylpheed into their distro, they are expanding the applications in their distribution. This not only helps new users to explore the possibilities, they also are pushing the Open-Source movement by doing so. Perhaps giving new authors a much appreciated push. Mandrake customer support is on par with anyone whether you use the forums, their website, or channels on IRC. Ease of installation, and using plain English will be a big plus for the desktop user new to Linux. While I did not cover all of the CD's in the Professional or Power pack release I can say that you may never download another thing (other than security updates). The incorporation of the 2.4 kernel and the latest Kde 2.2.1 and Xfree86 updates is a good thing. Even the ATI radeon cards are somewhat supported also a plus. Mandrake constantly makes use easier, while tools that some distros include even old users call cursed. Mandrake 8.1 makes the transition for a Windows user to Linux almost painless. On the Downside The fact default and even expert installs don't auto-select the development and documentation is a minus. Without these it is very hard for a normal user to accomplish what they will need to accomplish running Linux. I find that not being able to choose Hardware or UTC, timezone, region and so on also a minus. Also the fact that most of North and south America is all grouped as one very long pick list in menu options is also a minus. Likewise a lot of unneeded services being enabled by default is also a minus, much like installing Palm-pilot apps when not even asked if you have one. Conclusion On a scale of one to ten I have to give Mandrake's latest offering a 8.0. While the ease of install is excellent, the fact that some very basic things are omitted or over looked entirely till far later is a drawback. All in all though Mandrake is still the best Distribution of choice for a first time user, and especially for desktop users or windows converts. The ease of install will be a welcome thing to them, but some major omissions in what should be a default install may cause them nightmares. Reviewers note: The lack of support for some cards especially video and DSL modems and such should not be construed and is not intended to imply a fault of Mandrake's or any other distribution's releases. The fact is a lot of card manufacturers are closing their source to developers, so there is no way Mandrake or any distro could make a driver for them. LINKS Main Mandrake website Screenshots of Mandrake 8.1 Links to Online Documentation Online support forum for all releases of Mandrake
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