Mandrake Linux PowerPack Edition 8.1

MandrakeLinux PowerPack Edition 8.1 offers seven CD-ROMs that include thousands of open-source and commercial applications, packaged with phone and Web support, a comprehensive installation and user guide, plus a detailed reference manual. The PowerPack edition allows you to perform securely and thoroughly all computing tasks: multimedia and office tasks, server deployment, software development, Web development, and more. Assisted by easy-to-use wizards and customized configuration tools, you will be able to set up your own full-featured Linux workstation smoothly and quickly. PowerPack Edition 8.1 includes: Kernel 2.4.8 and 2.2.19, KDE 2.2.1, GNOME 1.4.1, KOffice 1.1, Evolution 1.0 beta 3, Mozilla 0.9.4, XFree86 4.1, Glibc 2.2.4, gcc 2.96 and 3.0, RPM 4.0.3, and QT 2.3.

If you are happy with Windows9/N/X/? and all of the hardware that works with it, you might not want to change. There is a lot to be said for plug and pray, when it works.

I bought M8.1 so I could do UNIX programming at home and not because I wanted to, but the alternative, Telnet was just unacceptable. I did not trust the guarantee that Windows and Linux can co-habitate on the same disk, so I bought a used 4GB just for Linux. I know lots of people say it's easy, it's safe, yada yada yada, but I know a couple of folks who lost all their Windows files and apps when the Linux installation claimed to have found a large un-used chunk of memory and asked "would you like me to install here?" I just swap a cable, no harm, no foul.

Winmodems, probably what came with your machine from the manufacture, "are not now and will not be in the future, supported by Linux".

I have 2 Epson printers and neither works in Linux. Spent about 24 hours on them before I gave up.

If a Linux app needs to leave the machine, I just save it as a text file, to a floppy and open it up in Windows.

Now for the good news. It is vey easy to install. But the documentation is somewhat weak. However, there is a very good users forum, that I have used extensively. However, I never needed a Windows user forum.

In summary, if you are the type of person that cares deeply about the operation and management of the minutia of your system, Linux might be what you're looking for. If buying a new modem and/or printer were on the agenda anyway, hey, this could be the system for you. If you have ever been to a software store that sold Linux compatable apps, you are definitely on the right road. If you have a lot of free time to research what should be written in the user's manual, buy this.

Just so you understand, I'm not bustin' on Mandrake8.1, it is probably the the better of the Linux packages. But Linux, like UNIX is really meant for "craftsmen". I never had any problems with Windows crashing and even if I did, I spent less time in the last 10 years rebooting than I did in the last 3 months trying to get a modem and a printer to (not) work in Linux. As for me, I'll keep it as a place to do Fortran and Ansi C++ programming.

Oh yeah, if you ever wondered why Bill Gates is worth $70Large, buy any Linux package.


Easy, reliable. What more could you ask for?   February 25, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Linux-Mandrake is the perfect choice of anyone new to linux. It offers the power and ability of any linux system. With a easy to navigate enviroment, it is hard to get lost. Mandrake also provides ease of use. This is probably the easiest to use distro out there. If you are serous about Linux, then give this product a try. You can install it along side windows. So you can have the best of both worlds. Once you try Mandrake, thu, you realize something. You don't need MS anymore. IMHO, wait for 8.2 to come out. IT features the new kernel, and a few other choice updates.


Linux thoroughly and pleasantly surprises!   February 20, 2002
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

A *great* product for any level of linux or windows user. The install was easier than windows, just boot from the CD and for every option there after there is a description/help box. The partition manager, diskdrake, works like a dream, too. (didn't try with NTFS, but great with FAT32!) Once loaded, it looks and feels like windows, WITHOUT THE CRASHES! My little sister found the KDE desktop environment easier than windows (yes, there are about 7 different types of windows managers to choose from!) ....2 hours after installing, I was playing Quake 3 Arena with better framerates than in windows. The software manager makes installs and uninstalls very easy, too. My only words of warning are to make sure your hardware is supported (check online). If it isn't, you could be lucky or unlucky getting some hardware to work. Overall, a bit of a learning curve, but completely customizable and stable!!! STABLE!!! There is an XKill icon on the desktop - if any app seems to be taking too long, hit that, click the window and it's gone. If the whole windows manager seems to be frozen, just hit ctrl-alt-backspace and you're back at the command line!! startx and you're back in, no reboot. I haven't had to reboot in 2 weeks now. A *great* product for any level of linux or windows user.