Mandrake

Mandrake Linux is particularly oriented toward Linux novices and home users. Mandrake focuses on user-friendly graphical installation and utilities. It's the easiest distribution to install, allowing successful installation by users without any Linux experience. It's very competent at recognizing hardware during the installation process.

Mandrake Linux has two major versions:

• Mandrake Distribution: The stable, official Mandrake Distribution is available for download from the Web site (mandrakelinux.com) in files that are CD images (ISO files). It's also available in three boxed sets:

  • Discovery: A simplified package that provides the essentials for a desktop user, with an automated installation procedure and a handpicked selection of applications. It includes 2 CDs and a manual.

  • Power Pack: An advanced desktop package that provides thousands of open source and commercial applications. It includes 6 CDs and 2 manuals.

  • Power Pack Plus: An advanced package that provides a powerful desktop plus the server tools necessary to create and manage a small to medium size network. It includes 8 CDs, 1 DVD, and 2 manuals.

• Cooker: The developmental version of Mandrake Linux, Cooker is constantly evolving. New packages can appear daily. It's released frequently for testing, bug reporting, and feedback. When a cooker version is deemed ready, it's frozen, meaning no new features are added, only bug fixes, and it becomes the beta for the official Mandrake Distribution.

If you want the cutting-edge software, install Cooker. If you like your software a little more stable, install the official Distribution.

Mandrake features include the following:

• Multiple desktops: Provides both GNOME and KDE. KDE is the default.

• Mandrake Club: Provides help forums and other extras. Provides early software downloads. Provides extra software. Requires a small fee to join.

• Mandrake Experts: A Web site (www.mandrakeexpert.com) where volunteer experts answer questions. A list of experts is available. Or post your question publicly for any expert to choose. Phone consultation with experts is possible.