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The Linux operating system was born in 1991 and was created by one man, a Finnish student coincidentally named Linux Torvalds. Since these humble beginnings, a multi-million dollar industry has sprung up to exploit the commercial potential of Linux, but until recently Linux has eluded mainstream acceptance. However, due to the recent economic downturn together with uncertainty over changes to Microsoft's pricing policy, Linux is now being touted as a serious contender to Microsoft Windows. While there are many other alternatives to Windows, including BSD which is based on SUN's (Stanford University Network - correction by bc) server-grade Solaris operating system, none have commanded the same level of media attention as Linux.

Linux Mandrake is just the latest in a long line of quirkily christened versions of Linux. Previous versions of Linux have been named Red Hat, Slack Ware, Storm and Coral. In stark contrast to the mundane names such as 98, ME or NT preferred by Microsoft, the crazy names of each Linux release hint at its renegade nature.

My foray into the world of Linux began by downloading a "CD image" from the Linux web site. But don't worry, this isn't software piracy, it's perfectly legal! Linux is shareware, meaning that it can be freely redistributed without fear of a visit by the Business Software Alliance. The free availability of Linux is a major reason for its popularity among cash-strapped students and self-styled anti-capitalist hackers.

Before installing new software, it is always advisable to read the documentation. Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was in store for me in the "required configuration" section of the manual. I was shocked to learn that Linux Mandrake only runs on Pentium processors, meaning that my hopes of testing the water with my old Gateway 486 were dashed. Furthermore, a whopping 32 megabytes of memory are required to run Linux! Although the advocates of Linux self-righteously boast the efficiency of their chosen operating system and deride the "bloatware" produced by Microsoft, it appears that their claims are blatantly incorrect. Although my humble 486 will happily run Windows 95, it seems that Linux requires far more powerful, and more expensive, computer hardware. Is this really the sign of a lean, mean operating system? Of course not.

Sadly, not even being able to install Linux is just the first of my many complaints. A brief perusal of the features of Linux Mandrake reveals that Linux is sorely lacking many crucial productivity applications. For example, why isn't the industry standard web browser, Internet Explorer, included with Linux? Despite the best efforts of the experts at the Internet Engineering Task Force to encourage adoption of the Internet Explorer standard, the creators of Linux seem to think that they know better. By refusing to adhere to recognised standards, Linux is simply undermining its own credibility.

Similarly, almost all of the world's most popular and widely used software is completely incompatible with Linux! It may surprise you to learn that your copy of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes will not work under Linux. Those who wish to use their computer for recreational purposes are also out of luck, for almost all of the most popular games are unavailable for Linux. Although a wide range of software is freely available for Linux, these pitiful offerings are mostly unfinished, unreliable and do not bear comparison to their commercial counterparts.

Computer security is also an area that seems to have been overlooked by the developers of Linux. In these times when hacking and viruses are commonplace, it defies belief to learn that no anti-virus software is available for Linux. To add insult to injury, there is no Linux version of the popular ZoneAlarm firewall. By using Linux, you are issuing an open invitation to the hordes of ne'er-do-wells on the Internet.

The shortcomings of Linux are obvious. Without even installing Linux Mandrake, I have exposed several fundamental flaws. Surely it is not too much to expect that, after ten years of development, the creators of Linux would have addressed these problems? The real question that the prospective Linux user must ask himself is, "Why bother?" After all, Microsoft Windows comes free with most PCs and there simply isn't a need to replace it, particularly not with a product of inferior quality.

Although it is always tempting to support the underdog, Windows XP will be the deserved victor in the battle ahead. I recommend that those Adequacy readers who are hoping to upgrade their operating system patiently wait for the release of Windows XP, rather than foolishly wasting their time, effort and money on Linux.

Safe at last! Whew!

Not really, you still have to remove the Redmond Virus from your hard disk. For this, visit another site's list of download mirrors and be prepare to wait a little longer. Yes, Mozilla is included with your replacement OS.

I guess IE for Mac is already invulnerable.

Simple, Download yourself a decent Linux distribution or maybe one for beginners and start using a stable system for a change.

BURKS, the Brighton University Resource Kit for Students is an excellent CD-based resource kit intended for computer science students, though available to anyone. Only £7.50 GBP (+ postage) for 4 CDs, including Mandrake Linux 8.0, Windows compilers, tools and utilities, copies of FAQ files and the Dictionary of Computing, and much more. The whole contents is available on-line so you can see what you are getting.

The Linux operating system was born in 1991 and was created by one man, a
Finnish student coincidentally named Linux Torvalds. Since these humble
beginnings, a multi-million dollar
industry has sprung up to exploit the commercial potential of Linux, but
until recently Linux has eluded mainstream acceptance. However, due to the
recent economic downturn together with uncertainty over changes to Microsoft's pricing policy, Linux is
now being touted as a serious contender to Microsoft Windows. While there
are many other alternatives to Windows, including BSD which is based on SUN's (Stanford University Network - correction by bc) server-grade Solaris operating system,
none have commanded the same level of media attention as Linux.

Linux Mandrake is just the
latest in a long line of quirkily christened versions of Linux. Previous
versions of Linux have been named Red Hat, Slack Ware,
Storm and Coral. In stark contrast to the mundane names such
as 98, ME or NT preferred by Microsoft, the crazy
names of each Linux release hint at its renegade nature.

My foray into the world of Linux began by downloading a "CD image" from
the Linux web site. But don't worry, this isn't software piracy, it's
perfectly legal! Linux is shareware, meaning that it can be freely
redistributed without fear of a visit by the Business Software Alliance. The free
availability of Linux is a major reason for its popularity among
cash-strapped students and self-styled anti-capitalist hackers.

Before installing new software, it is always advisable to read the
documentation. Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was in store for me
in the "required configuration" section of the manual.
I was shocked to learn that Linux Mandrake only runs on Pentium
processors, meaning that my hopes of testing the water with my old Gateway 486 were dashed. Furthermore, a
whopping 32 megabytes of memory are required to run Linux! Although the advocates of Linux self-righteously
boast the efficiency of their chosen operating system and deride the
"bloatware" produced by Microsoft, it appears that their claims are
blatantly incorrect. Although my humble 486 will happily run Windows 95,
it seems that Linux requires far more powerful, and more expensive,
computer hardware. Is this really the sign of a lean, mean operating system?
Of course not.

Sadly, not even being able to install Linux is just the first of my many
complaints. A brief perusal of the
features of Linux Mandrake reveals that Linux is sorely lacking many
crucial productivity applications. For example, why isn't the industry
standard web browser, Internet Explorer, included with Linux? Despite the
best efforts of the experts at the Internet
Engineering Task Force to encourage adoption of the Internet Explorer
standard, the creators of Linux seem to think that they know better. By
refusing to adhere to recognised standards, Linux is simply undermining
its own credibility.

Similarly, almost all of the world's most popular and widely used software
is completely incompatible with Linux! It may surprise you to learn that
your copy of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes will not
work under Linux. Those who wish to use their computer for recreational
purposes are also out of luck, for almost all of the most popular games
are unavailable for Linux. Although a wide range of software is freely
available for Linux, these pitiful offerings are mostly unfinished, unreliable and do not
bear comparison to their commercial counterparts.

Computer security is also an area that seems to have been overlooked by
the developers of Linux. In these times when hacking and viruses are
commonplace, it defies belief to learn that no anti-virus software is available for
Linux. To add insult to injury, there is no Linux version of the popular
ZoneAlarm firewall. By using Linux,
you are issuing an open invitation to the hordes of ne'er-do-wells on the
Internet.

The shortcomings of Linux are obvious. Without even installing Linux
Mandrake, I have exposed several fundamental flaws. Surely it is not too
much to expect that, after ten years of development, the creators of Linux
would have addressed these problems? The real question that the
prospective Linux user must ask himself is, "Why bother?" After all,
Microsoft Windows comes free with most PCs and there simply isn't a need
to replace it, particularly not with a product of inferior quality.

Although it is always tempting to support the underdog, Windows XP will
be the deserved victor in the battle ahead. I recommend that those
Adequacy readers who are hoping to upgrade their operating system
patiently wait for the release of Windows XP, rather than foolishly
wasting their time, effort and money on Linux.

Linux Mandrake is just the latest in a long line of quirkily christened versions of Linux. Previous versions of Linux have been named Red Hat, Slack Ware, Storm and Coral. In stark contrast to the mundane names such as 98, ME or NT preferred by Microsoft, the crazy names of each Linux release hint at its renegade nature.

My foray into the world of Linux began by downloading a "CD image" from the Linux web site. But don't worry, this isn't software piracy, it's perfectly legal! Linux is shareware, meaning that it can be freely redistributed without fear of a visit by the Business Software Alliance. The free availability of Linux is a major reason for its popularity among cash-strapped students and self-styled anti-capitalist hackers.

Before installing new software, it is always advisable to read the documentation. Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was in store for me in the "required configuration" section of the manual. I was shocked to learn that Linux Mandrake only runs on Pentium processors, meaning that my hopes of testing the water with my old Gateway 486 were dashed. Furthermore, a whopping 32 megabytes of memory are required to run Linux! Although the advocates of Linux self-righteously boast the efficiency of their chosen operating system and deride the "bloatware" produced by Microsoft, it appears that their claims are blatantly incorrect. Although my humble 486 will happily run Windows 95, it seems that Linux requires far more powerful, and more expensive, computer hardware. Is this really the sign of a lean, mean operating system? Of course not.

Sadly, not even being able to install Linux is just the first of my many complaints. A brief perusal of the features of Linux Mandrake reveals that Linux is sorely lacking many crucial productivity applications. For example, why isn't the industry standard web browser, Internet Explorer, included with Linux? Despite the best efforts of the experts at the Internet Engineering Task Force to encourage adoption of the Internet Explorer standard, the creators of Linux seem to think that they know better. By refusing to adhere to recognised standards, Linux is simply undermining its own credibility.

Similarly, almost all of the world's most popular and widely used software is completely incompatible with Linux! It may surprise you to learn that your copy of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes will not work under Linux. Those who wish to use their computer for recreational purposes are also out of luck, for almost all of the most popular games are unavailable for Linux. Although a wide range of software is freely available for Linux, these pitiful offerings are mostly unfinished, unreliable and do not bear comparison to their commercial counterparts.

Computer security is also an area that seems to have been overlooked by the developers of Linux. In these times when hacking and viruses are commonplace, it defies belief to learn that no anti-virus software is available for Linux. To add insult to injury, there is no Linux version of the popular ZoneAlarm firewall. By using Linux, you are issuing an open invitation to the hordes of ne'er-do-wells on the Internet.

The shortcomings of Linux are obvious. Without even installing Linux Mandrake, I have exposed several fundamental flaws. Surely it is not too much to expect that, after ten years of development, the creators of Linux would have addressed these problems? The real question that the prospective Linux user must ask himself is, "Why bother?" After all, Microsoft Windows comes free with most PCs and there simply isn't a need to replace it, particularly not with a product of inferior quality.

Although it is always tempting to support the underdog, Windows XP will be the deserved victor in the battle ahead. I recommend that those Adequacy readers who are hoping to upgrade their operating system patiently wait for the release of Windows XP, rather than foolishly wasting their time, effort and money on Linux.

I believe that there is a big difference between the install procedure of the first Linux distribution you installed, and the ones of the most current distributions. I believe it's around 4 years ago you installed your first Linux. It's at least around then Redhat 5 was new. A lot has happened since then!

Mandrake 8.x would be a nice example to use. The installation is pretty straight-forward, for non-technical users as well.

Have you tried to install one of the current beginner-friendly distributions? I.E. Redhat Linux 7.2 or Mandrake Linux 8.1?

/Andreas

• Draknet (network configuration tool), test and enjoy this thoroughly reworked version.
• Support for the Euro
• Mime Type managing reworked
• Renewed URPMI (package installer) and Software Manager
• The reworked Mandrake Control Center will provide a convenient embedded root console as well as new tools such as Logdrake, a graphical frontend to the system log files, or Drakinst, which allows easy setup of an auto-install disk.
• Renewed HardDrake (disk partitioner)
• Fresh version of PrinterDrake to get all the power of your printer.

Although Beta 1 obviously has less features than the final release, it's a good read.

I admit I'm a bit confused as to what they mean by "support for the Euro" - isn't is supported given Unicode support, character U+20AC? If anyone is curious, I recommend Microsoft's FAQ on the Euro.

I think you might also be able to emulate a dos environment inside of Mandrake's LNX4WIN.

Or you could go buy an old machine for a song. Try Goodwill. Go to a garage sale. Bring a $20.

I dont know about the legal ownership of the name brand tetris, but i can tell you for a fact that Mandrake since at least version 7.2 comes with a Tetris clone called gtetrinet that allows standard style, and network enhanced multiplayer tetris that is rather addictive...

No! MandrakeUpdate or Software Manager (both names refer to same program) is very easy too. (However I cannot compare, I have never used windows update)

See a slideshow.

I assumed the writer was referring to Yellow Dog, SuSE, Mandrake, and Debian. Adding LinuxPPC and MkLinux brings the tally up to six, and Linux-m68k makes seven. Linux on the Mac is flourishing.

So whats the problem with the delay?!? for several weeks (2 to be more precissely) mandrake 8.1 is available to download from an inumerous websites in US and Europe.

I had download all 3 cds in one night, only with ma cable connection here in Portugal from an italian mirror. I installed on ma box along with ma two other flavours of linux and 2 others of openbsd and freebsd. And i got amused how big the diferences were from version 8.0.
kernel 2.4.8, kde 2.2.1, gnome 1.4.1.
Especially the inclusion of kde2.2.1 that had been release one week earlier

So guys just dont understand the fuze about the delay!!
if u are in a so rush to try/buy, grab it from theirs ftp servers
GRAB IT or Shutup!

Indeed, the kernel security issue and the devfs headaches are one and the same. http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/security/2001/MDK SA-2001-079.php3?dis=8.1

If anyone is interested, here are some shots of Mac-on-Linux running in Mandrake PPC.

...Mandrake Linux 8.1 Release Candidate with exceptional features . [off topic etc. I know but I just wanted people to know cos it's important]

``Would she still like me if I was one of the guys who follow the camels around to pick up after them, or a lawyer, or something?'' - King Xerxes (a zucchini) from the VeggieTales version of Esther

(Linux is a great way to put older Mac Hardware to use!) Mandrake offer's great online installation instructions, too! Also, check out the Mandrake Linux PPC 8.0 FAQ (it says "beta", but applies to the more recent releases, as well.)

Curious George

(Linux is a great way to put older Mac Hardware to use!) Mandrake offer's great online installation instructions, too! Also, check out the Mandrake Linux PPC 8.0 FAQ (it says "beta", but applies to the more recent releases, as well.)

Curious George

Worth a look: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/ppc.php3

...installed Mandrake 8 on a box containing a Rage 128 video card, and the installation detected and set up 3D acceleration out of the box.

I'm using one of those vid chips on MDK8. anything 3d (OPenGL, etc.) related locks up this box; tight. I love MDK, but it's NOT "out of the box".
Yes. I bought the MDK8 Pro-Pack. So "out of the box" is meant literally...

Most interesting! I ironically linked to Linux Mandrake in my link on McRosoft and it puts the TRUE name of the link in brackets! Must be the new Goatse.cx feature.

Here's a list of groups actively working on Anti-DOS projects:

RedHat

Slackware

Debian

One of the first

Honestly, while I agree that we must stop DOS at all costs, I fail to see why this is news. Hell, it could be argued that even McRosoft themselves do a good job at getting people to quit using the product.

Like, mandrake, mabye? I was having hell learning linux till I got mandrake, and now in 2 days, i've all but tossed out windows and the MacOS (excecept for development) Konqueror is one of the nicest browsers i ever used, and i havent bothered switching my mail over, so I cant say the same for kmail yet. Multiple desktops still confuse me, but I'll get it one of these days....
Mandrake rocks, imho....

Mandrake indeed originated as a distro which took the current RedHat distribution, tweaked and upgraded a few things, and slapped on an even easier installer. However, as of version 7, I believe, it is no longer. However, it is still compatable with RedHat, as seen here.

Admittedly the suggestion might be more likely to be acted on if it were sent to Mandrake Forum instead of Slashdot, but I doubt that you've actually checked to see whether the above poster has sent the suggestion to Mandrake or not.

Admittedly the suggestion might be more likely to be acted on if it were sent to Mandrake Forum instead of Slashdot, but I doubt that you've actually checked to see whether the above poster has sent the suggestion to Mandrake or not.

Admittedly the suggestion might be more likely to be acted on if it were sent to Mandrake Forum instead of Slashdot, but I doubt that you've actually checked to see whether the above poster has sent the suggestion to Mandrake or not.

Good thing I got it before the mirrors where /.'d. With the 'few' problems with the Beta, you might be better off with Cooker....

got to get i t can't c o n t r o l m y s e l f......
Raklet

Someone calculate how long it would take for Loki to be ok if 1 in 20 slashdotters were to go to a Loki donation page and credit card them $20.

When I started using Linux a few years ago, I began with Red Hat 5.1 on a 486 66 Mhz computer (it was my only spare computer to mess with). It didn't really have any difficult hardware, except for a proprietary cd-rom drive. This was my first real experience in a *nix, coming from a relatively long DOS and Windows background.

From my experience the most frustrating part of learning Linux is getting all or most of a computer's hardware to work properly. For a long time I had no sound card that Linux supported. Fortunately, hardware support and automatic detection has improved tremendously. Now many ethernet cards, video cards, and sound cards are automatically detected by various Linux installs. CD-ROMS are almost always compatible with standard IDE and SCSI drivers. I believe that new users to Linux should be focusing on learning to install software, use popular software, and learn his/her way around a shell. Learning Linux shouldn't be mostly about learning how to install Linux, and this is where a few distributions have made great progress.

As your first distribution, I would recommend Mandrake. I have been a Red Hat user since my first install (and administering Red Hat based Cobalt servers). Red Hat's install (both graphical and text based) are reasonable for a new user, but they don't explain things as thoroughly as Mandrake. I installed Mandrake a few times and was fairly impressed with the installer and explanation, but it's a little too annoying to non-newbies. However, a new user simply wanting to toy with Linux would probably be best served by starting out with Mandrake.

Mandrake is nice that they are a download-friendly distribution. No other distribution is as easy to find in downloadable iso form. Yes, Red Hat offers it, but they promote their pay package far more than Mandrake does..companies like making it no-so-obvious that they can get it for free. I can't blame them. Also, Debian offers downloads, but their website isn't as easy to navigate and I'd hardly consider Debian a newbie-friendly install. Visit the mirror list for mandrake to download the install isos. There are two iso images to burn to cd-rom using common software like Easy CD Creator. If interested in Redhat, the mirror list offers a variety of sites to find both RPM files (for individual software install) and iso images.

However, buying a boxed set may be worthwhile for a new user. No need for big downloads, a cd-writer, and figuring out how to install. These include support and an installation manual.

I find computer books extremely helpful in learning a new operating system or programming language. Yes, website and forums are available, but a book is generally arranged quite well for new users. My first book was "Red Hat Linux Unleashed", that huge orange book. It included Red Hat 5.2 (though I already had 5.1 installed by that time), and had a few chapters on installation. Then, as I needed a reference or wanted to learn about setting up new services, I just read through the appropriate chapter. Though many disagree, I find it most helpful to have a large comprehensive book that covers all topics lightly to give a user a start. From there many websites provide the detailed information required to complete a task. I found the how-tos helpful in most cases.

So, in short, get Mandrake (or possibly Red Hat), get a good book or two (buy from a bookstore to be able to flip through it and see if it seems right, while also looking online to find reviews). Once you get the feel of using Linux a bit - take a look at other distributions (Progeny is a nice entry into the Debian world, for example).

Good luck.

You're probably saying already, that doesnt make sense. Let me ellaborate.

RedHat/Mandrake are both very similar. Often, one user of one hates the other. RedHat people will say 'RedHat is more powerful and stable' and Mandrake people will say 'Mandrakes easier and less buggy'. As you can see, these statements conflict. Overall however, there very similar, and either one is fine. They're both based on RPM, and they both can be used for virtually anything.

Then there's the Slackware/Debian crowd. They tend to stick together, but they have differant views none the less. They take pride in their 'elite feeling', in that only people with 'skill' can use and know these distributions. They're typically harder for the novice, yet easier for the seasoned Linux user. Debian has arguably the best package management, and Slackware has probably the most loyal user base ever formed. These are top choices for someone experienced in Linux. Additionally, their is Progney, a commercial debian-based distribution that makes using Debian easier, and provides commercial support. This is quickly becoming a good alternative.

Finally, there's the SuSE and other crowd. They are less known and used, and usually appeal to a specific crowd. SuSE for instance, is very popular among non-US users. These are also generally good, especially if you have really specific needs.

Now, which crowd is right? None. Which is the best? None. It depends on what you want, what crowd you fit in. If you're very technical, You fall into the Slackware/Debian crowd. If you like what's popular, easy, and commercial, you'll like hanging out with the RedHat/Mandrake folks. And if you like something very specific, or a close community, you'll like SuSE or something else.

But what is right for you? That's up to you. Research all of them, Try a few, Play with them. It's like shopping for a car. Some like Chevy, Some like Ford, and some are fine with a Honda. And some just dont care.

What I use depends on the target machine. If it's a server, I'll go with either RedHat or Debian. If it's a workstation, RedHat. Firewall, I use OpenBSD or Debian. But like I said in the beginning, my opinion, or anyone else's, means nothing. Good luck.

You're probably saying already, that doesnt make sense. Let me ellaborate.

RedHat/Mandrake are both very similar. Often, one user of one hates the other. RedHat people will say 'RedHat is more powerful and stable' and Mandrake people will say 'Mandrakes easier and less buggy'. As you can see, these statements conflict. Overall however, there very similar, and either one is fine. They're both based on RPM, and they both can be used for virtually anything.

Then there's the Slackware/Debian crowd. They tend to stick together, but they have differant views none the less. They take pride in their 'elite feeling', in that only people with 'skill' can use and know these distributions. They're typically harder for the novice, yet easier for the seasoned Linux user. Debian has arguably the best package management, and Slackware has probably the most loyal user base ever formed. These are top choices for someone experienced in Linux. Additionally, their is Progney, a commercial debian-based distribution that makes using Debian easier, and provides commercial support. This is quickly becoming a good alternative.

Finally, there's the SuSE and other crowd. They are less known and used, and usually appeal to a specific crowd. SuSE for instance, is very popular among non-US users. These are also generally good, especially if you have really specific needs.

Now, which crowd is right? None. Which is the best? None. It depends on what you want, what crowd you fit in. If you're very technical, You fall into the Slackware/Debian crowd. If you like what's popular, easy, and commercial, you'll like hanging out with the RedHat/Mandrake folks. And if you like something very specific, or a close community, you'll like SuSE or something else.

But what is right for you? That's up to you. Research all of them, Try a few, Play with them. It's like shopping for a car. Some like Chevy, Some like Ford, and some are fine with a Honda. And some just dont care.

What I use depends on the target machine. If it's a server, I'll go with either RedHat or Debian. If it's a workstation, RedHat. Firewall, I use OpenBSD or Debian. But like I said in the beginning, my opinion, or anyone else's, means nothing. Good luck.

I recommend Mandrake 8 to everyone who asks me this same question... the latest version basically installs itself for you. Plus there's a long list of supported hardware,, and setting up my dvd player took five minutes and three dependencies.

The real fix is to disable the extention mappings for things like .ida/.idq and so on

The real fix is to install some other web server. If it supports PHP you can also migrate your VB ASP scripts using ASP2PHP. But maybe you don't want to drag extinct-but-doesn't-know-it-yet methodology and technology across to your shiny new server?

And... since you're changing such a major server component, why not change the whole server so that you're not, one day, forced to upgrade to Windows XP and bleed money for insecure software for the rest of your life? Install Service Pack MAXINT today!

We're seeing approximatly 1000-1500 arp requests per minute on any given node at the cable isp I work for as of 11am this morning, could be more by now. We aren't looking at filtering port 80 however. My receive light has been solid for 3 days because of this. Fortunatly my linux box isn't vulnerable but it's sure filling the logs nicely.

They dont install the telnet-server by default. Mandrake has a good number of security minded people working for it. Their early inclusion of xinetd, bastille, portsentry, proftpd, opensshd, and tripwire make this evident.

As for the lack of devel packages, clicking the 'devel' group during install will add all of that. Of course, you can always manually go around with rpm and install them manually. I use the mandrake cooker anyways, which is the 'bleeding edge' edition. Much more up to date and a wonderful development platform.

Another false alarm from our 'friends' at Redhat. Tired of these... then switch to Mandrake .

Every time some l33t d00d decides to make another iteration on the same web worm concept, companies like Linux-Mandrake can herald it as a victory:

ILOVEYOU virus doesn't work in Mandrake

Of course, no mention of any of the other linux's, Solaris, FreeBSD also not being affected by the virus.

TCP/MS is a scare tactic. Microsoft may be able to leverage the protocol into 100 million houses, but will they be able to pull the plug on more than half of the world's web sites?

And would Cisco play an active part in helping them? I doubt it. Some companies suckle milk from their consumers. Others take pride in ripping their bellies open and moving onto the next carcass.

You already can set your own price for Mandrake :)

Go to Mandrake's Donation Page and give them a buck or two. You can even specify a project you'd like to help fund.

my $.02

mr

If you want linux to become more prevalent on the desktop, start giving away CD's to people.

I'd like to invite everyone to become a beta tester for the Mandrake Linux PPC version. Here's some tips on how to get started: http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=mandrake-cooker-pp c&m=99441208917647&w=2

Here are some screenshots of the PPC Beta1 running on a PowerBook:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/demos/PPC/Install /pages/install32.html

This is a list of features:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/ppc.php3

Cheers,
Phil Lavigna

I'd like to invite everyone to become a beta tester for the Mandrake Linux PPC version. Here's some tips on how to get started: http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=mandrake-cooker-pp c&m=99441208917647&w=2

Here are some screenshots of the PPC Beta1 running on a PowerBook:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/demos/PPC/Install /pages/install32.html

This is a list of features:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/ppc.php3

Cheers,
Phil Lavigna

Smooth installations? Check out the latest Mandrake or RedHat installations. Very simple. Very user-friendly. Plus they're customizable.

Package management? Check out Ximian's latest manager, Red-Carpet. Makes life 80% earier!

Now, before I possibly get flamed, these comments aren't just my opinion: they're also the opinions of a few of my co-workers. These co-workers were linux-bashers, until I "showed" them how to install RedHat 7.1 (red: Handed them the CD, and watched them boot said CD), then updated to the current Ximian GNOME.

Now, one of them is switching (almost) their entire home network over to Linux (except for one computer for games), and the other is asking our Technical Strategist and MIS why we don't use Linux more (both the TC and the MIS still firmly believe that Linux takes a week to install, and another week to setup, and is still lacking good server apps, like web servers, mail servers, etc...)!

Do they keep dependencies at a minimum?
The answer is you set dependencies to what the package requires. It's not a "Mandrake hates you so they require 800 packages for php to work" type thing. One guy has even done HUGE research and experimentation to convert apache/php/ldap/imap to a completely modular setup. If you have ever compiled php into apache using source, you know that in order to upgrade one, you must upgrade BOTH (and it's worse if you have imap and ldap in the picture). Mandrake provides mod_* rpms so that these extra functions are completely modular and can be added/removed/upgraded at will. I am unaware if RH offers these same packages. All they have to do is use the spec files from the src rpms.

Do they keep library versions well syncronized with available apps?
If you're mixing and matching packages from older distros or other distros, then you will have problems. If it absolutely refuses to install the rpm, grab the .src.rpm and recompile that. There's a great article by the Mandrake gurus on how to make rpm packages. You might have to make some minor tweaks to the spec file and/or recreate the patches, but it's definitely easier than building everything from source with all the correct features enabled, and all the ones that cause problems disabled, etc...

Is the auto update tool easy to use? That is, does it present dependencies clearly and show you release notes and advisories. I'd like to know *why* Apache has been updated, so I know if it really affects me.
The auto update tool...if you mean something that runs in a cron job like apt-get every night, I think you will be disappointed. But if you mean "select a package from a list of available packages and have it automatically fulfill dependencies either locally or from a defined ftp site", then the answer is yes. As far as *why* apache was updated, I do not think that security issues are normally recorded in the rpm descriptions, but I could be wrong.

Can I depend on the vendor to quickly release security critical updates. If I have to resort to source in an emergency, it defeats the whole point of packaging.
There are guys that monitor security aspects as the primary focus of their job. They verify/classify the security reports on places like BugTraq and then upgrade the packages and release them to the mirrors. But you always have the option that I described above. Grab the source, tweak the .spec file, and make your own rpms. It's not that hard. It IS a learning curve, but once you get past that, you'll be rpm'ing your way to the drugstore for more fix.

Blue skies... Cannonball

Mdk RPMs are optimized for Mandrake. It is outline in the Mandrake RPM HOWTO. My favorite difference (from RedHat RPMs) is the use of the Debian menu system. Mandrake packages register themselves with the menu system, and I get consistent Mandrake menus under GNOME, KDE, or any other window manager I may use.

For more info on Mandrake's tools, MandrakeUser.org has a page about urpmi:
http://www.mandrakeuser.org/docs/basics/brpm3.html

The Linux-Mandrake website has a chapter about the Software Manager, which is a front-end to urpmi:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/demos/Spotlight/S oftwareMgr/

Honestly, I don't understand what all the fuss is about.

Unless you're the kind who likes to pay for water, just use one of the many other Linux distributions out there that don't have such odious licensing terms. It's not like there aren't any alternatives out there.

Or, better, you can use something with no restrictions at all on how you use it.

If Caldera wants to shoot themselves in the foot, who are we to stop them?

b&

Thanks for your reply. Your comment is the first seriously pro-Microsoft information I've ever read on Slashdot. I think that's good. I'm not anti-Microsoft. I think I'm more pro-Microsoft than Bill Gates.

Right now Slashdot readers have a general sense that something is wrong with Microsoft; I think that readers would benefit from a more complete understanding.

Notice that you don't refute what I said; in a way you strengthen it. You say that, after 5 years of sheer hell for its customers, Microsoft is fixing DLL hell in Windows 2000.

The people at Microsoft are not dumb. They knew about the problems. As you and other readers point out, there was always a way to solve the problem of DLL hell.

Looking at the SDK, as you suggested, does not solve the DLL hell problem because it is a social problem, not a technical one.

There has always been a way for each Microsoft Windows user to solve the problem of DLL hell, as you point out: It takes a week of work after you have spent many months attaining the knowledge necessary to understand what you read during that week.

My comments are just my opinions. My opinion is that, in the transition from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95, Microsoft achieved something the company wanted. In Windows 3, the files for each program were largely segregated. That made it possible for a user to copy a program by copying its files.

In Windows 95, the registry and the mixing of DLLs created copy protection. It was still possible to copy a program by copying its files, but now it took serious understanding.

My opinion is that the problems with Microsoft Windows 95, 95B, 98, 98SE, and ME have been deliberate, on some level. There is a deliberate 64k or 2 megabyte memory limitation on what Microsoft calls GDI resources and USER resources; this is what causes most of the crashes, even when the user has 256 megabytes of memory.

My opinion is that DLL hell is deliberate in the sense that Microsoft knew about the problems, and waited 5 years to solve them. During that 5 years many users upgraded 5 times, providing a huge amount of money to Microsoft. If Microsoft had delivered a good operating system in the beginning, many users would not have upgraded.

There is a conflict of interest for a commercial company in the business of making operating systems. A company with a monopoly will make more money if there are more bugs. The bugs have to be carefully managed; they must not be too discouraging; they must be discouraging enough to make people enthusiastic about upgrading.

That's why Linux is a brilliant social innovation. The GNU GPL removes the social conflict. Linux is solely an attempt to make a good operating system; the conflict of interest is gone.

We have Richard Stallman and others to thank for that social innovation. Soon we will have an operating system that the whole world can use, and that has none of the problems created by conflict of interest.

Linux is a gift from programmers and writers to all people. We have a way to go in achieving the ultimate goal, but it looks like it won't be many years before Independence Linux, RedHat, Mandrake, and others solve the problems of making Linux easy to use. Then there can be just one mainstream operating system, available to all and usable by all, without the problems caused by hidden adversarial behavior.