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Mandrake 8.1 Beta1 (Raklet) Released
keegnotrub writes: "Mandrake just dumped 8.1 Beta on their servers. Along with updated software (KDE 2.2, kernel 2.4.8, etc) they have reworked their control center to include many new features." Word to the wise: there are some reactions to this beta -- as well as a list of known bugs and fixes -- at mandrakeforum.com. What I'd like to know is if a Wacom Intuos USB tablet will work out-of-the-box on 8.1, since I just bought a refurbed one ;)
Remember, with devfs /dev/hdxx don't exist until the defsd program is run. Setting up linux to boot from /dev/hda1 will cause it to fail because /dev/hda1 doesn't exist. Also, you can download and run MAKEDEV without any problems to convert to non devfsd. I have yet to see a single device that doesn't work (Not that they are not out there mind you..) ReiserFS has no problems what so ever with devfs as long as you select the right partition (not /dev/hdxx!) its usually /dev/discs/disc0/part0 or something like that (I am at work so I can not verify). the /dev/hda1 link is acually created by the devfsd. =) Read the devfs how-to before starting and you usually have no problems whatsoever.
I love Linux. I have been using it since the RedHat Mother's Day release...Way back in the day. But, everytime I read something like:
>>>I'm not certain I like the 'Configure everthing in the instal' approach they take, but I am sure it's helpful for all new Linux users.
I don't understand the back asswards mentality that all of the people have here. Just because you have the ability to configure just about everything in the install, why is this for "new" users only? I, along with the rest of the world, prefers to install something and get started using it RIGHT AWAY. The reason Linux isn't as popular as people like to lie to themselves about is because Linux/Unix is not easy to setup and use to someone who has little time to fuck around with it. Installing, setting up, logging in, and running productive software is exactly what serious computer users (home and corporate) are specifically wanting and aiming to achieve. Mandrake does this and that is why Mandrake is so damned popular. One of my friends spent an eternity trying to setup his network card the other week. Then when that got setup he spend tooooo many hours fucking with this file and that file to setup the rest of the networking and X-Windows and eventually blah, blah, blah...He finally contacted me about his problems and I told him to download Mandrake 8.0, burn it, and install it. He did exactly that and Mandrake found all of his hardware and he was able to set it up all in the install (including networking). He rebooted and was productive in under 30 minutes.
I am not a newbie by any means and I find Mandrake an absolute pleasure to use. It is not a newbie distro. It is a smart distro aimed at people who want to use their computers...and people who would prefer to not have to fuck with anything to set it up and get any work done. People like me at my friend are the 90% of the market Linux currently is failing to please...Thank You Mandrake for seeing past all of this "must be a bitch to setup and use to be powerful, omnipotent, and