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Mandrake, SuSE Ready New Releases

Anthony Boyd writes: "At pclinuxonline.com, they are running an uncomfirmed story that Mandrake 8.2 will be released on March 18th. And of course, SuSE Linux 8.0 is going to be released in mid-April. Features for SuSE appear to include KDE 3.0 and a whole lot of games. Features for Mandrake appear to be a super small install and, well, stability. Sounds great to me."

231 comments

  1. and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by bastard01 · · Score: 1

    I guess I will have to give mandrake another try.. last time I tried a kernel upgrade it didn't like me too much, although I think that was more my fault than theirs... Well, good thing I don't actually keep stuff that I use long term only on one partition, since the new versions come out in two days, although with their current financial situation, I think I will buy 8.2 instead of my usual download

    1. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by red5 · · Score: 1

      I know what you mean.
      I used SuSE until 7.0 wouldn't boot on my system. The Nvida drivers did not work with my Mobo. I guess now would be a good time to switch back. Don't like redhat all that much.

      --
      I know I'm going to hell, I'm just trying to get good seats.
    2. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where might I buy a copy in New Zealand? Do mandrake have a resellers list with when they'll have this copy?

    3. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by iamplasma · · Score: 1

      I'm not too sure about that, but if your main desire is just to support Mandrake, and have a credit card, you could get a one year subscription to the Mandrake Club for probably about the same price ($60US, so about $120NZ, for a year's subscription). That gets you a small set of benefits, but most of all supports Mandrake.

    4. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by xtremex · · Score: 2

      Go to
      http://www.mandrakestore.com and choose your area of the world

      --
      If you're not a Liberal in your 20's, then you have no heart.If you're still a Liberal in your 30's you have no brain.
    5. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by Donny+Smith · · Score: 1

      This is what bothers me about this site - useless comments. Not informative, not funny, not smart - just plain stupid. Have you ever heard of Google?

      Yeah, I know, I can and I will filter out postings by anonymous cowards...

    6. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      nVidia is supported on SuSE 7.2.
      SuSE is more solid but you may find it difficult to compile certain generic Linux apps (unless you're good) on SuSE.

    7. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're being funny right? New Zealand isn't even on the map!

    8. Re:and just when I was getting used to red hat.. by red5 · · Score: 2

      Yah I know SuSE is my favorite for desktops.
      It's definitely the BEST kde in distro too.

      --
      I know I'm going to hell, I'm just trying to get good seats.
  2. Mandrake 8.2 by mauryisland · · Score: 1, Informative

    Several folks where I work have been testing the Mandrake 8.2 beta releases, and they're uniformly reporting that things are much better than 8.1 release. Personally, I'd rather buy a Mandrake box than go the donation route, but either way, you should be getting great value for your money.

    1. Re:Mandrake 8.2 by October_30th · · Score: 0
      I hope so.

      My Mandrake 8.1 installation has now lost the default "fixed" font for no apparent reason. An installation straight out of box, no upgrades (yet) and on a third boot gdm won't start because a "fixed" font is missing. If I comment "Unix:/-1" out of XF86Config-4, X starts but fonts and fucked up.

      --
      The owls are not what they seem
    2. Re:Mandrake 8.2 by LinuxGeek8 · · Score: 2

      My Mandrake 8.1 installation has now lost the default "fixed" font for no apparent reason.

      I guess your xfs service is not running.
      Try turning xfs on inside drakconf, that should give you your fonts back.
      Xfs is a fontserver which is listening on port 7100 i believe.

      --
      Well, don't worry about that. We can get you back before you leave. (Dr. Who)
    3. Re:Mandrake 8.2 by October_30th · · Score: 0
      Nope.

      Xfs was running all right. Exactly the same thing has happened now twice and I have no idea what's going on. It's definitely not filesystem corruption.

      --
      The owls are not what they seem
  3. Speaking of games... by Ricky+M.+Waite · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Kinda offtopic, but I'm wondering if anyone has any links to some nice games for Linux. I've been playing LBreakout2 non-stop, but other than that (and of course Q2), I've yet to find any nice games that I like.

    This isn't a troll or anything, I'm genuinely wondering if anyone has suggestions.

    --

    We wave the flag of freedom as we conquer and invade.
    1. Re:Speaking of games... by lastninja · · Score: 1, Informative

      try one of the candidates from no starch press sdl game development contest

      --
      John Carmack fan, browsing at +5 since 1999.
    2. Re:Speaking of games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Besides actual linux games, you can also use emulators to play a huge number of games - e.g., Zsnes

    3. Re:Speaking of games... by SilentStrike · · Score: 1

      A couple of my favorites are http://gltron.sourceforge.net/ The author of gltron is a really nice guy.. he even implemented a feature that I asked for over IRC. and ClanBomber, which has motivated me to try to create my own Bomberman implementation. http://www.happypenguin.org/show?ClanBomber

    4. Re:Speaking of games... by JPriest · · Score: 4, Informative

      Mandrake has a Gaming Edition for about 70$ + S&H that comes with the sims and a 90 day subscribtion to Transgaming I'd buy it but I'm waiting on 8.2. There is also a version of Counter Strike ported to linux.

      --
      Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
    5. Re:Speaking of games... by LinuxGeek8 · · Score: 2

      Xkobo is a funny game. It is included in most distributions, at least Mandrake and Debian.
      Around level 30 I have to use -cheat mode though, to be able to get any further.

      --
      Well, don't worry about that. We can get you back before you leave. (Dr. Who)
    6. Re:Speaking of games... by Anthony+Boyd · · Score: 2
      I'm wondering if anyone has any links to some nice games for Linux.

      The one I'm enjoying right now is called Adonthell (which is actually just the engine, the "episode" I'm playing is called Waste's Edge). What's nice is that the game is in the tradition of Zelda, FF, and such -- RPG, kinda -- but not so lengthy. Supposedly Waste's Edge can be finished in a night, although it'll take me 4 or 5, cause I'm slow.

    7. Re:Speaking of games... by hereward_Cooper · · Score: 1

      You can actually get CS running through wine/winex -- i have, to my complete amazement!
      I forget the website -- go google for it.

      --
      zadok.org.uk
    8. Re:Speaking of games... by iamplasma · · Score: 1

      It's http://lhl.linuxgames.com and I can personally testify HL works great, I play it online through linux all the time. Of course it's about 30% slower by my estimate, but for most people with decent hardware that should be fine.

    9. Re:Speaking of games... by buserror · · Score: 1

      I'm also waiting on 8.2. Strangely, I wanted to buy a 'club' membership as well as preorder 8.2, but they don't take pre-orders.
      And I'm not going to buy a fourth copy of 8.1 (one x86 for the office, one for me, and a ppc one for me too)

      I emailed them about it, and it went down the bit bucket... So... I didn't order anything after all.

    10. Re:Speaking of games... by Elbereth · · Score: 2

      Have you tried NetHack? It's a little bit retro, but you might still like it. It's based on Dungeons & Dragons, and you play an adventurer in search of fame and treasure the time-honored dungeon hack.

      Recent versions of NetHack also include tiles, psuedo-3D graphics, QT widgets, etc. I don't like them as much as the classic interface, which is displayed on your screen as an 80x24 maze in ASCII graphics. Once you become used to the ASCII interface, it really does give you more information than any other interface.

      Diablo and Diablo II are real-time, graphical rip-offs of NetHack. Don't get me wrong - I loved both Diablo games - but there is no way for Blizzard to deny that they ripped off NetHack for 90% of their ideas.

    11. Re:Speaking of games... by daserver · · Score: 1

      It's counterstrike server _NOT_ the client ;)

    12. Re:Speaking of games... by (H)elix1 · · Score: 2

      CS is about the only digital addition that keeps me booting into Windows. Its worth noting that the CS link is for the Server, not the Client, which beats the snot off of the Windows version (especially since they neutered the TCP/IP stack again with SP2).

      I would love to see a Linux client.

    13. Re:Speaking of games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      XBill!!

    14. Re:Speaking of games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Frozen Bubble (can't be arse linking, look it up on freshmeat) is pretty good fun. It's written in Perl (no shit!).

    15. Re:Speaking of games... by Stonehand · · Score: 1

      Aigh. It's much more feasible at a delay rate of 60ms/frame instead of the default 40ms, as of somewhere 'round level 34 or so. And Level 50 becomes an absolutely inane exercise in patience -- IMHO, the developer simply ran out of ideas fairly early on.

      I like XEvil, but it's the other way around -- the "normal" difficulty gets to be too easy, and it's *very* unbalanced (Chopper boy being far more viable, long-term, then the others. On many later crowded levels, and Hive scenarios, not being able to fly == instant death. And yes, while others *could* get flight via an Altar of Sin, you can't count on that.). "Hard" is much more reasonable -- you can get very buff, but a single frog-gun or soul-swapper and you're still hosed.

      --
      Only the dead have seen the end of war.
    16. Re:Speaking of games... by plavigna · · Score: 1

      > Strangely, I wanted to buy a 'club' membership as well as preorder 8.2, but they don't take pre-orders.

      Pre-orders will be accepted at MandrakeStore as soon as 8.2 is announced (should be very soon).

    17. Re:Speaking of games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah.. it doesn't matter anyways because halflife is such a old engine now (based on quake1 and parts of quake2).

  4. Slackware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    anyone know whats up with slack? when is there going to be a new version?

    1. Re:Slackware by ghostdancer · · Score: 1

      Well, check their changlog, you should know what they are doing now.

      --
      I rather be free in hell than a slave in heaven.
    2. Re:Slackware by Oxide · · Score: 1

      ummm.... Slack who ?

    3. Re:Slackware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you go to

      here, you will notice that they have gcc 3.0.4, glibc 2.2.5, KDE 3 beta-1 (no RC2 though). The also have security updates for the broken zlib for 7.1 (7.0 should work too) and 8.0.

      I think they will probably wait for KDE 3 and GNOME 2 to be released. I'm guessing either Slackware 8.1 or 9.0 will be released later this year. Slackware is evolving too, they now put the package version and architecture in the package name. Instead of kdelibs.tgz it will be kdelibs-3.0.0-i386.tgz :)

    4. Re:Slackware by volkerdi · · Score: 1

      Actually, there's no KDE 3 beta there, just KDE-2.2.2. But there's quite a bit more than what's on ftp.slackware.com that I'm testing, but that hasn't quite gelled enough for public beta release. That's coming though, and pretty much everything has gotten a complete overhaul. Expect good things soon.

      Take care,

      Pat

  5. Ready... go by m4g02 · · Score: 1

    Im getting my new p4 system ready, i just trow to the trash my winmodem and got a new shiny one (56k crap anyway :\), so im ready to take off... It will be nice to start with new Mandrake and KDE3.

    By the way, you are the experts, whats your experience with nvidia video cards on linux?, i have a geforce3.

    --
    Sigs are for morons... Wait a minute...
    1. Re:Ready... go by mauryisland · · Score: 2, Informative
      I've had no trouble at all with Nvidia cards, though don't use them if you're only intrested in open source drivers.

      I always download the source rpm's (I'm running a Redhat 7.2 box with a nonstandard Redhat kernel), run the command 'rpm --rebuild NVIDIA*.rpm' against them, and then install the new rpm's in the usual manner. They work great, but I don't a Windows box to compare them with.

    2. Re:Ready... go by npietraniec · · Score: 1

      My Geforce II titanium works great with the NVIDIA drivers. I don't care what the zealots think. They're closed source and they work great.

    3. Re:Ready... go by BrokenHalo · · Score: 1

      Your nvidia card should work out-of-the-box with the new Mandrake - it is fine with 8.1, any resolution you like on my Sony Trinitron screen.

      If you rebuild your kernel, though, remember you have to build support in - I think it's under framebuffer device support...

    4. Re:Ready... go by nusuth · · Score: 2

      Then you have to wait until next (probably 9.0) release. mdk8.2 has KDE 2.2.2, not 3

      --

      Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!

    5. Re:Ready... go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so... that means what? I'm not a good Linux user, and I can't do anything much (I've tried nVidia's upgrade and I broke my machine). I need out of the box support - and I take it that Mandrake doesn't bundle nVidia's closed source drivers, right? Is there any distro that does or is it forbidden?

    6. Re:Ready... go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GLX, 3D and all?
      The 8.2 betas didn't have this for nvidia cards out of the box. I'd be rather surprised if 8.2 final suddenly had it.

    7. Re:Ready... go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey; Just take a look to this page; I think it's a good explanation...

    8. Re:Ready... go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry; the page: http://www.mandrakeuser.org/docs/hardware/hgforce. html
      I hope it'll be usefull for you.

    9. Re:Ready... go by HalfFlat · · Score: 1

      On a VIA chipset K6-3 system with a GeForce 2MX, the (closed-source) NVidia drivers are the least stable thing on my system. Sadly, when they go, they generally take out the machine.

      If I don't run any OpenGL stuff, then my X sessions will last maybe 10 days before a crash. Running the 3d screensavers will reduce this to two or three days of stability. So typically I don't run anything 3d, which means I'd probably be better off just using the (non 3d-accelerated) drivers that come with XFree86.

      I've also had a lot of problems with NVidia drivers under Windows 2000 -- the last two major releases will wedge the machine before the login window.

      My next card will probably be a Radeon :)

    10. Re:Ready... go by m4g02 · · Score: 1

      Thank you for all your tips, at least geforce works no matter the close source drives, my old computer had a Voodoo 5, and it worked great with tux racer, lets see geforce performance. Thanks again =)

      --
      Sigs are for morons... Wait a minute...
  6. My feelings about MandrakeSoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've reached a point where I feel the need to express my disappointment with MandrakeSoft. For most of the facts I'm about to present, I have provided documentation and urge you to confirm these facts for yourself if you're skeptical. I used a phrase a few moments ago. I referred to MandrakeSoft's factotums as "nettlesome shysters." You ought to memorize that phrase, because, frankly, if history follows its course, it should be evident that we must understand that we're all in this mess together. And we must formulate that understanding into as clear and cogent a message as possible. MandrakeSoft has been trying for some time to convince people that a richly evocative description of a problem automatically implies the correct solution to that problem. Don't believe its hype! MandrakeSoft has just been offering that line as a means to consign most of us to the role of its servants or slaves.

    I don't normally want to expose anyone to rigorous sarcasm, satire and disdain, but MandrakeSoft deserves it. I have a tendency to report the more sensational things that MandrakeSoft is up to, the more shocking things, things like how it wants to weaken family ties. And I realize the difficulty that the average person has in coming to grips with that, but if you don't think that the final product of its blanket statements will be a dysfunctional society, wherein every natural self-defense mechanism has been short-circuited in some grotty effort to gain short-term financial benefits, then think again. Even though MandrakeSoft presents a public face that avoids overt paternalism, the space remaining in this letter will not suffice even to enumerate the ways in which it has tried to silence critical debate and squelch creative brainstorming.

    MandrakeSoft is reluctant to resolve problems. It always just looks the other way and hopes no one will notice that it ignores the most basic ground rule of debate. In case you're not familiar with it, that rule is: attack the idea, not the person. Granted, MandrakeSoft clings to deconstructionism like a drowning man clings to a life preserver. But MandrakeSoft believes that it is a perpetual victim of injustice. Sorry, but I have to call foul on that one. Be forewarned: MandrakeSoft pompously claims that everything it says is thoroughly and entirely true. That sort of nonsense impresses many people, unfortunately. Lastly, phallocentrism is classically a hodgepodge of ventures crafted for mass appeal.

    1. Re:My feelings about MandrakeSoft by m4g02 · · Score: 1

      It still is the easier diestro for starters, its still free, still give they source away, still ask for help to the community and help the community, i dont think its evil on any way... Of course it has some errors but its the perfect linux desktop, if you want a server or a 99.99% runtime system then install OpenBSD, Mandrake is a great step on friendly linux.

      --
      Sigs are for morons... Wait a minute...
    2. Re:My feelings about MandrakeSoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nice trolling. But ripping off an editorial about Shania Twain?

    3. Re:My feelings about MandrakeSoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let me guess, your the guy that wrote the Micro$oft EULA?

  7. Mandrake on the 18th? by npietraniec · · Score: 1

    I don't know about that. I thought they were getting another Release Candidate ready because there were a few known bugs in RC1.

  8. Re: nvidia on linux by mentin · · Score: 1

    I have problem with GeForce 2 with View Sonic LCD monitor (connected with DVI input). Installed Mandrake 8.0, it even listed my monitor in settings. But it obviusly could not sync to my monitor. I did not even think DVI can have sync problem, after all it is DIGITAL! NVidia drivers did not help either. After spending a day I fixed this by removing XConfig-4, and tweaking old config file. Tried installing Mandrake 8.1 later - still not good.
    So now I type this on XP, sorry.

    But if you have non-LCD monitor, you should be safe.

    --
    MSDOS: 20+ years without remote hole in the default install
  9. wow by nomadic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At pclinuxonline.com, they are running an uncomfirmed story that Mandrake 8.2 will be released on March 18th.

    Glad slashdot got the scoop before the Washington Post or the New York Times.

    I'm trying to be funny sarcastic, not mean sarcastic, so nobody get too upset.

    I can see announcing new releases, though I think slashdot goes overboard on that, but announcing RUMORS of a possible release? I mean, you'd think people were waiting for the new mandrake like it was a necessary transplant organ...

    1. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it is a trnsplant to my defective Windows Crapiculus organ.
      Time to divert the blood (read: money) to people who deserve it more than MicroBlows.

    2. Re:wow by Anthony+Boyd · · Score: 4, Informative
      I can see announcing new releases, though I think slashdot goes overboard on that, but announcing RUMORS of a possible release?

      Well, after I submitted the story, I kept hunting around for more info, and found what is probably the origin of the Mandrake 8.2 rumor: a mailing list post by someone at Mandrake. I'm not on the mailing list, but I did find a Usenet discussion about it at Google. I guess the rumor probably has some validity, so Slashdot's probably right on the money at this point. Although, to be honest, I kinda hope it isn't released on Monday -- that Usenet discussion and a few others I've read make it clear that while this release is solid, it's getting rushed out the door, probably because of money issues.

      Hey Mandrake, if you really need money coming in, take pre-orders and spend an extra week to kill off a few extra bugs. I'll buy it & take a charge to my card now, but just deliver on the stability rumor. I'll pay for stability.

    3. Re:wow by sydb · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      I'll pay for stability.
      No need.

      --
      Yours Sincerely, Michael.
    4. Re:wow by seann · · Score: 1
      --
      I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
    5. Re:wow by EricKrout.com · · Score: 1, Redundant

      It should be noted that monolinux reported this story hours before pclinuxonline did. Gee, I wonder where they got it from?

      http://monolinux.com/modules/news/article.php?stor yid=40

    6. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was looking for pre-orders too. Found it
      here. I sent in a message talking about pre-orders too. It looks like they might have gotten the picture.

  10. mmm 8.0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just placed my order for 8.0.
    I've been using it since 6.2 and its been solid.

    I love it because it contains EVERYTHING.
    No need to go looking for an RPM (using rpmfind.net), its all on the CDs (or DVD)

    :)

    the key thing with suse, as with any install is to turn off the junk you dont need.

    1. Re:mmm 8.0 by posmon · · Score: 0
      I love it because it contains EVERYTHING.

      errr.... yeah. like a decent office package? or quality games? how about a feature-packed ide?

      --

      update comments set karma=-1, reason='offtopic' where sid=26315

  11. How about PPC? by jchristopher · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I hope they aren't also claiming that the PowerPC release is ready... I tried it recently, and while promising, it has some show-stopper bugs.

    Can anyone confirm/deny that it will be a later release? I have high hopes for using it as the daily OS on my iBook.

    1. Re:How about PPC? by YourMissionForToday · · Score: 1, Funny
      I can confirm there is a UNIX-like operating system for your architecture that has no "showstopper bugs," a coherent GUI, and support from major commercial software developers.

      Unlike Mandrake and Suse, the vendor who provides this software is in excellent financial health, and its main focus is your architecture. Here's a link to more information.

    2. Re:How about PPC? by jchristopher · · Score: 1
      I'm sorry you have the "-1, bitchslap" because that's actually pretty funny. You're right we don't have to worry about Apple going anywhere...

      I even agree with your point about OS X being far more polished. However, the big problem is that it runs like a slug (and I have 640 MB RAM!). Linux runs FAR faster, even when you add in KDE or Gnome, and since it does everything I need with a default install (browser, IM, newsgroups, email, word processor, MP3 player), I'm highly interested in seeing the PPC variants of Linux succeed.

    3. Re:How about PPC? by theblacksun · · Score: 0

      eh, it's the weekend. ever watched saturday night news? "Some puppies found to be warm and cuddley."

      who *really* reads this site on the weekend. uh oh.....

      --
      Ignorance kills, complacency kills, hatred kills, but usually not the ones guilty of them.
    4. Re:How about PPC? by YourMissionForToday · · Score: 0
      OS X is weird when it comes to speed. I know several people who are running it on the new iBooks (silver) with no complaints about speed. My girlfriend's older iMac-333 (288MB RAM) also runs it without a hitch, seemingly faster than my own machine. a B&W G3-350.

      It's running on a separate UFS partition, which should be speedier, but I guess not. It's also pretty slow on my buddy's iMac-400.

      As for Linux, I've only used Yellow Dog, Debian, and LinuxPPC on the PowerPC side. Debian is by far my favorite (I hate dealing with RPM's, I am not a Linux wizard and it's a nightmare to me.) Debian would be a good choice...but Darwin would be even better...

  12. Fast and Easy... by guamman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The best feature about Mandrake 8.1 is that it took about half the time to install as Windows 2000 and was probably the easiest install for linux. This may not seem like much for computer geeks (the slashdot crowd), but it is vital for getting linux on more personal desktops. If linux is ever going to survive in its current form, it needs to be a viable competitor with Microsoft. I can only hope that Mandrake 8.2 continues the trend of the other Mandrakes before it.

    1. Re:Fast and Easy... by mir · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I have tried all of Mandrake 8.2 beta and they look pretty good, and extremely easy to install. A couple of days after the ssh bug was found the patched version was included in RC1 and I expect a zlib-bug free version for the official 8.2. This itself makes it a good reason to upgrade (along with the fact that it detected my wireless card nearly-flawlessly on my laptop).

      --
      Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em. (Terry Pratchett)
    2. Re:Fast and Easy... by krogoth · · Score: 3, Funny

      Wrong. Mandrake making an easier installer won't save Linux (but then that's only because it's not in trouble in the first place). It doesn't need to compete with Microsoft; it only needs to attract enough developers to continue advancing, and I see no sign that Microsoft, or even the 10 biggest commercial distributions disapearing (I doubt anything could destroy Debian, any more than anything could destroy Linux) would prevent that.

      --

      They that quote Benjamin Franklin on liberty and safety deserve neither.
    3. Re:Fast and Easy... by extrasolar · · Score: 3, Funny
      If linux is ever going to survive in its current form, it needs to be a viable competitor with Microsoft.

      You almost sound serious about that statement. Mandrake Inc may not survive but they've given power of the software to you and anyone else who uses it by distributing and writing Free Software*. The Operating System is Free. It has no choice but to survive.

      * My regards to the former users of BeOS, may he rest in peace

    4. Re:Fast and Easy... by abdulla · · Score: 1

      funny that, complete install not including server parts, took 1 hour and 30 mins on my comp, windows xp took 40 minutes to install and i didn't have a quarter of the configuration demands, i love linux, but they still have a long way to go before hitting mainstream desktop usage.

    5. Re:Fast and Easy... by bigbadwlf · · Score: 1

      What's even funnier is that I dual boot Windows XP and Debian (sid).
      Now xp *did* install faster, mind you I had the install files on a local CD-ROM for that...... Debian was a netinstall.
      But Debian boots, runs and shuts down faster than xp ever will.
      I haven't run Mandrake since before I upgraded from my old P233MMX.

    6. Re:Fast and Easy... by posmon · · Score: 0

      indeed, the best thing about linux is ALWAYS installing it. because after that, you're stuck with actually having to USE it.

      --

      update comments set karma=-1, reason='offtopic' where sid=26315

    7. Re:Fast and Easy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The zlib bug was already fixed in RC1, AFAIK

    8. Re:Fast and Easy... by bconway · · Score: 2

      The zlib packages and some other affected packages were included in 8.2RC1, but more updates came later due to the zlib bug that weren't included initially. Regardless, updates have been issued for all of the official releases and fixed packages will be included in the final 8.2, so it's really a non-issue.

      --
      Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru?
  13. What about Red Hat? by antdude · · Score: 2

    Are there any status reports on Red Hat releases like a beta?

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    1. Re:What about Red Hat? by 56ker · · Score: 1

      Information on Red Hat's current betas are here.

    2. Re:What about Red Hat? by antdude · · Score: 2

      Thanks 56ker, too bad there's no new information. It is still showing Rosewell. :)

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    3. Re:What about Red Hat? by 56ker · · Score: 1

      Glad somebody appreciates my efforts. :o)

  14. OT: Other Linux games... by antdude · · Score: 2, Informative

    Ricky, have you checked these two Web sites yet?

    Linux Games
    The Linux Game Tone

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  15. Oh really? by HanzoSan · · Score: 2

    Suse wouldnt boot? Or you couldnt boot Suse?

    --
    If you use Linux, please help development of Autopac
    1. Re:Oh really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey HanzoSan - As a Power User, aren't you supposed to be pulling your pud to some Divxes right now instead of flaming Linux users?

  16. Mandrake makes less money that way by HanzoSan · · Score: 2, Interesting



    Buying the box means mandrake makes less money
    if all you want is a free manual and a nice looking box, maybe you can find a printer

    --
    If you use Linux, please help development of Autopac
    1. Re:Mandrake makes less money that way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then why don't they raise the price? Any company resorting to begging when they have a product to sell is rather sad.

      Look at RedHat. They're selling free shit for $200 or even for $2200. That's at least honorable.

    2. Re:Mandrake makes less money that way by aminorex · · Score: 3, Interesting

      In the near-term, yes. But if the distributors
      don't see demand for the boxes, they won't put
      them on the shelves. If they aren't on the shelves,
      Mandrake loses potential new customers.

      On the other hand, if retail sales aren't doing the
      trick now, why should they ever? If they can't
      we're all better off with a pledge-drive model just
      like PBS.

      --
      -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
    3. Re:Mandrake makes less money that way by HPoole · · Score: 1

      Actually, buy the product online off mandrakes website. They make very high margins there.

    4. Re:Mandrake makes less money that way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds to me like you're a loser. Save trees motherfucker.

  17. How Sad...I guess that's what "RC" means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    OK, two qualifications. 1, I have ran Linux at home for over 4 years now. 2, these are Laptops I'm talking about.

    But $#$!@#@!%, With Mandrake Running and configured, for X (GeForce2Go 32M), and 802.11b (internal Dell which is Orinoco based, plus PCMCIA Orinico Gold and Linksys WCP11 cards) I was happy. Running fine on my Dell Inspiron 8100 (1GHz, 20G, 512M RAM) and my Dell Inspiron 4100 (1.2GHz, 40G, 512M RAM). Happy dual boot camper.

    So, I download Mandrake 8.2 RC 1. Burn the 3 CD's. Install. Install CRASHES on one, I recover (not an idiot, I know how to recover). Overwrote X configs and drivers (drivers are easy, any Linux Kernel change requires a recompile of the .src.rpm from Nvidia, I expected that), but rewrite my XF86Config??? Change my /etc/modules.conf? HELLO? WTF? Is this 1994 Linux?

    Then, PCMCIA is TOTALLY non-functional. Of both laptops, it took me about 4 hours before I could get ONE of the PCMCIA wireless cards to work again. Not sure what the hell is going on here, but the Mandrake-User-Forum (now that I look too late) mentions Mandrake FUXERED UP the PCMCIA thing on RC1 even thought beta3 was even working ok.

    Bottom Line. When upgrading your Linux distribution causes users ANY problems, is a day Linux takes another step backwards from being "end user friendly" and "mainstream" and "a desktop alternitive."

    I have no doubt in my mind, Linux _IS_ more powerful at the core than MS products. But, if it can't be packaged and installed well, it just won't ever matter.

    1. Re:How Sad...I guess that's what "RC" means... by squidinkcalligraphy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I guess the thing to remember is: if it works, don't fsck with it.ask urself if the upgrade is really worth it? sure, security upgrade are damn important, but otherwise, its often better to stick with what u'v tweaked to work properly and wait for a _major_ new release to upgrade (unless, of course, ur running debian, where upgrades are easy and painless)

      --
      "I think it would be a good idea" Gandhi, on Western Civilisation
    2. Re:How Sad...I guess that's what "RC" means... by Pussy+Is+Money · · Score: 1

      This is just how Linux works. The froddy Mandrugs and SuXe distro's may have managed to hide this fact from users because most of them were first time users anyway. Mandrugs and SuXe will have to come to terms with the rigor required to support their installed base. The underlying fragility of the Linux system lies ever more exposed.

      --
      Pushin' 'n dealin', shovin' 'n stealin'
    3. Re:How Sad...I guess that's what "RC" means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > The froddy Mandrugs and SuXe distro's may have managed to hide this fact from users because most of them were first time users anyway.

      Umm; I've been a unix user for about 10 years now, and currently hopelessly in love with SuSE. Last five years i've mostly spent writing low-level c/C++ for quite a few unix like systems (Solaris, Free/NetBSD, Linux). Reason for getting stuck with SuSE mostly is it's quality, which by all means (top-down) is excellent. By far best i've ever seen in linux world, but on the other hand it's still far from being perfect. It just is the next best thing after sex that i could find.

    4. Re:How Sad...I guess that's what "RC" means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speak English girl.

    5. Re:How Sad...I guess that's what "RC" means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Red Hat is the way, the light, and the one true purpose. Death to SuSE!

  18. Why now? by Tyreth · · Score: 1

    Why can't Mandrake wait another month for a release so it can include both KDE 3 and GNOME 2? Good thing about having a recent distro for me is it means less software to upgrade after a fresh install, but Mandrake 8.2 looks old before it's even out (Evolution 1.01, Apache 1.3.22, etc). True, a lot of the time it doesn't matter, but the bleeding edge is one reason why I enjoy Mandrake.

    1. Re:Why now? by foonf · · Score: 2
      Why can't Mandrake wait another month for a release so it can include both KDE 3 and GNOME 2?


      I don't think you'll see any distribution (except maybe some of those crazy expert-oriented, source-based distributions I've been hearing about) using either of those by default so soon after release. Meanwhile my friend claims kde 3 beta is alread available through "cooker", if you really want it fast you will probably be able to get it.
      --

      "(Man) tries to live his own life as if he were telling a story. But you have to choose: live or tell." --Sartre
    2. Re:Why now? by xcomputer_man · · Score: 3, Informative

      There is a reason why MandrakeSoft chose not to wait for KDE 3 and GNOME 2: stability. One of the primary reasons why Mandrake 8.2 is being released is to provide a more mature, refined and stable distribution than its immediate predecessors. And I'll say it does pretty well at that. Bleeding edge software like KDE 3 and GNOME 2 that will most certainly have a couple of significant bugs at their initial release will wait until the next major version number change, most likely (perhaps you want to wait for Mandrake 9.0 instead).

    3. Re:Why now? by IronDragon · · Score: 1

      KDE3 is "pretty good" at the moment, but gnome2 will need more than a month to get fully cleaned up. KDE3 isnt vastly different from KDE2, aside from being a bit faster, better fonts, and having a few more features. Most of the work between KDE2 and KDE3 was porting the codebase to the new QT3 library.

      I think that leaving it at KDE2.2 and Gnome 1.4 is a wise choice for now.

    4. Re:Why now? by timerider · · Score: 2, Informative
      Yea, especially when you consider the fact that producing a CD from master to 'ready-to-sell' packages does take time.

      One folk at one of the suse mailing lists once mentioned the fact that the cd producer they use needs roughly one month for that. Based on the assumption that they still use the same CD fab, this would mean that the 'kde3' they claim to use as default desktop in Suse8 will in fact be either kde3 beta2, or some spurious CVS snapshot. The gnome they put in suse8 is rc2.

      Now is that a good idea? I don't think so, especially in the light of this previous article.

      I normally are not a SuSE basher, but I won't touch that 8.0 with barbequeue thongs...

    5. Re:Why now? by LinuxGeek8 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      A lot of applications that run on kde2 are not yet ported to kde3. It is nice to have a newer release of kde, but the major improvements are maybe just a better khtml and kjs, and maybe it is a bit faster.
      But you want to run your applications too.

      I believe you cannot run kde2 and kde3 apps at the same time. Here it complained that dcopserver was already running, and after killing kde2 processes kde3 apps woud start.

      But if you want kde3, you have to wait for the final release of kde3. It will then be packaged for Mandrake 8.2 and I believe also for 8.0 and 8.1, and it will be available as a download.

      For Gnome2; I do not know much about it, but it might still be a release for developers. And most gnome developers will run gnome from cvs I assume. Most gnome apps run fine on Gnome 1.4

      --
      Well, don't worry about that. We can get you back before you leave. (Dr. Who)
    6. Re:Why now? by posmon · · Score: 0

      mmmm, barbeque thongs.

      --

      update comments set karma=-1, reason='offtopic' where sid=26315

    7. Re:Why now? by bero-rh · · Score: 2

      A lot of applications that run on kde2 are not yet ported to kde3.

      This is true, but it's also trivial to do. On the API side, the differences between KDE 2.x and 3.x are minor.

      For Gnome2; I do not know much about it, but it might still be a release for developers.

      It totally breaks the old API, so expect to wait for a long time until applications have been ported.

      --
      This message is provided under the terms outlined at http://www.bero.org/terms.html
    8. Re:Why now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Bleeding Edge" does not a good distribution make, fucker.

    9. Re:Why now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or SuSE 8.0 won't be released on time. The 7.3 release was delayed if I remember correctly. If the release date is now April 22, that's a month away, I wouldn't be surprised if SuSE delayed until May 1.

      I remember waiting impatiently for sometime after the announced release date for 7.3 to actually hit CompUSA. So I think even if they release on their ftp server on the 22nd the CD's and boxes might not be ready for another week or two.

  19. Linux is dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nostradamous says these distributions will soon announce they are dead and everyone should run Red Hat.

    1. Re:Linux is dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually according to this http://searchsolaris.techtarget.com/originalConten t/0,289142,sid12_gci809175,00.html?Exclusive=True "Sun executives clarified the announcements during a recent press conference, explaining that the company will package Java, Sun One and N1 technologies for Linux around the Linux kernel. The goal, they said, is to put together a Linux bundle that competitors like Red Hat won't be able to compete with" Red Hat is dying

    2. Re:Linux is dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here is a link that works
      http://searchsolaris.techtarget.com/origina lConten t/0,289142,sid12_gci809944,00.html
      As you link would not load the page :)

    3. Re:Linux is dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://searchsolaris.techtarget.com/originalConten t/0,289142,sid12_gci809944,00.html

  20. Re:Mandrake is dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Weren't these the guys who just said they were dying? Or was that SUSE?

  21. WTF are you talking about??? by BadlandZ · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    GET TO SOME POINT. PROVIDE SOME EVIDENCE. (sorry, my cap lock is not stuck, I am yelling!).

    WTF are you talking about. If your accusations are true, please provide simple, clear, examples without the longwinded rant.

    What did they do? Give Dates, Give Details, and reserve your long winded opinions...... Let us judge them on the evidence. If what you say is true, SHOW US!!!

    1. Re:WTF are you talking about??? by mrscorpio · · Score: 1

      Um, I believe you were just trolled by the automatic complaint letter generator at http://hugin.sigusr1.org/~pakin/complaint .

      But I could be wrong.

      Chris

    2. Re:WTF are you talking about??? by sydb · · Score: 2

      Hehe, thanks for the link, I read a couple of lines into the first paragraph trying to make sense of it before I started wondering if it was the Chomskybot. Of course their styles are quite distinct.

      --
      Yours Sincerely, Michael.
  22. I've been TROLLED! by BadlandZ · · Score: 1
    Genghis Troll wrote " get right to the point. This is a problem long overdue for debate.....blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah....

    &*(&$*(!&#@*!(#!@ Get to your frigging point! point to the exact things MandrakeSoft did, dates, specifics.

    All you have done is rant about "how evil they are" and to justify you say "because they did bad stuff." Yet you don't define evil, or what bad stuff is...

    This is a TOTAL TROLL. Redeem yourself, POST SOME ACTUAL INFORMATION rather than your ranting opinions. PLEASE. Or your will fall into an all time looser troll catagory.

    1. Re:I've been TROLLED! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you study hard, maybe you can pass the Turing Test on the second try.

    2. Re:I've been TROLLED! by hkmwbz · · Score: 1
      You have been trolled :)

      The sad part is that it is too obvious. It follows the "Trolling HOWTO" too closely. Start off by building credibility, then gradually move over to nonsense. Unfortunately for this troll, he wasn't very credible to begin with. Even reading the first few sentences, the troll was blatantly obvious. And it's an AC. Oh well.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    3. Re:I've been TROLLED! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You've been owned by Scott Pakin's automatic complaint generator. Please perform the appropriate pennance.

  23. Mandrake Complaint by korruptDOTcom · · Score: 0

    I use mandrake 8.1 as a server. It's done everything I've needed and has been plenty stable. My only company is installing anything with mandrake is a real.... It doesnt ever include anything you need to install stuff, Installing one minor thing includes 30 other things to install before it. With things like Slackware and RedHat I've never had such a hassle..

    1. Re:Mandrake Complaint by abdulla · · Score: 1

      its called dependencies

  24. ^MOD THIS UP!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can you read?

  25. Re:$lashdot POLL : by October_30th · · Score: 0
    Why did you post that link?!

    Why do you hate us all so much?!

    --
    The owls are not what they seem
  26. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  27. Are Suse and Mandrake redundant? by big.ears · · Score: 2

    I have never tried Suse, and only installed Mandrake once on a laptop in hopes of getting it to recognize a pcmcia card (it didn't), so maybe I'm not making much sense here, but it seems to me that these two distros are battling each other for the "European KDE-leaning user-friendlyish financially-faltering" distro. Wouldn't closer collaboration on their parts be beneficial, to avoid redundancies in installers/configurators/packages/etc? I know their packaging schemes are different, and they probably have minor differences in their file system organization, but they may be able to achieve fairly substantial cost savings by cooperating more and each distributing their own "branded" versions.

    1. Re:Are Suse and Mandrake redundant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Wouldn't closer collaboration on their parts be
      > beneficial ?

      A French and a German Linux distribution cooperating ? I think you read to much into this European Union thingie ...

      Toon Moene.

  28. Re:I'm ready to widen! by BlueUnderwear · · Score: 2
    It seems the wizards who made Konqueror do not want me to have wide pages.

    Neither do those that made netscape communicator. Nor mozilla. Or of any other web browser (n.b.: exploder is not a browser...). I think that should settle the question "who's at fault".

    --
    Say no to software patents.
  29. switching to Mandrake? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I currently run Red Flag Linux. Should I switch
    over to Mandrake or SUSE? Actually, my friend
    keeps telling me FreeBSD is superior. Maybe
    I'll just run what my friend is running.

    1. Re:switching to Mandrake? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BaAaAh bad sheep!

  30. versions? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They (and esp. SUSE) are wasting version numbers just like Windows-Software is doing for years.
    As they jump from 7.X to 8, there must have been great changes (hear me laugh?).
    I think you should go on with versions like they do; SUSE is doing this to make people think they are better/... than RH or any Distro with lower numbers.
    :-((

  31. I buy from Wal-Mart by extrasolar · · Score: 2

    I don't have a credit card and I don't have a CD burner so I just buy from WalMart. Its actually conveniant that way. I get quality Free Software for like twenty bucks. Otherwise I would probably waste that money on five milk shakes in the course of a week.

    Does it help Mandrake? I don't know what their situation is. I buy software because I like it.

    Strange idea, isn't it?

  32. DirectX 8 implementation on Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The good news is that Transgaming (www.transgaming.com) is porting Direct X 8 to Linux. That project is called WineX. They have already got it partially working - native windows version of MAX PAYNE (the number one hit game) already works under Linux!

  33. Count me in...maybe by joeler · · Score: 1

    I have been using SuSE since 5.3 and I guess I will buy this upgrade as well, better to have everything on my hard drive then need to download many upgrades over a dial up. I usually copythe SuSE distro cds to my hard drive and have everything available every time I use YaST.Yast2 doesn't like the installation from hard drive but YaST has no problems with it. However, I do want to see what packages have been updated, I guess one of these days I should start with a clean install rather than just upgrade.

    --
    >>>please remove "nospam" from email address
    1. Re:Count me in...maybe by MobyTurbo · · Score: 2, Informative
      I usually copy the SuSE distro cds to my hard drive and have everything available every time I use YaST.Yast2 doesn't like the installation from hard drive but YaST has no problems with it.
      One of the new features of SuSE 8.0 will be that rather than maintaining two installers, YAST2 will be the only installer - though it's text mode will be much improved for administration tasks over ssh and the like. You might want to take this into consideration before copying 7 CDs worth of RPMs to your hard drive only to find that YaST2 doesn't like it. :-) (Or maybe it's time that you bought a DVD-ROM drive; SuSE Linux Pro comes with one DVD-ROM with everything on it this removes the hassle of swapping CDs which might be the reason for your doing this.)
    2. Re:Count me in...maybe by rseuhs · · Score: 2
      I do exactly the same thing (well not exactly, I copy the DVD to a NFS-share) and I don't have any problems using YaST2 with it.

      BTW, SuSE has vowed that YaST2 now supports 100% of YaST1 functionality.

  34. Mandrake 8.2 release date confirmed... by LiteForce · · Score: 4, Informative
    Provided there are no showstoppers!

    List: mandrake-cooker
    Subject: [Cooker] 8.2
    From: Warly <warly@mandrakesoft.com>
    Date: 2002-03-15 18:07:56
    [Download message RAW]

    I am in the process of building the final 8.2 isos.

    These isos will be tested this week-end, and released on Monday if OK.

    As a consequence if you find some free minutes this week-end and test all the uploads that have been done today, and report any regression, that would be quite a great help.

    --
    Warly

    The original can be found here.

    --
    "Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting wuntime ewwors!" - Elmer Fudd
  35. Mandrake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I really recommend Mandrake for anyone who's new to
    GNU/Linux and want's to use it as their desktop OS, although I've now replaced my two boxes with OpenBSD 3.0 and Debian Woody, I still love Mandrake, IMHO it
    has to be the distro that's easiest to install, easiest to use and configure, and it's very focused on desktop use, it's the perfect distro for anyone who's just starting out with GNU/Linux, aswell as an experienced user.

  36. Mandrake 8.2 ships with frozen-bubble by leonbrooks · · Score: 2
    I'm wondering if anyone has any links to some nice games for Linux.

    Frozen-bubble was written by Guillaume Cottenceau (spelling of that is almost certainly wrong), one of the Mandrake developers, and is surprisingly addictive. It's kind of like Snood, if you've played that.
    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  37. PPC, Alpha, [346]86 versions of Mandrake 8.2 by leonbrooks · · Score: 4, Informative
    I hope they aren't also claiming that the PowerPC release is ready... I tried it recently, and while promising, it has some show-stopper bugs.

    It's not. It went into beta some weeks after the x86 version. I guess they're planning an 8.2-for-Alpha as well, since there is currently an Alpha Cooker around.

    If you want a version `optimised' for 386, 486, P3, P4 or Athlon, one of the things Mandrake carefully checked during this Cooker cycle was that Athlon optimisations worked properly, when selected. There is also a new package, rpm-rebuild, which will rebuild the entire distribution from source in one go.

    They also timed the release rather well, fielding and dealing with the PHP, OpenSSH and zlib bugs in the 11th hour. It should be one of their best releases, BoC I'm no prophet: only time will tell.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  38. Chalk and cheese by leonbrooks · · Score: 3, Insightful
    SuSE seems happier on a more proprietary road, and some things like their X drivers occasionally shine for this approach. Mandrake is - as far as is reasonably possible - totally GPLed, and their whole spirit is different. You couldn't mix the two and get an enviable result.

    I believe you could mix Mandrake and Debian (urpmi, at heart, doesn't care whether it's based on RPM or PKG), or SuSE and Caldera (for a distro that knows Novell and displays well), and get a much better outcome.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
    1. Re:Chalk and cheese by Elbereth · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Mandrake is leaning more and more towards proprietary software. Just look at their "donation" situation. When you go to download the latest Mandrake, the two choices are

      I have already donated
      I promise to donate

      There is no "No thanks, I choose not to donate" link. In effect, you are making a promise to Mandrake that you will donate.

      I myself was a little annoyed by this.

      When was the last time Mandrake donated money to me for writing software, finding bugs, or solving technical problems for their users? Never. But I'm supposed to donate to them, because a for-profit company is faultering? I think not.

      The whole nature of a company is to make profit. If they can not do that, then perhaps they need to think twice about starting business ventures.

      I'd rather donate to a Linux programmer like Linus Torvalds or Alan Cox than to a for-profit corporation.

    2. Re:Chalk and cheese by rseuhs · · Score: 3, Interesting
      SuSE seems happier on a more proprietary road, and some things like their X drivers occasionally shine for this approach.

      Huh?

      SuSE never released any proprietary X drivers.

      The only thing SuSE develops that is not under the GPL is YaST and SaX, configuartion tools. Those are put under the YaST license which is identical to the GPL with the exception that you are not allowed to sell it for money (giving away is OK, modifying is OK, source-code is available, installing on one gazillion machines is OK)

    3. Re:Chalk and cheese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SusE is determined to screw its Lusr base again. Somehow S_fsck doesn't work OKey, and S_7.3 still had severe sound/vid_card problems and the casual, pigden-en docs ... ohmeohmy if it worked out-of-the-box no problem, but if ya had to configure anything ... s-c-r-e-w-e-d !

    4. Re:Chalk and cheese by seann · · Score: 1

      you said it.
      although I said it too, and got modded as a troll, I guess you have more elegance as me.

      --
      I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
    5. Re:Chalk and cheese by seann · · Score: 1

      XF_Rage128 server, about 1.5 years ago, SuSE 6.4 I do believe.

      --
      I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
    6. Re:Chalk and cheese by bhsx · · Score: 1

      That's fine, donate cash to Linus. However, if you have written software, found bugs, or solved technical problems for Mdk users, then you already have donated. Also, remember, you're talking about the ability to download their latest version for free. Offering a free download of binary or source is not a requirement of the GPL, it's just a nice thing to offer to the world. I'm sure we've all heard it before... The GPL is NOT internet-aware.

      --
      put the what in the where?
    7. Re:Chalk and cheese by reaper20 · · Score: 2

      I think the parent poster was referring to SuSE's no-iso policy, which keeps me from trying SuSE at home. Though its not proprietary or non-GPL in any way - its definately easier to grab a Redhat/Debian/Mandrake iso than try SuSE.

      Having a DVD with the box set would be nice though, netinstalls and switching CDs gets old - I'll probably buy 8.0 to see what all the fuss is about. :)

    8. Re:Chalk and cheese by bryanbrunton · · Score: 2

      I too was annoyed at this. I have purchased every release of Mandrake that they ever put out. Do they considering they are annoying people who purchase through retail with crap like that?

      I am seriously considering switching distros at this point. I have come to the realization that Mandrake simply is capable of presenting itself as a professional organization. Mandrake's corporate culture is almost entirely devoid of professionalism.

      Business decisions are not made at Mandrake. Mandrake really is a bunch of hackers in a couple rooms somewhere in Paris. They just throw in whatever they think is the latest and greatest into their distro.

      From a product side I am just getting sick and tired of the pathetically designed and unprofessional tools that Mandrake provides. The english language translation of the text in the UI of most of the Mandrake tools simply just sucks and it isn't getting any better.

      Example of how unprofessional the Mandrake apps are: open the Mandrake control center, click on a module, click on a different module, even though no modifications were made you get a dialog that says: "The modifications done in the current module won't be saved." Passable english, but it wouldn't get past QA in my software company. And that's just one minor example. The warning dialog has a caption of "drakcon.real". ??? I have given up trying to decipher what the Mandrake icons are supposed to look like. There is little or no UI uniformity between the tools.

    9. Re:Chalk and cheese by Donny+Smith · · Score: 1

      He didn't mean proprietary, he meant non-standard in the sense that their X drivers may not work when installed on other Linux distributions.

    10. Re:Chalk and cheese by StarTux · · Score: 2

      "SuSE seems happier on a more proprietary road, and some things like their X drivers occasionally shine for this approach".

      Which X drivers do you speak of? Nvidia? The Nvidia driver you find with SuSE is not the proprietary one shipped with Nvidia, its a dummy one. Before you say Yast, yes its not GPL'd, however one can do anything with its source that is included. Only stipulation is that you cannot sell it on.

      Caldera is in its own area as they charge licensing fee's for each box. Whilst SuSE does not, buy a box and do with it as you would Mandrake or anyone else. Only real difference is SuSE offering FTP download for free a month after its boxed release date.

      "I believe you could mix Mandrake and Debian (urpmi, at heart, doesn't care whether it's based on RPM or PKG), or SuSE and Caldera (for a distro that knows Novell and displays well), and get a much better outcome."

      Give it a try and see what happens sometime :).

      Matt

  39. Competitor, schmetitor by leonbrooks · · Score: 4, Interesting
    If linux is ever going to survive in its current form, it needs to be a viable competitor with Microsoft.

    1. no matter what you do, Linux will not survive in it's current form, and that's a good thing. Linux is a living, growing beastie. It has no current form, at least not for more than a week.

    2. Linux doesn't need or want to compete with Microsoft, certainly not head on. If you focus on beating your competitors, the best you can possibly do is slightly better than them, and who wants to aim so low?

    3. What Linux wants to do is its own thing, and do it so well that Microsoft will die of natural causes. IRL, Linux doesn't care about Microsoft all that much. Linux will continue press on without publicity, without major funding, without lawyers, without distributors as such. That's how Linux was born, that's how Linux will live, and when its turn comes, that's how Linux will die.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  40. Submit this as a story! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean, it's something that would be of interest to most people on Slashdot.
    And you have to admit, it can be hard finding good games for Linux.

    Just make sure that you mention that yes, you know what [Rogue|Nethack|Adom]
    is already. To attempt to cut down on those inevitable l33ter-than-thou,
    text-is-god people.

  41. Important historical milestone for SUSE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow, this release will represent an important historical milestone for SUSE (pronounced "SOOS", not something faggy like "SOOSAY"), as it will be the very last release prior to SUSE going tits up.

    Expected to be a (albeit worthless) collector's edition!

    1. Re:Important historical milestone for SUSE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oops, just realized it is Mandrake going tits up. Sorry for my error. However, I'm sure SUSE will do the honourable thing and follow down the path of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings shortly after that.

      Then again, some losers still buy enough copies of Caldera to keep THAT ship listing in the waters, so who knows...

    2. Re:Important historical milestone for SUSE by Smoking · · Score: 1

      FYI SuSE has been a profitable business in Germany since about when Mandrake was only an idea in it's creators heads...
      check their website for information.
      If only one linux distro survives, I'll place my bets on them...

      Quentin

    3. Re:Important historical milestone for SUSE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well to make it short SuSE had troubles recently, but they seem to be on a consolidation course. They will have positive numbers soon again (they used to operate positively in the past)

      Secondly, they seem to make a major shift towards server solution currently and in that they have a strong partner, named IBM...

  42. Is it still buggy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mandrake was extremly buggy in 8.1 and euro support was fucked up! (IM A EUROPEAN USER, I NEED THE EURO!)

    Bugs that really annoyed me were quiet sound, unable to connect to gnutella, a fucked up version of gnome, and a bit slow for 64 mbs of ram.

    If they fixed it then im willing to fork up another £70 for a WORKING LINUX!

  43. GCC 3.x? by RKloti · · Score: 1

    Do either of them include GCC 3.x?

    I ask because it is especially difficult to upgrade from gcc 2.x, I don't want to recompile every C++ program...

    1. Re:GCC 3.x? by leviramsey · · Score: 2, Informative
      Do either of them include GCC 3.x?

      Mandrake offers it as an optional package. However, the entire distro was compiled with 2.96 (because of Mandrake's Red Hat compatibility policy), so 2.96 is the preferred compiler.

  44. I'll stick with Gentoo by Bladerunner2037 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I like being able to edit files to customize the compilation (no Gnome-core-libs-bloat? no problem. know I don't want kde/kdelibs? no problem.) and only installing what I want on my system - all of em in their cpu-optimized goodness.
    I was using Sorcerer/Sorcery/Lunar-Penguin (aka, the "let's have a battle of egos and fork like there's no tomorrow" distros), until they factioned and started having all the stupid in-fighting; now I went with the solid, founded, Gentoo - a little extra time with set up and editing files, but worth the effort.

    --
    -- oodabadabaY
    1. Re:I'll stick with Gentoo by gladbach · · Score: 1

      yes yes, when people now ask "h00 iz j00r daddy?" I now say "Gentoo is!" and they get really confused :P kev

      --
      "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms,
    2. Re:I'll stick with Gentoo by xiaix · · Score: 1

      I dual boot between redhat 7.2 and Gentoo on my main machine (1Ghz Athlon, 512mb) and love gentoo... but I tried installing it on a P200 /64mb (for a firewall) and it took about a week to compile... and the next emerge update --world took 2 days.
      I originally ran Sorcerer, but trashed the install and gave up on it just before the events you mention above.
      So far i have had no luck with mandrake (Im sure if I tried harder I could have MADE it work), it didnt like my kid's k2-400 or my wifes' compaq laptop... I guess I'll give 8.2. a try.
      As far as suse - once one of the live evaluations works properly for me on the intended hardware, maybe I'll buy it and try it out, but if the trial won't fully boot, what incentive is there?

      --

      Have you read the Moderator Guidelines yet?

  45. StarOffice 6.0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Looks like SUSE will stick with the old StarOffice 5.2 and not wait for 6.0.
    This goes for Mandrake as well... Mandrake will not wait for KDE 3.0 Gnome 2.0 and other MAJOR updates. I will stick with my RedHat distro at least they will have all the new programs when they get around to updating again.
    I must say the SUSE games did look nice :)
    They should have added TuxRacer & Chromium to there list ): Oh well I guess they will be in there ..

    1. Re:StarOffice 6.0 by Rydia · · Score: 1

      silly user, TuxRacer and Chromium have been in the games package since 7.2.

  46. SuSE includes stability as well! by croftj · · Score: 0

    Being an old SuSE user, I will have to assume that 8.0 will offer the usual high SuSE standards for stability that the previous versions have as well as the games.

    I have rarely been disappointed with a SuSE distribution.

    --
    -- Many men would appreciate a woman's mind more if they could fondle it
    1. Re:SuSE includes stability as well! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I forked out about $60 (USD) for SuSE 7.1 Pro and it was the least stable of the recent Linux distros. I finally settled on Mandrake 8.1, which isn't so great either, but still better. I think Slackware '96 was the most stable one I've ever used.

  47. 8.2 already avalable. by 1%warren · · Score: 2, Informative

    Cooker is in deep freeze at the moment, so if you don't mind doing an ftp install, you can get 8.2 right now. You might have to update a few rpm's later. I'ts probably more than my life's worth to say *where* you can get it on /. though. BTW, KDE in 8.2 is *much* faster than in 8.1.

    --

    Full plate and packing steel! -Minsc
  48. If they need the money by certsoft · · Score: 1
    Why can't Mandrake provide a professional online ordering system? After reading an article a few days ago I decided to upgrade to 8.1 and tried to order the "Power Pack".

    My company has different billing and shipping addresses and yet, unlike other companies, they only have room for one address. I emailed them, they said enter the shipping address, which doesn't work because then the credit card authorization will fail. I gave up.

    1. Re:If they need the money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why don't you tell Mandrake about your ordering problems instead of US, cocksucker? As if WE are in any position to make a difference.

      You pathetic little weasel, try to spark some synaptic activity in your barely used so-called brain of yours.

      Asshole. I wish I had lawnmower-man like powers so I could zap myself through the net, climb out from your ADSL modem, and beat the living tar out of you.

    2. Re:If they need the money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now you know why they need Money ..Because there distro is not stable and looks like something a 10 year old would want to play with not a IT manager,CEO,Network manager !!!! And there attempt to go 100% GUI is both good and bad. I hope 8.2 is as stable as people are saying if not Mandrake will end up giving Linux a black-eye....
      If I were you I would send them one more E-mail and ask them if there a bunch of stupid SOB's or what...Tell them when they FIX there fuck ups you will buy there box set. Untill then to kiss your ASS...

    3. Re:If they need the money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, that dude does seem like a cocksucker. I hope he gets (more)crabs.

  49. Ready Now? by corales · · Score: 1

    Saturday the file sizes and dates changed on some of the mirrors for Mandrake RC1. Upon downloading, and installing, it appears that this is the final. I grabbed mine here here

    btw: It looks great!

  50. Real time? by mofolotopo · · Score: 1

    Select a spaceship and travel to places where no man has ever been: the exciting real-time simulation shows you the planets and other objects of our solar system in high resolution and from any angle.

    Wow, so it takes years to go see Pluto? I'm not sure I have that kind of dedication.

    1. Re:Real time? by The+Great+Wakka · · Score: 2


      See, you can go to Pluto (Charon too). What's really incredible is that they figured out what they look like...

      --
      Everything is mainstream now.
  51. Unnecessary and irrelevant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry to say this, but it is totally irrelevant that these two are releasing new editions.

    First, don't be a fool and fall prey to Windows-style ugprade marketing. They could have called that free upgrades, they call it new releases instead.

    I'm running SuSE 7.2 now and Mandrake 8.2 RC1 on the other machine.

    o SuSE new release: some client-side programs that I don't use anyway. Otherwise, SuSE is very solid but different (less /etc/modules.conf) from other distros (sometimes it's hard to find info how to get around problems on SuSE).

    o Mandrake: likewise. I hope the new release fixes major bugs from 8.1. Some things seem better (especialy wizards, which I don't need), but nothing major.

    o RH: of course they're not releasing anything new when selling OS isn't profitable.

    So now it's time for these three to start learning from Caldera and Turbolinux, ahhahaha...

    I've got new Mozilla on SuSE 7.2, that's about all the upgrades I planned in to perform till Q4/02...

    ...

  52. Open Universe by sunhou · · Score: 1

    One of the games with SuSE is Open Universe. Boy, those open-source zealots are really thinking big these days... what's next after the universe?

  53. What is this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Ho-lee smokes, Slashdot. Now, not only are we faced with front page notices of every 0.0.1 Linux kernel increment, but now we have pre-announcements for inconsequential releases? What possible discussion is there on this topic? "I hate Mandrake." "Really? I like it." Times 200.

    There has got to be some payola going on here, because I can't imagine any other reason for abusing the readership in this way. Maybe it really is time to discard the "News For Nerds. Stuff That Matters" tagline, because, while I have no problem with a company or community changing directions naturally over time, I also do not need to have my ear pissed in while being told it is raining.

    Slashdot isn't about news for nerds, it's about Linux politicking. If that's the case, then fine, those of us who don't belong will get lost. Just stop pretending that nothing has changed.

  54. Red Hat beta - Pensacola by green+pizza · · Score: 1

    The current Red Hat beta is Pensacola. Most recent update was about a week ago.

    ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/beta/pensa co la

    Be kind and use a local mirror site.

    1. Re:Red Hat beta - Pensacola by bero-rh · · Score: 4, Informative

      Please note that Pensacola is NOT a beta of the upcoming release of Red Hat Linux. It's a beta of the Red Hat Linux 7.2-based Enterprise product, tuned for high-end hardware and high load. It's not what you want to try on your home box and won't install on anything smaller than an i686.

      A beta of the upcoming release of Red Hat Linux will be released when it's ready (we don't preannounce releases).

      --
      This message is provided under the terms outlined at http://www.bero.org/terms.html
  55. Pensacola by green+pizza · · Score: 2

    Check your local full Red Hat mirror for Pensacola, the most recent Red Hat beta. Roswell is what became 7.2. Pensacola is what will become either 7.3 or 8.0.

    ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/beta/pensacola

    Be kind and use a mirror.

    1. Re:Pensacola by bero-rh · · Score: 3, Informative

      No. Pensacola has nothing whatsoever to do with the next release of Red Hat Linux.
      It's a beta of the enterprise edition of Red Hat Linux 7.2, tuned for high-end hardware and high load.
      It's not what you typically want on your home box.

      As for the next version, a beta will be released when it's ready. We don't preannounce releases.

      --
      This message is provided under the terms outlined at http://www.bero.org/terms.html
  56. Will I actually be able to ever download SUSE CDs? by -douggy · · Score: 2

    I have a .ac.uk connection and would really like SUSE linux 8.0 when it arrives but I cannot really afford to buy it. Why can't i download the full cd set? I dont need the extra support from buying it

  57. Re:Will I actually be able to ever download SUSE C by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's their business model: No downloadable iso images. That doesn't violate the GPL btw.

  58. Where can I donate to Mandrake by Moriancumer · · Score: 1

    I donated some money a while back when I downloaded mandrake 8.1. As a consequence I was made a member of their club. I didn't have to do anything beyond donate the money.

    So now they have a drive for people to subscribe to the club in order to get money from donations. However, since I am already in the club, and I do not want to donate the $60 a year for the lowest donation bracket, I was looking for another way to donate. (I'm a cheap student.)

    Last time I donated I had the ability to say "I want my money to be applied towards project X," where project X was things like i18n, KDE, etc. I haven't been able to find a place on their web pages where I can donate in this same way, an amount that I want to. Can somebody point me to where I can donate without re-signing up for their club?

    Thanks.

    1. Re:Where can I donate to Mandrake by plavigna · · Score: 1

      > Can somebody point me to where I can donate without re-signing up for their club?

      Here it is, thanks!
      http://www.linux-mandrake.com/donations/

  59. mod beros post up... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this is beros second reply to the second incarnation of misinformation. the man knows what he's talking about, mod his post up (or alternatively the other one, two pageups away).

  60. OpenOffice 641c in contribs by buchanmilne · · Score: 2, Informative

    Mandrake will not try and release Gnome2 and KDE3, since they have learnt from their mistake with shipping KDE2 with 7.2. This instead will be a rock-solid release, and since Star Office 6.0 will only be released in late April/early May, there is not point in waiting for it. Instead, however, you can get an OpenOffice 641c build (but better than the SUN-compiled versions since it is compiled with gcc 3.0.4, ie the Insert->Frame bug is not there in the Mandrake RPMs), working out-the-box (no ./setup -net to do) with multi-lingual builds and multi-lingual spell-checking (see the myspell-(lang) RPMs.

  61. Linux is dying. by gladbach · · Score: 1

    long live the HURD!!!!!

    oh wait....

    --
    "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms,
    1. Re:Linux is dying. by cichlid47 · · Score: 1

      Thanks for reminding me. I was planning to download that today. I'm looking forward to trying their isos. http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/

  62. What? Can't afford it? by Leomania · · Score: 1

    C'mon... unless they're marking the price up 10x in the U.K. compared to U.S. prices, I can't believe you can't scrape up the equivalent of $29 to buy a boxed set to support the company when you can afford a broadband connection. That's pathetic.

    --
    You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right.
    1. Re:What? Can't afford it? by Goose+In+Orbit · · Score: 1

      I'd reread the original post again if I were you - .ac.uk is a university account.

      As for pricing, I guess the usual $1=£1 rule that we in the UK have to suffer applies even here (£35 for boxed SuSe Personal 7.3 [about $50 at current rates], though I guess the discs only will cost less)

  63. Red Hat Rawhide FTP install by Isaac-Lew · · Score: 2

    Is there *any* clear way to install rawhide via FTP? I know that it's not guaranteed, it may blow up my machine etc. etc., but it would be nice to have a way to do a fresh install of it (I tried using the hdinstall.img from 7.2 & making my own FTP directory, that doesn't seem to work). Any ideas?

  64. Does Mandrake Upgrade (Update?) Work Yet? by poincaraux · · Score: 1

    Setting up Linux on my laptop was kind of a bear. A few releases ago, I tried to upgrade (update? I can't remember what it's called) from a previous version of Mandrake, and my whole system was trashed so badly I had to reinstall from scratch.

    Anybody had any luck with this recently, or should I just reinstall from scratch again?

    1. Re:Does Mandrake Upgrade (Update?) Work Yet? by cichlid47 · · Score: 1

      The 8.2 betas that I installed had an update rpms only option. That's what I tried and it worked just fine.

    2. Re:Does Mandrake Upgrade (Update?) Work Yet? by modulo · · Score: 1

      I did the package-only update with Beta1, and some stuff I had in modules.conf got eaten, but Beta3 and
      RC1 handled the subsequent updates OK after I copied the missing stuff back in.

      Moral: I would back up my lilo.conf, modules.conf and devfsd.conf first to be absolutely sure, if there is anything in there special, but you may not need it.

      All in all Mandrake 8.2 has been a lot smoother than 8.1 for me.

      --

      ...but the language is MUMPS, which I will not utter here

  65. Y'know... (Was: Re:wow) by DavittJPotter · · Score: 1

    Instead of being so smug, perhaps you should help 'enlighten' we non-Debian and non-Slackware users as to WHY you're so strong in your support? Rather than just look down your nose at us, _tell us_ *WHY* you use Debian or Slackware.

    Your attitude is precisely what keeps people away from Linux. Like that of a petulant 12 year old who won't share his toys. "Mine's better, and no, you can't play with it, and no, I won't tell you why it's better."

    Sheesh.

    --
    "If there's hope, it lies in the proles..."
  66. My Favorite Game by cichlid47 · · Score: 1

    ArmageTron rocks. IT's a multi-player 3D tron game. It's like snake running as a kernel module. I did an lsmod and found this:

    Module Size Used by Tainted: P
    keybdev 1856 0 (unused)
    mousedev 4160 1
    ac97_codec 9568 0 [maestro3]
    snakeengine 2317 0 (armagetrondev)
    armagetrondev 2317 0 (unused)
    lp 6464 0
    usb-uhci 21668 0 (unused)
    usbcore 51232 1 [hid usbmouse usb-uhci]
    ne2k-pci 5120 1 (autoclean)
    8390 6416 0 (autoclean) [ne2k-pci]
    tuner 8580 1 (autoclean)
    tvaudio 10080 0 (autoclean) (unused)
    bttv 59776 0
    videodev 4896 3 [bttv]
    i2c-algo-bit 7244 1 [bttv]
    i2c-core 13568 0 [tuner tvaudio bttv i2c-algo-bit]
    ide-scsi 8032 0
    scsi_mod 92488 3 [sd_mod sr_mod ide-scsi]
    rtc 5912 0 (autoclean)

    I'm using Mandrake 8.2 beta3 now, and I'm buying the box set at Walmart if its there. I'll never open it, but I'll probably never throw it away.

    Everyone should go to Walmart on the release date of these distros and request that Walmart has enough copies in stock for you and all your friends.

    1. Re:My Favorite Game by JabberWokky · · Score: 2
      I did an lsmod and found this:

      I was wondering how it inserted a kernel module, since I run it as a normal user, and neither armagetron or armagetron-server are suid. I ran it and did a lsmod and didn't come up with anything related to snake or armagetron. Odd.

      At any rate, I'm not a gamer, but Armagetron is one of the few games I actually enjoy. It's worth the download and giving it a shot.

      --
      Evan

      --
      "$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien
  67. Re:Y'know... (Was: Re:wow) by CentrX · · Score: 1

    Except you can play with both Debian and Slackware to find out for yourself. Debian and Slackware are more stable because of the standards set by developers on themselves, etc. There's no real reason to explain "why" they're stable, that's not the point. They just /are/ stable.

    --

    "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson
  68. Super Small Install? Who cares... by pinkpineapple · · Score: 2

    I do my install only once in a while (usually when I get a new system, every two years.)
    So for me, it's not important if I spend 1, 2, 3 hours to get the bits and pieces moved from one medium to the other. Beside the install usually goes smoothly without me sitting in front of the machine (I start it before calling a friend and chatting for 3 hours.) The longest part is to download the iso images so what it is I would gain if it installed in half the time if the files are up to 20 hours to download?

    --
    -- I feel better now. Thanks for asking.
  69. What is so bad about other distribs? by supraxnet · · Score: 1

    Why is everyone so set on useing Redhat, Mandrake, or SuSE? Have we forgotten the old ways of slackware or other "old-school" distributions? What about freeBSD? One of the things us linux users are against is the way microsoft makes everything so easy... But thats exactally what we are allowing ourselvs to use when we choose Redhat, Mandreake, or SuSE... Just something to think about...

    1. Re:What is so bad about other distribs? by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

      Don't forget not everyone is, or wants to be, a computer expert. Some people want to just slip in a CD, install, and start working immediately. They shouldn't be forced to use a bug-ridden POS like Windows. Also, the more people we can get using RH/MDK/SuSe, the more Linux friendly hardware we'll get, which also benefits users of Slackware/Debian/Gentoo.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    2. Re:What is so bad about other distribs? by modulo · · Score: 1

      I'm glad I learned about, for example, XF86Config through having to practically write the whole thing manually because Slackware 2.0 didn't know about my monitor and couldn't detect my video card. But once
      you get past the been-there-done-that stage, having an automated tool is a welcome relief.

      Kind of like the front panel toggle switches somebody else mentioned today - yes I like the fact that I actually had a computer that had them, and that I actually entered a (very) trivial program by them and watched the address lights as the program looped around memory, but I'm happy to have BIOS ROMs do that sort of work now. . .

      --

      ...but the language is MUMPS, which I will not utter here

  70. Which distro to choose, then? by pclminion · · Score: 2
    RedHat is not on the ball, apparently. I've been using it for several years now and I just burned 7.2 yesterday. I was planning to install it next week but now I'm not so sure that's a good idea. I'd like to play with KDE 3.0 without installing it myself.

    Should I try something different? I'd hate to relearn the boot system (/etc/rc.d) AGAIN, I already did that once when I switched from Slackware to Redhat. I might be a programmer, but I ain't no sysadmin and it would be nice not to have to f*ck with 99% of the system just to get things the way I want them...

    1. Re:Which distro to choose, then? by Jagasian · · Score: 2

      My opinion, if you want a RPM based distro, go with SuSe, and if you want the tightest, most sophisticated distro, go with Debian.

      Once Debian gets a user-friendly OS installer, it will be more of a user-friendly distro than any other distro out there! Aside from the initial OS installation, Debian is extremely easy to use, maintain, upgrade, add/remove software too, etc...

      If you correctly install Debian, which only has to be done once, then you are home free. Upgrading to a new version is a snap, adding more software is easy enough a 5-year-old and an 80-year-old could do it. If you are really committed to Linux, then I suggest that you take the time to learn how to correctly install and setup Debian... do that just once, and then rest back and enjoy free software for the rest of your life.

  71. Re:Y'know... (Was: Re:wow) by seann · · Score: 1
    "Instead of being so smug, perhaps you should help 'enlighten' we non-Debian and non-Slackware users as to WHY you're so strong in your support? Rather than just look down your nose at us, _tell us_ *WHY* you use Debian or Slackware."
    Why I like Slackware:
    It's ease of use, simple installation and friendly package system. I compile almost every application from sources, and I use Slackware's base A B and N packages on my system, then I go a head and install anything else I need.

    "Your attitude is precisely what keeps people away from Linux. Like that of a petulant 12 year old who won't share his toys. "Mine's better, and no, you can't play with it, and no, I won't tell you why it's better."
    You may be surprised but I'm actually a very helpful person when the new user comes in with his Red Hat or Mandrake problems. I do my part in the community, I hang out on dal.net in #linux (nickname: notaku) and help people who don't know how to mount their vfat partition, see their IP address, enable IP MASQ, and encourage people to compile their own programs.

    I help people use fdisk /mbr to cover up mistakes ("I want back to win2k!"), I deturr people away from Slackware or Debian and tell them to use Mandrake or Red hat because it's easy (Suse sometimes) based on how they like to do things ("Windows Crashes, I hate it. I want Linux."). If it's somebody over the internet, I do generally recommend mandrake or Red Hat because of the simpleness of installs so I point them to the http://www.linuxiso.org and tell them to get a copy. However, if I know that someone is wanting an adventure, is not afraid of weeds in their garden, and can put up with some hassles, I tell them Slackware is the way to go.

    The abundance of users that come in and ask questions are Mandrake or red hat users, they wait until KDE 3.9.4 is released with the new version of Mandrake because they either:
    can't download and install it their self
    or is unfamiliar on how to compile a program.

    My major gripes with Mandrake are these recent "give me money" talks. What do they need money for? To make their software more easy? Many projects out there do just this and never ask for donations. What are they doing wrong? Why can they not be like red hat who is currently not following Loki's route.

    Slackware is however, a prime example of this. Slackware lost funding to it's project, and asked for donations, I would of donated but I felt the 39$ I spent back in 1997 covered my cost. I did my part in the community, I don't depend on Slackware to release a new version every time some Core program gets updated, and I hope others stop to put a burden on their Distributors as well.

    Why do I like Slackware?
    Slackware is Great.
    --
    I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
  72. a peek at redhat 7.3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    updated my redhat 7.2 with kde 3.0 (rc1) and kernel 2.4.18-0.4 from rawhide. a few problems but not sure how much this has to do with forcing this and that during the install. not much difference between kde 2.2 and 3.0, does things noticeably faster in most cases.

    waiting eagerly for a beta to come out.

  73. is KDE3 in Mandrake? by evilpaul13 · · Score: 2

    There's no mention on it's details webpage about the release... anyone know?

  74. So tell them about it by leonbrooks · · Score: 2
    I myself was a little annoyed by this.

    So tell them. They're the kind of company which is prone to fixing things like that; they're not Microsoft. When the donate link first went up, it was on the front page. They moved it to a more obscure location at the request of their business partners. They've turned to the community before calling it quits, which takes more guts and frankness than 99% of corporations have. Would you rather see that attitude perish, or the ``nothing to see folks, business as usual, oh shit'' approach die?

    When was the last time Mandrake donated money to me for writing software, finding bugs, or solving technical problems for their users? Never.

    Funny, I seem to recall something about free downloads, something else about paying their developers to fix code used by you (and in other distros), and lots of other generous moves, including that their base distro is (except for Navigator) 100% Open Source and nearly 100% GPL.

    The whole nature of a company is to make profit. If they can not do that, then perhaps they need to think twice about starting business ventures.

    They did. It was one of the calculated risks that they took. They didn't say ``let's make a buck out of Linux'', they said ``let's produce a good Linux distro and if we make a buck as well, great!'' They're only in trouble now because their previous management team ignored the corporate spirit and started pushing them towards standard DotCom stupidity. And were fired for it. I say support them not because they're a business venture but because they do so much for Linux in perticular, and Free software in general; and because they're a flagship of sorts. If they go down, it will cause some serious finger-pointing among the enemies of Free software and Linux.
    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  75. NVidia and SuSE by smartfart · · Score: 1

    I haven't done this yet (I don't have an NVidia card), but yast2 allows you to install the drivers off the nvidia site while running YOU (YaST Online Update).

  76. Counter-Strike under Linux by gauret · · Score: 1

    A friend of mine got Counter-Strike to work under his Mandrake 8.1. You need to compile wine with openGL, as explained on http://lhl.linuxgames.com/howto.shtml. (second howto) Hope it works for you (I didn't try it myself).

    1. Re:Counter-Strike under Linux by (H)elix1 · · Score: 1

      Very cool! I will give it a try this weekend.

  77. French are the Best ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think Mandrake is the best Linux distro than Ever.

    SuSE is a flawfull German Distro : It sticks, like Redhat or Slackware because they are American distros (Everybody knows that American are stupids and Mindless).

    French brought culture, revolution and good food.

    So I thin Mandrake will bring a real OS. SuSE , Redhat Sux. Enjoy Mandrake...

  78. Mandrake PCMCIA Install by Salsaman · · Score: 2
    Have they fixed the PCMCIA install yet ?

    It did not work at all for me (couldn't find the network card or CD ROM), and I know I wasn't the only person to have had this experience.

  79. Running Counter-Strike with *no* Windows partition by horza · · Score: 2

    Two things have given me the push to nuke Win2k and install 8.2 when it comes out. First is Crossover plugin which lets me read Word documents and run Windows Media Player. The second is my friend has installed Counter-Strike directly onto ext2 and has it running full speed under WINE. Here is how it is done.

    Phillip.

  80. Official URL by xybe · · Score: 1

    Haven't seen this here so...
    http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/82announce .php