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Mandrakelinux 10.2 Beta 1 Toured

Posted by michael on from the ten-percent-more-for-the-same-price dept.

Anonymous Coward writes "The first beta of Mandrakelinux 10.2 has been released. New package versions and features include some changes to the installation program, kernel 2.6.10, glibc 2.3.4 and gcc 3.4.3. You also get KDE 3.3.2, Gnome, 2.8.1, and GTK 2.6.1. Mozilla-firefox replaces Mozilla, and you will also find gimp 2.2, cdrecord 2.01.01a21 with DVD+R Dual Layers support, OpenOffice.org 1.1.4, Postgresql 8.0, and MySQL 4.1.9. Improvements are also seen in the Mandrakelinux Control Center ergonomy, to ease the network configuration with a better integration of the firewall tool. OSDir tours Mandrakelinux 10.2 Beta 1 with GNOME and KDE in their Screenshot Tours."

1 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Release by dolmen.fr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So what criteria must be satisfied to create a new version of a distribution?

    Time.
    Every six months for Mandrake. And they are right because that is the only way to do it: all free software projects are independents and have different schedules (when they have one).

    Why can't the distribution just provide the updated files through means like urpmi and you upgrade the packages that need to be upgraded?

    Money.
    Distribution makers need cash at a constant (or increasing) rate. Free updates does not gives money. Microsoft has the same problem: they need that customers upgrades to their latest OS.

    Why the need to download ISOs, burn to CDs, reboot the box and perform the installation/upgrade?

    You don't have too.
    You can find with Google how to upgrade your system without reinstalling with CD images mounted without burning them. But if they told you clearly how to do it, you would not buy new CDs.
    Also, it is easier for everybody (you and them) to support a system installed from scratch, than a system upgraded every six months for 5 years.