Customer Reviews

MANDRAKE-LINUX Discovery 9.2 (PC)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're looking for an inexpensive way to get the power and stability of Linux on your desktop and don't want to spend a lot to get it there, here's all you'll need.

Mandrake's Discovery edition is perfect for those who desire a low-cost introduction to Linux. It also gives you installation support from experts in Linux administration so you'll never be alone.

That said, there are a few things to look out for in this version.

First, if you have Mandrake 9.1 and it works for you, you may want to hold off upgrading as there aren't too many improvements easily noticed by the user--unless you count any eye candy and icon changes.

One of the big "gotchas" to look out for is a bug concerning the menus.

If you do a clean install of Mandrake 9.2 (or even an update), on many systems, after the initial install and after running Mandrake Update, your menu items in the K panel and elsewhere will cease to function and disappear. It was pretty unsettling to me as I did not know how to fix this.

The Linux community to the rescue.

After you install version 9.2 and run the bug fix update, restart your machine and boot into single-user mode. At the prompt type "update-menus" and your problem will be fixed. All of your menu items will be repopulated never to disappear again.

Other than this minor inconvenience, it is a solid version containing the latest version of OpenOffice.org's office suite as well as the latest versions of the many programs and apps that normally come with Mandrake Linux.

I was especially impressed with the USB support. I plugged in a USB flash drive and not only did the system recognize and configure the drive, it saved and copied files without incident.

No complaints there.

Again, if you have version 9.1 and it's stable for you and does all that you need it to do, you may want to hold off until the next version comes out. But if you decide to take the plunge, it is another nice product from the good folks at Mandrake and worthy of your consideration.

I don't know why the heading says no operating system. Mandrake 9.2 is a complete operating system that offers more than Windows XP. Mandrake is quicker and easier to load onto your computer and costs much less than billion dollar computer company's system. An added plus is that it is more reliable. There are fewer hangs, dead screens, reboots, etc. with Linux systems than with all Windows systems. Linux systems are either less susceptible to viruses or are less targeted by hackers. Either way, the result is a more stable system. Internet hookup was a breeze, plus the program contains a firewall.

This is a win-win operating system that runs virtually every kind of device you have on your computer, without the added hassle of looking for and downloading drivers.

You simply install the system on any computer, including Dells, and the software finds all your components and configures them accordingly.

Don't try and do a custom install unless you know what you are doing. Just let the automatic pilot take over, and make sure that all your components are plugged in and turned on before you start loading the program. Then, let her rip.

You will be very happy with the results, particularly since it's good-bye to Windows-type viruses and bugs.

Another nice thing: there's no need to shut down your computer every time you install a new program. Once in, Linux can install new programs and keep running, without incident.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

Other than the backgrounds and screensavers, it is of NO use. Very disappointed with this mandrake, do yourself a favor and don't fall for the five star reviews. A diaper has more functionality than linux does, the worst part is it actually cost moeny.

Not very pleased, use Windows it actually works!