Mandrake Discovery 10.0

by O'Reilly & Associates

Product Features

• Easy, user-friendly Linux distribution for first-time Linux users
• Premium software for office, multimedia, and Internet activities
• KDE graphical desktop environment; browse the Web with Konqueror
• Task-oriented menu with a single application per task
• OpenOffice.org, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Real Player, and Flash Player

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 7.8 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: 2847980326
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 1, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,237 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

Mandrakelinux was created in 1998 with the goal of making Linux(R) easier to use for everyone. At that time, Linux was already well-known as a powerful and stable operating system that demanded strong technical knowledge and extensive use of the "command line." Mandrakesoft saw this as an opportunity to integrate the best graphical desktop environments and contribute its own graphical configuration utilities and quickly became famous for setting the standard in ease-of-use and functionality. Discovery is the easiest and most user-friendly Linux distribution for first-time Linux users. It includes a hand-picked selection of premium software for office, multimedia, and Internet activities. The graphical desktop environment for Discovery is KDE. The menu is task-oriented, with a single application per task. With Discovery 10.0, Mandrakesoft offers all the power and stability of Linux to both individuals and professional users in an easy-to-use and pleasant environment. Thousands of new users are discovering Linux each and every day and finding it a complete replacement for their previous operating system. Linux as a server or workstation has no reason to be jealous of any other more established operating systems. Features include: OpenOffice.orgSend faxes with Kdeprintfax, manage projects with Planner, manage finances with GnuCashAdobe Acrobat(R) Reader(R), Real Player™, and Flash Player™Manage your personal information with KontactBrowse the Web with Konqueror, chat with Kopete, create your own web site with Quanta, transfer files (FTP) with KbearListen to music files and watch videos with TotemEdit images and digital photos with The Gimp, scan documents with Kooka, andmoreOpen source applications include: Linux Kernel 2.4 and 2.6, KDE 3.2, and XFree86 4.3

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, December 8, 2004

By 

Ruth "rrebeccap" (Phoenix, AZ, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mandrake Discovery 10.0 (CD-ROM)

Being a linux first timer, I ordered Mandrake because of all the recomendations from other people. When it came in the mailbox, I stuck it in and rebooted the computer and i was up and running with the KDE desktop within 10 minutes.

This is a very good distro. If you are looking for something a little more stable than xp, but are intimidated by Linux, i really recomend mandrake. Although it isn't quite as powerful as some of the other distros, it still has the user friendliness that you need as a first timer.

I think it's worthy of mention that once, with mandrake installed, i had my computer running for 2 weeks straight without it freezing up or crashing.

Once you become used to the way Linux works, I reccomend switching over to either Slackware or Red Hat, since these are slightly more powerful and stable than a "newbie" distro like mandrake.

One more thing, if you are using a "Winmodem" (a winmodem is basically a stripped down version of a modem that needs all kinds of windows software to run) mandrake will probably not be compatible with it (although there are some manufacturers who unofficialy provide drivers for them).
The best solution for this is to buy an external modem because:
1) They are very rarely winmodems
2) The setup is VERY easy (just plug it in)
3) They tend to be faster than "internal" modems

If you are not sure if it is a external or internal modem, or if it is compatible with linux or not, usualy all you have to do is ask the salesman or whoever is selling it.

MY RATING: 9 OUT OF 10

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good program, July 10, 2005

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mandrake Discovery 10.0 (CD-ROM)

This is a moderately good program, so long as you keep the security up-to-date. For those who are tired of the insecurity and instability of Windows XP, this is an excellent replacement. The text programs can read Word for Windows, and have a reliable alternative.

Most of the video programs--and there are a ton in Linux--are good replacements for Windows Media Player.

You'll have a wide variety of choices for web browsers, from Konqueror and Mozilla to Opera.

File managers also come in various stripes.

If you are tired of Microsoft, go for it.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only For the Linux Experienced, April 2, 2005

By 

OverTheMoon ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mandrake Discovery 10.0 (CD-ROM)

My guess is that Mandrake is the reason why people never got Linux working and so never saw anything of it. Just get XP2 and an external hard drive. Install SUSE to that hard drive and try SUSE. If you can run SUSE and use SUSE then move on to the original SLACKWARE but it is a hell of a raw install. Mandrake does everything these two can, but SUSE is easier to install and SLACKWARE is more for experienced users (and free distro).