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Liars when they speak the truth are not believed - Aristotle
Mandriva Linux 2009 released
THE SOPHISTICATED international Linux vendor Mandriva released several versions of its latest Mandriva Linux 2009 distribution on Thursday.
The respun and updated Mandriva 2009 is the first of two anticipated releases this year, if Mandriva continues emulating Intel's "tick-tock" chip technology updates with its autumn and spring releases of Linux. Both releases are typically of high quality.
As is its practice, Mandriva released three versions of its Linux distribution. All three of the flavours include basically the same software base of the Linux kernel, GNU utilities, vendor-written tools and applications, but each separate Mandriva version incorporates a different complement of software packages appropriate for its constraints and audience.
The three main versions of Mandriva Linux 2009 are: Free, which is downloadable free of charge and includes only free software; One, which is also free of charge, can run from a single CD without modifying the hard disk, and can be installed to hard disk by clicking on a desktop icon; and Powerpack, a boxed version that costs a relatively modest amount of money to buy and comes with a large library of applications including some that are commercial software.
The company has also offered a version of its Linux distribution loaded onto a USB stick, and one imagines Mandriva 2009 will be eventually forthcoming with that option as well.
Mandriva Linux 2009.0 builds upon the well integrated Mandriva Linux 2008.1 with major new components and a number of added features... on top of Linux kernel version 2.6.27.
Perhaps the sexiest new component provided in Mandriva 2009 is the KDE 4.1.2 desktop. As the version number indicates, that's built upon the rearchitected and streamlined KDE 4 base.
New features of the K Desktop Envirionment KDE 4.1.2 include: a new desktop shell called Plasma that enables unprecedented flexibility for desktop plasmoid entities such as the task bar panel, icons, folders, applets and launchers; Phonon, a new multimedia framework for many KDE applications; the Dolphin file manager; the Okular document viewer; the Dragon Player media player; and Nepomuk, a metadata framework for tagging and organising files in any KDE application.
However, those who prefer to stay with the familiar KDE 3 a while longer can do so, as the latest release KDE 3.5.10 is also available in Mandriva 2009.
For somewhat resource constrained netbook PCs, Mandriva 2009 includes the relatively lightweight but modern LXDE desktop. LXDE offers a fast and good looking desktop with a launcher menu and panel, a full set of desktop configuration controls, file manager, task manager, display configuration tool, image viewer, notepad editor, and archive manager.
Mandriva 2009 also offers users the alternative of using the latest release of the Gnome desktop, Gnome 2.24. That includes incremental additions such as: the Empathy instant messaging client; tabs and a compact list view in the Nautilus file manager; a time tracker applet; digital TV support in the Totem media player; and support for configuring multiple monitors in the Control Center.
In addition, Mandriva 2009 includes the latest Firefox 3.0.3 web browser, the full suite of Open Office 3 applications, updated Compiz Fusion 3D effects software, and Virtualbox virtualisation.
Headquartered in France with a major development office in Brazil and a large cadre of contract developers and volunteer contributors worldwide, Mandriva has become one of the leading distributors of Linux, particularly in European and Latin American countries. Founded under the name Mandrake in 1998, the company changed its name to Mandriva in 2005 after merging with South American Linux distributor Connectiva.
Mandriva has always provided a stable, reliable and highly-integrated Linux distribution, and its overall polish has steadily improved over the last 10 years. Its strengths include its versatile and easy-to-use installer, its truly excellent video card and monitor configuration capabilities, its extensive system, security, networking and printer configuration utilities, and its sophisticated semi-automated software updating facilities.
This is being written on a system running Mandriva Linux, and we're downloading the ISO DVD image of Mandriva Linux 2009 even as we type.
We'll provide a review soon. µ
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Only, I wish for us Power Pack subscribers, they'd provide more then just 1 mirror that's out of France. Estimated time of completion, 24 hours 26 minutes.
Mandriva is my favourite distribution
The "problem" with too many choices is that not one will be able to develop a large userbase. Obviously, if the hardware works great with a distro there is no need to upgrade to the newer version. But when Mandriva 2009 is released, it is pretty obvious that no new linux enthusiast will consider Mandriva 2008. Had Mandrive released a patch to upgrade any older version to the latest version, while avoiding to release a proper Mandriva 2009, the number of users using a particular OS would have been larger. A larger userbase would lead to greater interest among develops to cater to that distro. This fragmentation is good for only one party. And sometime I wonder if that party is encouraging frequent releases to splinter the Linux movement.
Blah, blah, blah...Same point being raised over and over again about diversity not helping Linux adoption. (Although in the context of distros, the fundamental argument is the same). Guess what?! The model that Linux is operating isn't about market share. Its about contributing something that all can share. Its about providing a free solution (in both monetary and liberty sense) to your fellow man. Only people who have been so used to living under such a traditional business model, worries about market share, adoption numbers, user base, and the like. The intent isn't to dominate some market or the world. It never has been. Only Microsoft and Apple think in those terms. (When one think in those terms, they're only interested in selling something. Often regardless of quality.) Take a step back and look at how the community works. You'll soon realise it operates in a model completely foreign to what most people think.
I loaded the spring 2008 with KDE and like Ubuntu with Gnome better. I may have to download this (use my Mac to burn the ISO) to have a look at the new KDE desktop, oops downloading now.
htnakirs wrote: >The "problem" with too many choices is that not > one will be able to develop a large userbase Imagine applying your statement to the car market: "the problem with too many choices of car models is that not one will be able to develop a large userbase". Is that a problem? No it isn't. Imagine if 90% of us drove the same model of car, while those who chose something different were considered odd or unusual risk-takers. The reason why the proprietary software market is dominated by one party is because that's the only way proprietary software can survive. Free software comes in so many different versions and combinations precisely because all those versions and combinations are not that expensive to develop, distribute and support. That's fundamental economics, which is never going to change.
You invalidate your own comments. The very fact that what you're railing against is such a hot topic proves it IS in fact on the minds of Linux promoters. If that weren't the case, per your logic, you would have nothing to comment about. Ipso Facto: the "condition" prevails; therefore, you made comments. I think you're missing the point, from a Linux standpoint, "market share" is a euphemism for "user base". And one expressed concern is that of dilution: many distros means fewer users per distro. And the logic follows that fewer user per distro equal smaller "market share" which translates as a weakened "user base". Say what you will about MS, they understood this years ago and went to a "support one OS at a time" business model. And never think Linux is not a business. It might not be a "for profit" business but it fits a general definition of "business". And some think the Linux "business" is too diverse to succeed as it could with more concentrated and focused efforts.
Approximately 12 minutes to complete from http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/mandrake/official/iso/2009.0
Soon enough, Android will put all the penguins in a row , Linux will become an organized platform, and finally be a viable OS alternative to the masses. Nothing else in Linux will matter.