Mandriva Linux 2010 (Free)
One of the distributions I almost always get calls for reviews of is Mandriva. Well I’m happy to say that Mandriva Linux 2010 was recently released and I decided to put it at the top of my review list. Mandriva comes in the following editions:
Mandriva Powerpack 2010
Mandriva One 2010
Mandriva Free 2010
For this review I picked the Mandriva Linux 2010 (Free) version. This version contains 100% free software and weighs in at a chunky 4.3GB when you download it. Now please understand that I am not a “free software fanatic” type at all. I have no problem using distros that have some proprietary software blended into them but I like to use one that doesn’t have that stuff every once in a while.
And Mandriva Linux 2010 (Free) was a good chance to do just that.
What’s New In This Release
This version of Mandriva has some new goodies and here’s a sample of what you’ll find when you install it:
Faster start up
Three themes
Gnome 2.28.1
KDE 4.3.2
Moblin (netbook desktop environment)
Firefox 3.5
Better parental controls
Moovida (new interface for Elisa)
Smaller install size
Ext4 default file system
RPMDrake search & interface improvements
X.org 7.4
I’m happy to see the updates to Gnome and KDE. The beefed up parental controls are also welcome. I don’t have kids but I’m sure there are some folks out there that do that might use Mandriva Linux. I’m also glad to see that Ext4 is the default file system in this release.
There’s quite a bit more in terms of new features so be sure to view the full list via the link above.
The desktop contains icons to join the Mandriva community or upgrade to the Powerpack edition.
(14 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)
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no live cd?
Mandriva linux come in cd live, http://www2.mandriva.com/downloads/?p=linux-one
What do you mean, no LiveCD? That’s exactly what Mandriva One edition is. It’s an installable LiveCD…
BTW, I installed the 64 bit version, and I ran into just a couple of hiccups, one of which is a submitted bug that’s awaiting a fix. Not biggie, though… It’s easily the best Linux released in 2009, though. Very sharp…
He refers to the mandriva FREE version does not have a live cd.
It’s as stupid to say that there is no LiveCD version when you’re trying the Free edition, as saying there is no KDE in Ubuntu because you’re trying the main edition.
Morning folks,
Yes, when I mentioned the Live CD thing I was referring to the “Free” edition not Mandriva One. I know that Mandriva One has a Live CD. Sorry if I did not communicate this better in the review. I did mentionin the Suitable For part of the table that Mandriva One could be tried without installing it.
No worries though as the overall experience with Mandriva Linux 2010 (Free) was quite good. The Live CD thing is a relatively minor thing.
You would never start off with ‘Im not a religious fanatic like a jew or muslim but I….’
Seriously, is it POSSIBLE to stop shitting on people whose beliefs you might not share?
Not just you but every freaking tech nerd starts off with a version of “Im not a racist, some of my best friends are black but….”
I use free software and I participate in three projects (including my own) which are GPLed. I am not a fanatic and none of the dozens of people I collaborate with are. Yet we are to believe they are everywhere.
It is NOT a religion and being treated like some retard by mental midgets trying to say the ‘in’ thing is getting a tad annoying.
I have 3 college degrees, Ive based my whole life’s work on science, on facts and hard work, I think that people who believe in the great bogeyman in the sky are mnetally weak so I dont like some dolts insinuating that my mental capacities are diminished because OF THE LICENSE I USE.
I want my work to be accessible to ALL who want to use it… as long as they play nice and share with others. THAT is the only condition I ask they respect. You dont have to pray to some idol, you dont need a special diet or getting a bodypart lopped off to join. You can use my code however you like but if you distribute it THEN you have to share the source code.
It is a logical decision which suits my upbringing as both my parents are research scientists who have collaborated with colleagues aroudn the world for over 3 decades.
Learn the proper use of language and stop insulting people whose motives in life arent money or religion but principles.
That passive aggresive BS is annoying from the free software haters and even more so from those that try to laud it like you did.
Good article for a great distro but the facile insult at the start ruined it all.
Hi Jim,
But what’s the point of having a live CD version of Free when you have One version? the whole idea of having a live CD version as you say is, to give the user a taste of Mandriva (or any distro) without having to install. What do you think a live CD version of Mandriva Free could contribute additional to what One shows ?
IMO, the live CD experience for a new user must be the best of the best, that’s why One includes Flash and proprietary drivers for graphic and wireless cards. This way, the user can have the best experience while using Mandriva. With a Free live CD as it doesn’t include proprietary drivers nor flash, you would have a version that shows Mandriva in like an incomplete state, not being able to visit a lot of popular sites or even being able to connect to the Internet at all because the Free version doesn’t include your wireless card driver.
Also a clarification, that Free doesn’t doesn’t include proprietary drivers and flash, by default, doesn’t mean that you will have to do all the work to get those working manually. They’re available on Mandriva repositories to be installed in a Free installation. In the case of video or wireless cards drivers, when you go to Mandriva Control Center, for example when you configure your video card, it will download and install the appropriate driver (ATI or Nvidia) without user interaction, the same happens with wireless drivers (of course you will need to use your wired connection to do this). With flash, just open up Mandriva Control Center, go to Software installation and search for “flash-player-plugin” and it will be installed from Mandriva repositories. No need to manually download and install anything :)
Ross, my apologies if I spoke too liberally about “free software fanatics.” I don’t think I was referring to folks like yourself though but rather some of the more shrill, true believer types. Anyway, I’ll be more careful when I touch on that subject in the future as my intention was not to insult anyone. My apologies to anybody that took it the wrong way.
Juan, good points about the Live CD. I guess I’m just used to having a Live CD version available these days and it strikes me as odd when a distro or version of a distro doesn’t offer one.
Good point about getting software too. Thanks for pointing that out.
Jim, but THERE IS a live CD version, I still don’t understand your point, really. A live CD of Free would be a live DVD, and the ONLY advantage it would have over One liive CD would be more available software, but as I said it would have the downside of no proprietary drivers and flash support, a less pleasant experience for an inexperienced user.
It is possible that you clarify a little your point in the review about this ? it’s clear that a lot of people misunderstood what you where trying to say and leaves the impression that Mandriva doesn’t have a live CD version, which clearly it isn’t true and you are ware of that.
Thanks