![]() ![]() (Return? Every PC keyboard we've ever seen has an Enter key, not a Return key.)Īttention to detail has never been a Mandrake/Mandriva strong suit. It finally told us that we were through and could press "Return" to reboot into Mandriva Linux. The installer told us that only 10 seconds remained in the process, then sat there for more than 4 minutes, doing who knows not what, seemingly frozen. The second installation attempt from the same set of discs did eventually work towards the end of the routine, though, the program seemed to hang. When we booted to the desktop, no applications were available. Our first Mandriva 2006 installation attempt failed, complaining that several files were unreadable on disc. When we used Mandrake, we frequently had issues with the installer locking up, or sometimes completing its work but leaving us with a broken installation. Even with its faults, this product delivers a much better desktop experience than what any Linux vendor provided two short years ago.īut as to those faults: They begin with the installer, and they are old problems. So in most ways, Mandriva 2006 is very similar to the other desktop Linux distributions we've played with over the past year or so. It's a sign of how far desktop Linux has come that we are no longer pleasantly surprised when we encounter this sort of friendly functionality - these days, we expect it. Pop in a USB memory stick, and an icon for the device appears on your desktop. Plug in a digital camera, and the system asks whether you want to import your photos. ![]() Gnome 2.10 and KDE 3.4 are both offered, and the default desktop configuration for each is clutter-free and attractive. Mandrake expects shortly to release version 8.2 of its software, which includes support for devices that can be plugged in and unplugged while the computer is still running, a better graphical user interface, and an encrypted file system to increase security.Mandriva 2006's installer won't ask you any scary questions about your hardware. The software has succeeded in servers, but hasn't dethroned Microsoft or been much of a foundation for corporate profits among those selling the software. The IPO was a far cry from that of rival Red Hat, which raised $84 million back when Linux was awash in hype as a way to power Internet sites and undermine Microsoft's power. The company's stock currently trades at $3.43, giving the company a market capitalization of $11.7 million. Mandrake braved the initial public offering waters in 2001 and is trading on an unregulated European market called the Marche Libre, but the money raised wasn't enough to reach profitability as the company hoped. Corporate benefits include special product offers, faster software downloads, and display of sponsors' names on Mandrake products and Web sites. Individual club membership benefits include discounts, chat privileges with Mandrake staff and access to discussion groups. ![]() Mandrake has been marketing subscription plans since last year. To raise funds, Mandrake urged people to join the Mandrake Linux Users Club, which costs $5 per month or more, and the Mandrake Corporate Club, which costs between $2,500 to $100,000 per year. "It is unlikely that MandrakeSoft can remain unchanged during these next few months without drastically cutting costs unless additional revenue is generated quickly." "The Mandrake Linux distribution's short-term future is in jeopardy due to a simple factor: money," the company said. The company hopes to break even by the end of the year, but in the meantime, finances are worrying the company, MandrakeSoft said on its Web site. Mandrake, a French company that sells Linux, is encouraging users to join for-fee clubs to provide enough money to keep the company in business. ![]()
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