I am new to linux and so far have tried Suse, (redhat) Fedora Core 2. I have actually got a copy of Mandrake Linux 10.1 official on DVD, but it is the free FTP download and not one of the box options i.e. Discovery or PowerPack (does this matter - am I loosing out not having one of these products ??? )

I just want a stable - easy to use (and learn), distribution that supports my current hardware and has lots of software to learn and use.

I did notice that the mandrake dvd I have - when installed - only had about 5 games on, as apposed to the Fedora Core 2 I have installed which has about 30.

Comments / suggestions / advice please

Ste

In my opinion it is best, I also use other distros for specific purposes and older hardware, but Mandrake is always on my main desktop.

Go here, follow instructions,
http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/

Then check out "install software" list in your "Mandrake Control Center". You'll be amazed at all the games and software that will become available from sources after you add your internet sources. Also, you will find you have tons to install off the dvd as well, much more avail than just five. And no, you are not missing much without boxed set other than "painless" one click installs by rpm (java, ati and nvidia accelerated drivers, and newer kde releases) you get with club membership, but can be downloaded and installed from web with a little more fuss.

That's all I needed to hear - I must admit I did like the look of Mandrake, but thought I would have a look at a couple of other distros. But after reading your reply and other comments on the forum, my mind is made up

Mandrake is easy to install and configure and update. Is it the best? I don't know I know it's better than the old red hat distro we used to use. Well actually we still have a number of the old rh distro servers out but their number is dwindling rapidly. I like the install process it's easy and for the most part trouble free. I like the update process where you can get nearly any open source package out there from one of the myriad of urpmi sites. (find a post by opjose and follow the directions in his signature). You'll find that nearly any problem you had just vanished.

>is mandrake the best?

Yes

Mandrake is great, for both newbies and more advanced users. But I don't think there is such thing as "the best distro".
Each of us will find the best for us regarding all our personal likes/dislikes and needs.

I've seen some thread of some people pissed off at Mandrake, when for me, it runs like a charm since my 1st Mandrake 8.0.

But I would definitely recommend Mandrake to a newcomer to the Linux world.

About the games: If you want to see the others included in the DVD:

Go to the MCC + Software management + install software, then on the left side open the "Workstation" tab until you the the "game station" tab. Select all the games you want and click install. If it complains about invalid signature of packages just discard this message. I got this since Mandrake 10.0, but I works anyway.

Good luck with your new Mandrake experience

The boxed versions comes a limited membership to mandrake club and some commercial software, like WINE and VMWARE. Otherwise you're not really missing out on much. In fact, Mandrake's "new" business model would prefer you buy a Mandrake Club subscription, which lets you download the power pack free BTW, rather than sell you a boxed copy of power pack.

Your asking on a Mandrake board if it's the best distro? Hmmm...

I've been using Linux for about 6 years, and I would say that Mandrake is one of the easiest to get going and I actually enjoy using it and troubleshooting problems on it due to the friendly and helpful community. It kinda reminds me when computing used to be fun back when I started using Windows 95 for the first time.

IMO, the best desktop distro for newcomers.