Well; I aquired the Linux format DVD (from a friend), with Ubuntu 9.04 and Mandriva 2009.1 as well as quite a few applications on the DVD (all applications are in tgz format though).
I decided after a day or so, seeing as I have a disk image of my Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex, I would do an upgrade. I have nothing to lose,time on my hands, and I'm interested to see what happens, as I have quite a lot of programs on this computer.
It's a special Linux Format Magazine edition...