previews with file metainfo
 

on my desktop computer running mandriva 2006, when I point on a file, I get a preview of the contents including modified date, id3 info for mp3s, exif info for digicam images etc. on my laptop running fc5 I do not have this, but I want to change that. my question is: is this a more or less specific feature of mandriva, or am I simply missing the right package? if so, which one. (they both use kde)

that feature has been a part of kde for a few versions I think. Not sure about FC5. Check to make sure you have file preview set up like here

that setting makes icons preview file content, but what I am looking for is more, if you point on a file with a very long name, the full name appears as a tooltip. for example: if I point on a movie, foo.avi I might get something like this:
information possibly in a different order, maybe a few more/other details depending on file type and what has been included in the metadata tag of the file.