Suse or Mandrake?
 

*points to topic*

which one in your opinion is better and why? im a complete noob, so keep that in mind. :newbie:

Depends, as always on you. I have used them both extensivly and I would go with SuSE anyday of the week.

Definitely Mandrake!
I love Mandrake 9.2, it is much easier to use. Mandrake has a thing called MandrakeUpdate that is sort of like WindowsUpdate to keep your distribution up to date. Mandrake is aslo very easy to install. Suse has a pretty good install too, it is different but Yast2 is nice. The thing I have against Suse is the lack of providing ISOs. When I got into Linux, I tried a bunch of different distributions (Suse, Lycoris, Caldera, and eventually Mandrake). Since I was starting out and just wanted to try a few different distros to see which one I liked best, I wanted to download it and install it rather than buy it. Suse allows you to install via FTP, just like the other distros, but then if you want to install it on many computers you have to go through that over and over again. Whereas if I had the ISO I could just use the CDs. I tried their LiveEval, which is an ISO. I never did actually perform the real install. I hope now that Novell owns Suse they will provide these ISOs soon. Suse is well known in the server industry, and is #2 of all the Linux distros. I like Novell, their purchase of Suse, their relationship with IBM, and the way they have handled the lawsuit filed by SCO (of which I hate).

lol, i hate it when i get two conflicting answers :cry: i guess ill have to wait :)

I'm using SuSE. But the main reason for that is because Mandrake refused to install on my machine.

When I first started, I tried a number of the distributions available at the time, and Mandrake was the only one I could get to grips with, so that was what I stuck for some time.... until I tried to install Mandrake 8, when it came out, and their new installer locked up on me.

So that's when I went to SuSE, and I've been with it ever since. But to be honest, I'd sooner be using Mandrake - I still like it better.

SuSE all the way. Mandrake 9.2 is the worst distro they have put out. It has caused more problems on more machines since it's inception then any other OS other then Windows.

I'm also a newbie. Mandrake has been working out quite well for me on Microsoft's Virtual PC.

Ask 10 people and get 10 answers. It often depends on your hardware. I am using Gentoo but am the first to admit it is not easy for a newbie to install.

I used to use Mandrake (9.1) and I have to say that without it I would never have gained the knowledge to move onto Gentoo. Also as someone said, you can download CD-ROM image files (iso's) so have several goes at getting it right, as I did first time out.

I would try Mandrake Free Download Edition first, then you haven't committed too much if it doesn't work out for you...

well i would rather just get the better distro rather than go through the trouble later. my friend has suse which i can borrow because he has moved on to gentoo, which is what i plan to do soon. thats why im asking about this :D

Mandrake 9.2, or, if you can wait a few months, Mandrake 10. I have tried both SuSe and Mandrake, I believe that Mandrake in far better than SuSe (any version), and more user friendly.

can you give some examples please... thanks

I used Mandrake starting at about version 6.0. For my latest computer, I decided to go SuSE, and I like it much much better (I moved from Mandrake 8.2 to SuSE 8.2 so it should be a pretty fair comparison). I'm on SuSE 9.0 now, and it is great.

I use SuSE 9.0 Pro on my desktop and Mandrake 9.2 on my laptop, I don't really see an advantage of using either, except the SuSE install program is nicer. The only reason I use Mandrake 9.2 is because it seems to be the only distro that works with my VIA graphics card on my laptop without crashing or giving me weird inexplicable graphics problems. Seeing as the packages you get to work on them are virtually the same it doesn't make a difference, I've seen a lot of sites that give Mandrake customised RPM's though, and less giving SuSE ones but maybe that's because of where I'm looking.

I moved from suse to Mandrake
 

I like suse. But I like mandrake more. Suse indeed is a great distro. I have been working on suse 8.1 8.2, and some early editions(short time). SuSE has a nice face and great support tools e.g. YaST2. The best thing about SuSE, in my view of course, is the widely spreading. People can easily find packs for suse all over the Internet.
That, however, is the point I against Mandrake. You have to buy a set of cd/dvd or a membership, otherwise you will not get the specially packed software for Mandrake. Is that a big deal? Of course not, you can find any thing you need in many different forms. Download a source and build it.
I met Mandrake9.2 3 months ago, when download the iso from its site. It's the most profesional distro I have ever seen. (well I d't know how is suse 9 or RH9.2). You also have a whole bunch of tools to config your system, very easily.
Finally, I think the distro is only prepared for the new comming. Once you fall in love with Linux, you will want to build your own. At least I'm preparing to do so.
-oaksword

initially i used suse 7.1, then 8.0, i then switched to mandrake 9.0. have been happy with mandrake ever since (9.1, 9.2). the reason for the switch was (and still is) that i feel mandrake is easier to play around with than suse. have tried slackware (very nice, if minimalist) and fedora C1 very good as well.

mandrake 9.2 install from free download edition iso's was the best ever in my experience. detected all hardware etc. perfectly and the configuration part was really easy to do, nice logical and intuitive layout of settings etc.

recall that mandrake have committed to supplying free iso's in future. after the novell aquisition i am uncertain of suse stance on the matter, they didnt have free iso's before. mandrake have a wealth of apps available, check out plf.zarb.org for example, in addition to an excellent update tool

in the end it is up to you, try both, see what u like.