Difference between 3cd version and 6cd version.
 

Hell-o,

I know that the 6cd Silver Edition of Mandriva 2005LE has commerical software that the 3cd download edition doesn't. Is the commerical software worth the price tag?

And if I were to download and install the 3cd version and later buy the 6cd version, would I have to re-install everything or just do an upgrade? How exactly does the install differ between the two versions?


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

Personally, the commercial software isn't really worth the price. ;)

But then again, it also comes with pre-built ATI/Radeon drivers, making 3D graphics easier. OTOH, I can install the ATI drivers my self, so while the pre-built stuff is "nice to have", that's all.

Then, too, by going to Easy URPMI and setting up your online repositories, you can have access to *all* the non-proprietary stuff on the 6-CD set.

One makes one's own decision on these things. :)


If you install the Download version, and then buy the PowerPack version, you could probably just add the Powerpack CDs as urpmi repositories, and "upgrade" from them. (Be aware that the 6 CDs are not laid out the same as the 3 CDs. The 3-CD set is *not* just the first 3 CDs of the Powerpack set.) If you buy it soon after installing the download version, it might be simpler to just re-install.

Thanks for your replay. I have a Radeon 7500. I don't think there are any special drivers for my old card. So that's not a big concern.

I didn't know the cds were laid out different. I thought the first 3 there were the same with the 4th being extras like drivers and kd3 stuff and the 5th and 6th the commercial stuff.


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

However i would buy the CDs. Even though the commerical software isn't really worth it, supporting the company definately is, as this is pretty much the only way they make money.

liquidtenmillion does have a point.I usually buy a copy of Mandrake once a year or so, just to help give back a little to the distro I like.

Hello,

I can't afford to buy a copy right now. Though, I do plan to in the future. This is why I was asking about the differences in the two versions because I do want to upgrade to the latest version as soon as possible, and I didn't want any problems later on when I do buy a copy.


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

There is one advantage of purchasing a distro. I find printed manuals much easier to read. Mandrake is my favorite distro, but IMHO, SuSE has always had the most indepth manuals.

I also like to support the distro and bought 9.1 for that reason. However I now feel I just have a 'dead' disk for that money and last year bought club membership instead because that gives access to the latest versions sooner and to extra software on the club repositories.

Membership also gives you free access to Mandrakeonline to keep your system uptodate.

I am pleased to see you can now pay for club membership on a monthly basis because I find it hard to pay for a year in one go.

This is another valuable source of revenue for the distro.

Do you feel you have a "dead" disk because 6 or so months later a new version came out? If so, do you think a once a year release for Mandrake will help fix that?

I would love to have a club membership. Though, now that there's just one relase a year, a club membership doesn't... well, look that good anymore. Isn't it cheaper to just buy the new version each year than pay for club membership?


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

You may be right penny for penny re the distro, but there is the free access to additional club software which has value. There is also value in the free access to Mandrakeonline which gives warning on your desktop when updates, bugfixes, patches are available. I know that if you take the time you can get the updates from easy urpmi, and maybe get the software somewhere, somehow but club membership does simplify.

Believe me I will think about it carefully again when renewal time comes.