I have visited the mandrake website and all there distros have prices. At linuxiso.org though, it had a somewhat generic named 'Mandrake 10.0 Official' which you can dl for free. So I'm wondering, what is this? I have also noticed this some with other distros. It would be greatfully appreciated if someone could explain this to me.

You can also download the files from the Mandrake site (the download link is on the left with the other bazillion links at www.mandrakelinux.com) for free. All distros that charge for a boxed set are trying to survive or profit. This is why they are still around. You get some extras like the flash plugin and java and they usually pop in a nice install manual and provide extra direct support, so you don't have to ask your questions here, for example. Its a good thing.

Mandrake really good place for Windows users to start!
If you are a hands on type of person you might download it to try it out and then later join the MandrakeClub if you like it which I think you will.
linuxquestions is always a good place of support.

Try and get the 4 CD set of mandrake if you can... You can get the 4 pressed CD's from ELX in Australia, so I know you can get them elsewhere, surely. They are cheap, like $10.

If you buy the box set you get some nice extras, like the nvidia binary 3D driver and gimp 2.0 and stuff... Box sets cost a bit more....

You can also download. First 3 are easy to get. 4th cd is harder but you can get the apps elsewhere anyways.

BTW: Does anyone here have the DVD edition of MDK10? I thought about ordering it.. If you guys have any negative comments about it, please post.

I'm using the DVD version of MDK 10. I bought it and 9.2 when 9.2 came out. I did so for several reasons but the biggest is to help support the distro since I prefer it over the others that I have tried. There really isn't anything that you get with a 7 disc or DVD package that you can't get by downloading it on your own (or by adding urpmi sources). The thing I like best about the DVD however is not having to fish for the correct CD when trying to install a new application. I like being able to leave it in my drive and have it available whenever it's called on. If you have enough drive space you can copy all 7 disks (if you purchase the PowerPack which the DVD is also) or the DVD to your drive and just point the source there but with the DVD there really isn't a need to waste the space. I don't remember there being a DVD package with version 10 that offers support and printed manuals however which you can get with a boxed set. You don't have to purchase the Power Pack editions to get the support and manuals, the Power Pack edition just comes with more apps (again, not really anything that you can't download and install later from other sources, just much easier to search and install from locally).

Well.. I have a perfectly working system here with the download version. I was just thinking about 'supporting' Mandrake too

Fastdisks.com is a place to get cheap burned linux cds, mainly in the UK but I think they post to elsewhere too (for more). I'm expecting my Mdk 10.0 Official 4cd set tomorrow morning

I've previously purchased from Mandrake the 9.0 and 9.2 PowerPacks, but got a mate to download 9.1 isos, and was gunna get the 10.0 isos via my uni deparment (Comp. Sci.). 9.2PP was well worth it.

As long as they keep the end user in mind I'll keep supporting them with new releases that I like. If they turn corporate like RedHat then they won't get another dime out of me. I still can't believe the way they have gone. I use to play around with RedHat but then when they decided to start charging $179 like a M$ product and you could only download their testing phase product it turned me away. RedHat had always been a bit more expensive if you were going to buy a boxed version but it was a difference of $20 on average.