Trying to break into Linux as a workhorse OS (as opposed to Windows, a mule I can't seem to unhitch from).

I've got Fedora Core (2) on my dual-boot machine right now, 'cause it happened to come with the 'how-to' book I bought. But, I'm fed up with it won't do this, won't do that...I can't seem to get on the internet (it won't recognize the LAN on my ABIT NF-7 mobo), won't play music, and so on.

This forum seems to have a real warm-and-fuzzy regarding Mandrake. The web site I've looked into has a 6-volume set for $60 bucks or so that promises to do all things out of the box. It even touts drivers for ATI, NVidia, and other things I've got and wanna see working for me.

So, the obvious concluding question is...does Mandrake do as it promises, and is it a fairly rigorous and useful distro? (Oh, yea-my main goal in Linux is to create a programming environment, mainly using Python to create a trig/calculus crunching platform). But, of course, it wouldn't hurt to be able to tap into my vast collection of CD's to create just the right number-crunching atmosphere; and it is asking to much to actually be able to get onto the internet in Linux?

So, what's the sage advice from the mountaintop?

Get the PowerPack if you can afford it and want to fund MandrakeSoft, otherwise try to find a place which will send you all 4 Download Edition cds of 10.1. I personally first started with 9.0PowerPack and then alternated between download cds and PowerPack boxsets throughout the release numbers. The extra 4th download disk is usually for MandrakeClub members but isnt illegal to obtain or anything, it's just that the url is usually only privately advertised to the members.

The 6-CD (1-DVD) Powerpack set for $60 is an excellent purchase. It *does* contain the drivers (current at the time of release) for ATI/NVidea, etc. which can be a real boon to a new user just starting out, as well as some other proptietary/commercial software not available to those who just grab the 3-CD download version. (The 4th CD is a waste of effort to download. Everything on it is available from the mandrake repositories, and none is necessary for a complete installation.)

I have been running Mandrake 10.0/10.1 for the last year, and am extremely impressed and happy with it. I wiped MS Win2KPro from my hard drive last year, because I decided Mandrake had reached a level of usability that I didn't need to dual-boot anymore. I listen to music, watch movies, surf the web, sync my Palm Tungsten T3, transfer files using my USB Key Drive, etc.

It is generally the best distro I have ever used.

I'd just like to add that the nVidia drivers are free to download and as there are so many Mandrake users, both here at LQ and generally online, that any problems you have are usually solved quickly. The 9.0 PowerPack had some modem drivers which were a real bonus, plus the preconfigured browser flash plugins etc are nice for someone starting out.
I've been using Mandrake since christmas 2003 and do so exclusively atm, mainly because Win98SE decided to cripple itself randomly one day after playing all of 3 games in a go without a reboot inbetween! I will however install XP purely to play games when Cedega(previously ka WineX) (to which I've purchased a 6month subscription) doesnt quite perform.

What a wonderful response-on a lotta levels. Thanks all. And the vote seems to be unanimous. Actually, I could very well stay in Windows forever. It's basically a good OS, and XP has a lot to recommend it. I am a surveyor, and as such use CAD applications that are Windows based, and not transportable. Oddly enough, even (so far!) a small 2D CAD utility (QCad) that was originally written for Linux works much better in Windows (but, that may change, once I get a coupla levels into Linux). BTW, if I were of a mind to, I would slip in a blatant plug for QCad (Ribbonsoft) at this point. But, I won't. I'll stay on the subject (it is a heck of a good appl. though, for a mere $36US).

The thing that seems to intrigue me about Linux though, is the purity (from an OS point of view) of its' scope and style. The bare-bones method of stacking bits and pieces-piping?-of code (sorta like Legos?) to create end products, the command-line (bash) depth and complexity, etc., etc. I also just sense that it would be a much better environment to settle into some hardcore programming. (I got BIG ambitions, all having to do with creating construction-site applications).

Anyhoo, I believe ya'll have made another $60 bucks for benevolent Mandrake on this rainy (in Bel Air, Maryland) day.

Coupla random comments. My surveying days hark back to field artillery (Marine Corps) during-and before-the Vietnam era. I've had a chance to see technology blow wide open in the years since. It still amazes me that I can asked (literally, of the world!) a question, and within minutes have answers from as far away as Omaha, Nebraska and Merry Ol' England! Wow! BTW-England-is this your weather I'm getting here today (cold, rainy, etc., etc.)?

Oh, yea, and why Omaha? Does Omaha carry sentimental (read SAC) memories?

Thanks again, folks.

Well, I understand that CAD is not at its best in Linux, currently. You may find yourself dual-booting with Windows in order to access some tools not presently available.

But, yes, it is a very good platform for developing tools. And the *nix philosophy of making small tools, that do one job, and do it well, and then combining the small tools in various ways to do a larger job, is, IMO, the correct methodology.


Memories of SAC ... I was first assigned here in 1984 as a SSgt. I worked in this building for 10 1/2 years, and underwent the conversion from SAC to STRATCOM, then went to Naples, Italy for a final 2-yr overseas tour. I came back, retired, and started working as a contractor in the same building, doing basically the same job: software engineering. So here I sit, browsing LQ "while my program is compiling".

Well...ya done good! This is just kind of a neat place to be from, aint it? No end to the opportunities. Anyhoo, I don't wanna keep you. I know you're busy there keeping the 'compiling programs' moving along! Have a nice day, and thanks again for the help. When I get things installed, I'll come back to this thread with a coupla 'after-the-fact' comments. I have a feeling they'll be good ones.

Thanks again all! (BTW, any rebuttals-negative comments, out there?)

NEWBIE is ME!

I am a week into linux mandrake and I love it. I downloaded the free dvd using bittorrent and set up was a breeze. Installing the video drivers kicked my butt and took a while but it was all I needed to figure out how to do basic things in Linux. I am on the net, have my 6600gt working well and my nvidia nforce2 mb with soundstorm running like a champ. I have already installed and played unreal 2k4 and installed mozilla, flash, kino(for movie making) and an app that works with my tv tuner. All in just a few days. The people here have been great and supportive! In a few of the other forums they seemed kind of rude to newbies. But not here, here they simply help.

If I can everything working in a couple of days off the free dvd download, you should have NO problems.

Also I dual boot, xp and linux, funny xp hardly ever even gets to start now. Linux is faster, less buggy, and safer in my opinion. I am now an official Linux nut case. My wife tells me to shut it and I have converted 4 friends. Only one is having problems and he may just be stupid. J/k

Kezz

Your success inspires and embarrasses me. I should get moving and make things happen! Thanks for the input. Hey...hope your 1 in four friends isn't an avid LinuxQuestions reader!

Got the Mandrake Powerpack (finally!) installed on my 'puter. They had some issues with delivery (I think they've gotten so popular they are getting overloaded!).

Anyway, here's what I know so far...

Wow!

My ethernet card was instantly located, and I was on the internet before I realized it. (Could never get on the internet with FC2, and I wasn't going to go thru the hassle of trying to dissemble that problem).

Wanting to listen to the CD music I have stored on [NTFS] partition, I started thru a long process (good learning stuff, though) to mount my music partition, only to realize that Mandrake had already set up a mount subdirectory with every one (!) of my Windows [dedicated] partitions! All I gotta do now is figure out how to have one of the myriad audio environs reach down into the stack and start playing something.

My first impression is that this distro is just, simply incredible. Ironically, my long-term goal is to do more in Linux in one of the command-line TTY's, getting into programming apps for construction/surveying. So, I'll bypass a lot of the X-window perks (unless I can combine the best of both worlds).

Anyhoo, your advice was dead-on. I am 'on the way...'! Many thanks to you [all]! (Someday...you can say, 'Yea, I knew HIM way back when. Helped him get started in Linux, actually.').

Glad you are up and running, southsibling!

That's one of the things I like about Mandrake (and Linux in general). You install it (or even just put in a live-CD), and BANG! You're on the internet. You already have at your fingertips software that would cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars if you had to purchase it all commercially, like in Windows.

Depending on the audio client you use, it should be just as simple as opeing a file on "/mnt/win_d/wherever/your/files/are".

And don't let anyone tell you you can't use the command line on Mandrake. Just because it's made eay for newbies, doesn't mean you can't access all the power that *nix has with CLI.