I have a checkered past with Linux. I started off 3 years ago with Slackware, when it was a challenge to see how quickly you could get your mouse working, and if you could get the OS to recognize your CD-ROM drive.

We are in a new era on this front. Recently I installed RedHat 6.2. It boasts good security as well as a user-friendly install. But I ran into problems with my USB mouse, and the loopback-filesystem option for running a partitionless install didn't work. I finally conceded that linux would only become truly popular when people would try it out without much commitment and see how good it was, and all it offered.

I thought the wait would be years.

A month later, I got my hands on Mandrake 7.1 on a recommendation from a friend.

Wow.

Again, I opted for a partitionless install, which worked like a charm. The OS installed with less effort than Windows, and recognized every piece of hardware on my machine, including my CD burner, usb mouse, TNT2, and SB Live!.

After a few days of using it, I decided the time had come to partition over a good segment of my 17 GB hard drive to linux. I am now a full-time linux user, only booting up Win98 to play games like System Shock II or Unreal Tournament. I have Quake III working under Mandrake. =)

I must confess, I put a lot of time into trying to learn the nuts and bolts of Linux. I love working with computers; its my hobby. But a lot of you out there are not that way, and Mandrake is a recipe for success
because it caters to both audiences.

If you are like me and have been wanting to try to make the move away from Windows, but are intimidated by the vast amount of work, Mandrake is a great choice. Its based right off of RedHat, so its supports RPMs and is designed well, but it is user-friendly and comes with a stunning collection of free software.





Recommended: Yes