Hi, i am considering giving linux a trial on my system. From reading around and asking questions i have decided this will be either Mandrake or Suse that i try.

I went to the mandrake site to download the software and it said there is a retail powerpack version of the software.

Is this version ulitimatelty worth getting or should i stick with the free version. Obviously if i like it i would like to keep it so i dont want to spend ages setting my machine up with installing the free and then wiping it off and installing the retail so can i ask is the retail version neccissary or recommended.

Or another option would be to have version 10.2 beta. Should i go for that instead.

Another question is i have saw the retail mandrake power pack version for sale cheap on ebay, But it is the 6 cd version. Can i ask being 6 CDs is it akward and fiddly to install and use from that (ive pm'ed the seller asking if they can get the retail DVD version i noticed they may possibly be a reseller).

Another question is if i get the mandrake (either 10.2 beta or retail version) how would i set it up. What i would like is to have it on my slave drive (if thats possible) and for my computer to automatically boot up windows but for some intervention by me (such as putting in a boot CD/Floppy or holding down a set of keys or something). Is that possible. I read somewhere that it is possible with Suse. Like i say i dont want linux to replace windows (at the moment at least) all i want is to be able to use it as a test so i would like to automatically boot up windows if thats possible.

Thanks for your help
Anthony

read my tutorial on grub to see how to dual boot.

ummm, if you don't know much about linux download the free knoppix cd first.......its very useful

then if you feel like it.......I choose Mdk 3 cd set which is umm free and you get lots of help at this forum or at
mandrakeusers.org

suse is a fine company but I tried it and umm well I prefer Mdk its your choice

if you are new never go for any beta (testing) stuff.......it could be buggy

I won't denigrate the Knoppix suggestion - that is *always* a good idea.

I would go with the 3-CD Download Edition of Mandrake 10.1 Official Edition. The only real difference between that and the 6-CD/DVD retail Powerpack version is the amount of proprietary/commercial software included. (One thing about Powerpack, though, is it *does* provide kernels with ATI/nvidea video drivers built in, saving you installing them yourself. If you have a newer, high-end card, that might be a consideration. OTOH, I have an older card, and the default OpenSource drivers work fine for me. )

Once you install the 3-CD version (note, if it asks for a 4th CD, just tell it you don't have it - it is of no importance), follow the link in my sig to Easy Urpmi, and follow the instructions on that page. Set up "main", "updates", "contrib". and "plf" sources. When this is done, in a command line, as root, type the command "urpmi --auto-select". This will download and install *all* the updates for the system since the isos were released.

From that point on, you can just use the gui package manager (rpmdrake). Just go to the main menu Star --> System --> Configuration --> Configure Your Computer. Select the "Software Management" button on the left, and you can install, remove, and update your software with ease.

BTW: the "contrib" repository is where all the *extra* stuff on the 4th CD (and the non-commercial stuff from Powerpack) is found.

If you like what you have, then you can either order the Powerpack version from Mandrakesoft, to help support them, or join the Mandrake Club, for the same reason.

Hi !

The boot manager in Mandrake is not Grub, by default, but LILO, as somebody else mentionned.

As I am still a newbie but have fiddled a bit with other distros, I can recommend Mandrake, which I think is quite user-friendly. OH, btw again if you decide to buy a Powerpack, there is just a small hitch (on my install CD, don't know if it is a generality), the install hangs at a certain point and I had to hit the F12 key to re-start it.

Just my 2 cts

Cheers

Can't go wrong with Mandrake(just my opinion) I've used it since 9.0 and have tried all the way to 10.1 Official, but my favorite is still 9.1, Although 10.1 is beginning to take shape very nicely on my spare computer.