Mandrake 8.0 or Red Hat 6.1?

[Bradley]

I'm a TOTAL linux newbie and I have no clue how to get started learning.

I have a system set up w/ a speperate partition that I'd like to try linux out on.

I'll be using it as a general o/s dual booting with windows me

Which of those two distributions do you guys recommend? Or should I be looking at another one? I'd like to get as newbie-friendly as possible while still retaining some of the more advanced features.

[reboot]

Mandrake 8. Period.
Easiest to install and configure, and multi-boot with any other OS.
The GUI for installing is the best ever (even better than Windows IMHO).

[GonzoJohn]

What reboot said. Mandrake 8 is head and shoulders above RH 6.1. Plus the latest kernel and desktops.

[frankwick]

Drake 8.0. Even though it has the newest kernel of all distros at 2.4.3, be sure to run the automated upgarde utility to get 2.4.5.

8.x should be shipping soon.

[EyesWideOpen]

In case you didn't know, Red Hat 6.1 is not the latest version of linux released by Red Hat -- 7.1 is the most recent release.

I've never used Mandrake but I hear that it and Red Hat are quite similar. I'm using Red Hat 7.1 and have had absolutely no problems since I've installed. I use it mainly as a desktop environment and for testing purposes for work.

The install went really smooth and I have VMWare (http://www.vmware.com) running on it so I haven't had to boot into Windows in months.

Whatever you decide, you can always reinstall another distro and try it out if you want. You'll get more experience this way anyway.

[Grishnackh]

Mandrake 8.0 Rulez The Bigtime !!! :D

[MandK_10]

I have to put in my $.02. I tried just today to put Mandrake 8.0 on my system after using RH 7.1 for several weeks. I have to say that I was unhappy.

To be fair, I did not give it much of a chance. I tried to find a few things that I knew just where to go with RH and could not find them. I thought I installed everything that I needed but after this I was not sure.

I also found that it looked like it was trying to hold your hand more than RH does. It had more of a childish feel to it with the little penguin icons for users.

After about 30 min of trying to set up my modem and internet service, I reinstalled RH 7.1 and had everything back to normal in an hour and a half.

Mike

[ 26 June 2001: Message edited by: MandK_10 ]

[ille_pugil42]

First of all, I'm a slacker all the way (SLACKWARE RULES), so any uber-userfriendly os I'll shy away from. If you're looking for user-friendly, never see a terminal, auto-detect all your hardware... Mandrake. If you want to get a bit deeper, dip into the CLI sometimes... RedHat. Or later, you can switch. ISO's are free, cd's are cheap, the only thing it takes is time.

[a556789]

If you want a good "workstation" OS that comes preconfigured with all the "goodies" got with Mandrake. If you want to run a dependable server - run Redhat ro Debian. You can do either with either distro however, Redhat takes a bit more work. People could argue for weeks on this one but I think that's kind of a general idea.

[j.harrison]

Happy Drake 8 user here.

I'm a newbie and I've got Drake 8 dual booted with WinME at home & Win98 SE at work. Both installs were super easy (easier than Windows) and the Linux-Mandrake site has lots of install info to walk you through the process.

At work, everything autodetected and installed like a charm. At home, I had a problem with access rights on my CD-RW (which is not unheard of in Drake 8), but eventually was able to get it figured out.

For a first time Linux user, Drake made the transition easy. :)

[ 29 June 2001: Message edited by: j.harrison ]

[ 29 June 2001: Message edited by: j.harrison ]

[chempro9]

Drake 8.0 by all means. I installed RH 6.? and couldn't get anthing to work. Got absolutely NO help from RH. Finally returned the whole package, including guides , to RH and told them where to put it.

[Cheeves]

Try mandrake for a while to get used to linux. Then after you feel confident enough, upgrade to something more "manly" *cough*slack*cough* ;)

[jbstew32]

slackware...it will teach you :)

:cool: Slackware :cool:

[killerasp]

i dont suggest being thrown in front of a harder linux version such as Slackware. I would go with mandrake 8.0, if thats your bag. its the easist and most user friendly version of linxu to date. Slackware is cool, but if you are coming fresh off windows, you dont want to try it. Its like learning to swim, you want to start in a wading pool, not the ocean.

[hiwired]

I'm a total Linux newbie too, Got Mandrake 8.0 2 days ago, right now Im cruisin the net and crankin the tunes usin Linux. I actually had an easier time getting mandrake installed then I had getting windows installed and Im very good with windows. Recognized all my hardware and as for the modem all I needed to do was point it to the correct port and I was in business, I am very happpy, now only if I could play Everquest using Linux I could dump windows. :)

[ille_pugil42]

just to speak for rhat... I recently (this weekend) installed 7.1 - it found all my hardware, installed x and set it up with my card that's been giving me issues (ATI XPERT 2000 - that's a whole 'nother issue) - I've got sound, I've got my burner working - all without me doing anything. Totally user friendly. And the new kde rocks.

So, thus said - it's too easy and I'm going back to slack. :)