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Experimentses
Dec. 22nd, 2008 07:21 pmI'm just taking Mandriva Linux for a run, and it's going quite nicely at present. I use the KDE desktop by preference, and it certainly has a more nicely-integrated KDE 4.1 experience than Ubuntu. Configuring my wireless LAN was a matter of click->select network->enter password. The new wireless LAN manager seems a lot less flaky than the old one (not that I had major problems with the old one per se, but about 5% of the time it didn't launch during startup, and I'd have to log out and in again).
The only drawback I can see is the file explorer is buried waaaay down the menus (in Tools -> System Tools -> Dolphin File Manager), nor is there a menu shortcut to the Home directory in toolbar or on the desktop. Ok, I know how to do Alt-F2 (or select "Run Command" in the start menu) and type in "dolphin", but it'd be a PITA if you were a new user. Adding a new shortcut to the home folder should be straightforward, once I install it.
I do like the fact you can open a console from anywhere in the filesystem just by right-clicking. There's also a nice "configure your computer" dashboard for doing those configuration tasks. All the KDE apps l like, Amarok for music, Ktorrent for bittorrent, as well as the OpenOffice suite and GIMP, are installed by default. The sortware installer tool is easy to find and nicely laid out. Lots of games! (freeware/opensource ones, but still a good collection). Fonts configuration is easy, and there is even an "install Windows fonts" button right in the fonts dialogue window (this is useful if you're going to run Windows applications using Wine, or even use some web/flash controls).
Compiz 3D effects are running nicely as well. No need for your ridiculous graphics cards *cough*Vista*cough* unless you're intending to play Farcry (in which case you'd be using your Windows box anyway). I only have a poxy Toshiba M3 laptop with the built-in Nvidia card. It seems that Mandriva have used a better driver there as well (although I believe Nvidia have finally realised that Linux is not going away, and are more friendly with driver releases). Again, not that I had a problem with the Ubuntu version, but this seems more functional. The trackpad driver seems a lot better too.
I'm going to install it and blow away my Ubuntu install. If you're currently an Ubuntu KDE user, it's certainly well worth a look in comparision.
The only drawback I can see is the file explorer is buried waaaay down the menus (in Tools -> System Tools -> Dolphin File Manager), nor is there a menu shortcut to the Home directory in toolbar or on the desktop. Ok, I know how to do Alt-F2 (or select "Run Command" in the start menu) and type in "dolphin", but it'd be a PITA if you were a new user. Adding a new shortcut to the home folder should be straightforward, once I install it.
I do like the fact you can open a console from anywhere in the filesystem just by right-clicking. There's also a nice "configure your computer" dashboard for doing those configuration tasks. All the KDE apps l like, Amarok for music, Ktorrent for bittorrent, as well as the OpenOffice suite and GIMP, are installed by default. The sortware installer tool is easy to find and nicely laid out. Lots of games! (freeware/opensource ones, but still a good collection). Fonts configuration is easy, and there is even an "install Windows fonts" button right in the fonts dialogue window (this is useful if you're going to run Windows applications using Wine, or even use some web/flash controls).
Compiz 3D effects are running nicely as well. No need for your ridiculous graphics cards *cough*Vista*cough* unless you're intending to play Farcry (in which case you'd be using your Windows box anyway). I only have a poxy Toshiba M3 laptop with the built-in Nvidia card. It seems that Mandriva have used a better driver there as well (although I believe Nvidia have finally realised that Linux is not going away, and are more friendly with driver releases). Again, not that I had a problem with the Ubuntu version, but this seems more functional. The trackpad driver seems a lot better too.
I'm going to install it and blow away my Ubuntu install. If you're currently an Ubuntu KDE user, it's certainly well worth a look in comparision.
