Mandriva Linux 2009 Released

Adam Williamson writes "Mandriva has today released Mandriva Linux 2009, the new major release of the popular distribution. 2009 is a bold release which brings the new KDE 4 as the default desktop, along with a re-designed installer and Mandriva Control Center and many other new features. Other significant updates include GNOME 2.24, OpenOffice.org 3, Mozilla Firefox 3, and kernel 2.6.27. Key features include new graphical in-line upgrade capability, netbook compatibility, class-leading hardware support, and further improved support for working with mobile devices. For more details, see the Release Tour and the Release Notes. Get it at the download page, or go straight to the torrent list."

KDE

[Psychotria]

Really, I love KDE 4.x. The work they have done is magnificent and a great achievement. I cannot, however, use it (at the moment) day-to-day. At least Mandrake has waited for a while before including it (KDE 4). At the end of the day though how is it helping Linux? Supposing I was a new Linux user (I'm not, been using it since 1994 and Yggdrasil) I would have to assess Linux on it's "interface". Say I am interested: I will grab the latest "linux version" and install it. I will be presented with KDE4. As an average user, would I judge linux, overall, on the interface. Most LIKELY I WOULD. Distro's have to be current, yeah. But if we want to make linux attractive to joe six pack, we have to start deciding WHAT goes into a standard distro. Including unfinished stuff (IMO) is a show stopper.

This comment is not meant to detract from the great work the KDE people have done for 4.x. They are building a GREAT system and I admire their work.

Re:Useless summaries

[Enderandrew]

Yes, but when writing an article reviewing the distro, shouldn't they talk about the unique features rather than just states, "hey, our release has Gnome!"

Once Upong a Time...

[Necrotica]

Once upon a time this would have been big news on Slashdot. Now there is only about 45 comments. Mandrake/Mandriva really lost their mojo when they decided to go commercial.

Re:Once Upong a Time...

[sayfawa]

I recall a time when they *really* pushed you to buy their product (not that there is something wrong with that). And they did not allow the free download until weeks after their paying customers got to it. There may have been some other perks to paying as well. Anyway, the feeling I got was that if you were not giving them money, you were 2nd class and could not get the full benefits of running the distro.

This changed after Ubuntu and Fedora came along and they (Mandrake/Mandriva) saw that people were leaving them. Since they started these "Mandriva One" things they have gotten back some of their lost fame, but for a while they were just the people that tried to force us to pay for something that Ubuntu was giving out for free.

Re:Once Upong a Time...

[pembo13]

Same for Redhat/Fedora stories. A lot of Slashdotters only seem to care about Ubuntu these days. To each their own I guess.

Re:Oh great.

[amRadioHed]

About a Mandriva release? Apathetic?