[KLUG Members] Redhat 8 and Mandrake 9
Rusty Yonkers
members@kalamazoolinux.org
Thu, 3 Oct 2002 11:12:13 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
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Well I have downloaded and installed both Redhat 8 and Mandrake 9 on syst=
ems
here at school. I have ran Mandrake 9 for about a week and Redhat 8 just
this morning. Here are my initial impressions.=0D
=0D
Mandrake 9 is much better than earlier versions of the distribution. The
applications all work and I have not seen the qa problems with the
distribution that I have seen in the earlier versions. It is deffinately
designed with desktop users in mind. The collection of software is very
good. For the most part the menus are laid out very well. The install w=
as
very easy. I did not like the fact that there was no way to select no
firewall. They simply have low medium and high security firewalls. =0D
=0D
Another thing that I did notice right away about Mandrake is that it does
not load pine or elm. I don't know what command line mail program they h=
ave
or expect people to use or if they expect people to always use a GUI mail
program. For the root user this is a real bummer if you use command line=
to
check root mail messages etc. =0D
=0D
I was a little disappointed also that the initial configuration is for an
automatic login for the user that you add at install instead of presentin=
g a
login screen. You can change this but it does not even prompt you at the
first run if this is the way you want to run it. Not a good choice.=0D
=0D
All in all I would give Mandrake 9 a big thumbs up. This is a really goo=
d
workstation distribution.=0D
=0D
For RedHat 8 I am really torn. The install has been modified somewhat an=
d I
think it is for the better. Package and package group selection is very
nice now. =0D
=0D
Once it is installed it looks really pretty. It does not have the nice m=
enu
layout or the rich robust selection of tools that Mandrake does for the
desktop user. I do like that the default web browser in both KDE and Gno=
me
is Mozilla. OpenOffice is also the default productivity software in both
desktops. Some of the configuration stuff is not listed the same as it w=
as.
Not sure if I like this or not. I am disappointed that they took the ic=
on
for the terminal off the task bar and buried it in a deep menu. I have s=
ome
looking to do on it. Oh and the whole theme thing for Gnome 2.0 is not e=
ven
close to the theme feature for KDE!=0D
=0D
Currently I am going to still run RedHat 7.3 for my main system and am th=
inking about going to Mandrake 9 for that one. Maybe RedHat needs to buy=
out Mandrake and bring the mind resources in house. They could look at d=
oing a RedHat desktop distro and then a RedHat Server distro. =20
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ILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; PADDING-RIGHT: 7px"=20
>
<DIV>Well I have downloaded and installed both Redhat 8 and Mandrak=
e 9 on=20
systems here at school. I have ran Mandrake 9 for about a wee=
k and=20
Redhat 8 just this morning. Here are my initial impressions.<=
/DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mandrake 9 is much better than earlier versions of the=20
distribution. The applications all work and I have not seen t=
he qa=20
problems with the distribution that I have seen in the earlier=20
versions. It is deffinately designed with desktop users in=20
mind. The collection of software is very good. For the =
most=20
part the menus are laid out very well. The install was very=20
easy. I did not like the fact that there was no way to select=
no=20
firewall. They simply have low medium and high security=20
firewalls. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Another thing that I did notice right away about Mandrake is t=
hat it=20
does not load pine or elm. I don't know what command line mai=
l=20
program they have or expect people to use or if they expect people =
to=20
always use a GUI mail program. For the root user this is a re=
al=20
bummer if you use command line to check root mail messages etc.&nbs=
p;=20
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I was a little disappointed also that the initial configuratio=
n is=20
for an automatic login for the user that you add at install instead=
of=20
presenting a login screen. You can change this but it does no=
t even=20
prompt you at the first run if this is the way you want to run it.&=
nbsp;=20
Not a good choice.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>All in all I would give Mandrake 9 a big thumbs up. This=
is a=20
really good workstation distribution.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For RedHat 8 I am really torn. The install has been modi=
fied=20
somewhat and I think it is for the better. Package and packag=
e group=20
selection is very nice now. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Once it is installed it looks really pretty. It does not=
have=20
the nice menu layout or the rich robust selection of tools that Man=
drake=20
does for the desktop user. I do like that the default web bro=
wser in=20
both KDE and Gnome is Mozilla. OpenOffice is also the default=
=20
productivity software in both desktops. Some of the configura=
tion=20
stuff is not listed the same as it was. Not sure if I like th=
is or=20
not. I am disappointed that they took the icon for the termin=
al off=20
the task bar and buried it in a deep menu. I have some lookin=
g to do=20
on it. Oh and the whole theme thing for Gnome 2.0 is not even=
close=20
to the theme feature for KDE!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Currently I am going to still run RedHat 7.3 for my main syste=
m and=20
am thinking about going to Mandrake 9 for that one. Maybe Red=
Hat=20
needs to buyout Mandrake and bring the mind resources in house.&nbs=
p; They=20
could look at doing a RedHat desktop distro and then a RedHat Serve=
r=20
distro. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></TD>
</TR>
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rif"=20
size=3D2>____________________________________________________<BR><FONT=20
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