[chunchengch]

Mandriva is my first linux, frankly speaking, I like it, but it seems to restrict too much and support too less. with Mandriva Free, no audio, no 3D desktop support, etc. ; with Mandriva One, no audio, no games, can not read NTFS medias, etc...

Today, I download Ubuntu 7.04 and install it, I have to say this is the first time I feel Linux is a good, friendly and usable operating system, so good bye Mandriva!

[daark.child]

You should have done a bit of research because what you have posted above is incorrect to say the least.

Mandriva has 3d desktop support using XGL or AIXGL and compiz (beryl is also available). Its not enabled by default, but its actually easier to set it up than on Ubuntu because its all done through the GUI. Mandriva even includes Metisse for fancy graphics and this is not in any Ubuntu variation by default. As for NTFS, most distros don't support it, but its easy enough to install ntfs-3g using your distributions package manager. As for games, Mandriva has lots of games in its software repositories and the non free version includes cedega which makes it easier for users to play some Windows games. In the past Mandriva even used to produce a gaming only version which had lots of Linux games as well as some of the Windows games that work through WINE/Cedega.

As for audio support, I don't see why your soundcard would not work with Mandriva because it also has very good audio support. What exactly is the make of your soundcard and the chipset it uses?

[mahlerfan]

Originally Posted by chunchengch

Mandriva is my first linux, frankly speaking, I like it, but it seems to restrict too much and support too less. with Mandriva Free, no audio, no 3D desktop support, etc. ; with Mandriva One, no audio, no games, can not read NTFS medias, etc...

It autoconfigures alsa for you, so sound yes, not no.

Compiz and Metisse are available in the Mandriva One version, Beryl through rpmdrake. If you installed from Mandriva Free you can install all three through rpmdrake. If you used Mandriva One, you can toggle one of them through drak3d.

Games are available through rpmdrake.

Mandriva One does ship with ntfs-3g which is not only the ability to read ntfs, it also has the ability to write as well.

I didn't like the previous release of Mandriva, but this Spring release is very nice, I don't see why you would criticize the free version for not having 3d effects on by default when they need proprietary drivers to work, which are non-free. And as for One, it's just a cd, not a dvd, there is limited space. Personally, I would rather have Open Office and some multimedia apps over some lame games that I would never play.

[ozar]

I said goodbye a few years back when it was still Mandrake. It was my second Linux distro after Red Hat and I liked it well enough at the time to buy the boxed powerpack sets on each new release. It's doubtful that I'll ever run it again, but I am glad it's out there for those that continue to enjoy using it. It really bothers me when any Linux distro bites the dust, so live long Mandriva.

[Redman]

It is all about feelings and emotion. What is good for one, doesn't mean it will be good for another one. And the beauty about Linux is that there are always more distro's to choose from

[chunchengch]

I posted the thread not for the reason I disliked Mandriva but because I am a Linux newbie, I don't have enough knowledges to solve hardware compatibility problems as well as the package limitations.

I am very happy now to use Ubuntu, the most important thing is I am in the Linux world now and enjoy it.

[ozar]

Yeah, Ubuntu may very well be the most popular distro out there for new Linux users.

Glad you are enjoying the experience and hope it continues.

[Oxygen]

I reckon Ubuntu have done their homework. They've made an awesome OS, people should use it. I feel it's one of few operating systems where making it user friendly hasn't killed it's overall performance and stability.

[bigtomrodney]

I use openSUSE but as I mentioned in another thread I think the biggest thing standing for Ubuntu is the sheer number of users. Not only that but many seem to be new 'converts' and very enthusiastic so we are seeing a massive amount of community support in everything from troubleshooting to bug reporting to application packaging.

For these reasons I recommend it to new users. When they need an application chances are it was packaged for Ubuntu first. If something is broken same again someone has probably already fixed it.