Because it is cost-efficient. More than 4000 applications are integrated into Mandriva Linux, from office software that is compatible with Microsoft Word and Excel, to games, video and sound drivers, peer to peer software, a firewall that is as easy as 1, 2, 3, multimedia, download and improve digital photos, electronic mail service, 3D animation, and more.
Because you will be protected against computer viruses! In the last 10 years, few network viruses rumored to affect Linux have been reported, and none have been spread over the Internet. It is not currently necessary to install antivirus software on Linux at home (though, of course, free antivirus software is available). The infamous .exe or .dat virus programs, pernicious under Windows, have no effect under Linux.
Because you will be within the law. Be honest, the operating system controlling the market and its main applications are often used in an illegal way. To use Linux means to be back within the law.
Because Mandriva Linux can do everything or nearly everything.
Because its installation is one of the easiest (only few clicks).
Because you can install Mandriva Linux in more than 60 languages !
Because Linux uses Internet and computing standards. You can be sure that you will be able to access and read you files for several years to come.
No, beginners can start with a Mandriva Linux distribution with only a few clicks. Linux's graphical interface is similiar enough to other major operating systems so one should feel comfortable in no time. System configuration is not difficult either. Mandriva includes several graphical tools so you can easily configure your desktop and system settings. Times when only experts could use Linux is over!
For the downloaded versions: files you have to download are using ISO format (.iso). DVD version will only have one .iso file, while the CD version will have multiple. You can get them on the Mandriva Linux download page Once you have downloaded the files, they have to be burned. Select "burn an image" (not data) with your favorite burning software. Under Mandriva Linux, just right click on the file and choose " burn the image ...". Once you have burned the downloaded file, see below for installation.
For the CD and DVD versions: Insert disk 1 and begin the installation. Then you will have to choose between installing beside your existing system or installing Mandriva Linux only.
RPM is a file format used by Mandriva to install software. These files are also called "packages". To install software, just search and install it using the graphical tool provided with Mandriva (rpmdrake) or browse the web, download the RPM and double-click on it.
Some RPM need other ones. It is called dependencies. Mandriva has improved the RPM system in order to automatically install all needed dependencies if you use the recommanded tools (rpmdrake or urpmi).
Linux is a full-fledged operating system. That is why programs writen for MS Windows (i.e., .exe files) are not suitable for running under Linux, and programs written for Linux do not work in MS Windows. However, if you cannot find what you need within the available packages for Linux, some solutions may enable you to run Windows programs (e.g., Wine, Win4Lin, Qemmu, VMWare, dosbox).
For the same reason, Windows drivers do not run under Linux (with some exceptions : Wifi, for instance). Mandriva supports natively a large number of hardware drivers but sometimes, brand new or unusual hardware may not work correctly. It happens especially if the company that developed the hardware does not cooperate with the Open Source community to make an open driver available or does not provide its own proprietary driver for its product.
Insert the Mandriva Linux CD1 or the DVD and let's go !
Newsgroups
alt.os.linux.mandrake is a usenet newsgroup created by Tom Berger from MandrivaUser.org; it deals specifically with issues concerning the Mandriva Linux distribution.
Many Linux-related newsgroups exist on Usenet. You can search for specific topics with the Google-groups search engine:
