Mandrake 10 or Redhat 9

[copyright_1978]

I've used Linux before, but that was 5 years ago, I feel I need to get back onto the Bandwagon, but things Have changed since then. I use to use Redhat 5 back then.

Basically, I'm trying to learn linux, but it also has to be stable which I heard Mandrake 10 CE is not, but if there are bug updates I should be able to fix them right? Also I have redhat 9 right now and I am being told that it is difficult to learn, so would you guys advise the switch to mandrake 10?

[bigandy]

If I understand correctly, Mandrake 10 CE is more of a beta/test version, the "real" release is supposed be out in the summer.

I haven't used Red Hat, so I don't know much about it. But Mandrake 9.2 is pretty easy to use if you want to use Linux right now. Otherwise you may just want to wait a month or two for Mandrake 10.

[copyright_1978]

Yeah that's what I was thinking too, although I heard that mandrake 10 is still more stable than 9.2, is this correct?

[grasshopperbe]

Nope, i've asked the same question on linux forums, and everyone gave me the advise to continue using mandrake 9.2 untill may or june when the final version comes out.

Mandrake 10 killed my NT bootloader on a dual boot install, and this happened to other people too. I didn't have it installed for long (since i couldnt get to windows anymore.) but it seems to work ok for the rest. the current mandrake 10 is more of a test version than a final.

red had 9 isnt that different from mandrake, but mandrake comes with a lot more desktops and software to choose from when you install it.

[Karnevil9]

I don't know what they mean about redhat being difficult to learn. It is one of the most user friendly Linux systems out there. Even compared Mandrake, they are so similar because Mandrake is based on Redhat and uses an RPM package management system just like Redhat. While exploring through several systems for linux, Redhat 9 was one of my favorites. I like Redhat 9 more than the newer Fedora and the differences between them and Mandrake were almost non existent.

If your system has to be stable, you may be better off with Debian, Slackware, or a Unix system like openBSD. They are not as user friendly and have more of a learning curve, but since you started on redhat 5 you would have a head start on many people who come over from windows. There are also user friendlier versions of them like Knoppix and Libranet for a Debian based system.

[grasshopperbe]

The newer versions of redhat are as user friendly as mandrake. some differences i noticed were that red hat seems to place the "home" folder (user space) on the installation partition, and mandrake makes a separate partition for this (with auto partitioning) . And mandrake has a bunch of extra apps and desktops on the install cd's, which i couldnt find with red hat.
They are very similar for the rest, certainly if you use a graphical desktop all the time.
wich to choose is more personal i guess.

[natebo]

I had and easier time with fedora, mandrake was to frilly, to many bells and whistles...got tiresome. Fedora is straight forward, with everything you need. If you something else, install apt with synaptic interface and you can update and install till your hearts content. The great thing about fedora is the amount of support. I never had a problem researching problems, i am biased though....