Linuxman's Ratings Guide
Required User Level: Beginner
Installation: Excellent - Practically automated
Support: Excellent - forums & online documentation
No. of CD's or DVD's: 1
Media: DVD-R

Look no further for the best in Linux, 2010.1 Spring is here!

Mandriva Linux 2010.1 Spring is one of the most ground-breaking releases of Mandriva Linux, the leader in innovative and easy-to-use desktop Linux, ever.

It introduces KDE 4 - specifically, 4.4.3 - as the default desktop. This major new release of KDE promises to revolutionize the desktop experience. Other major new software versions include GNOME 2.30.10, OpenOffice.org 3.2.0, and Mozilla Firefox 3.6.6 The Linux kernel version is 2.6.33.5. No less important are the major re-designs of the Mandriva installer and Control Center tools.

As always, Mandriva Linux 2010's hardware compatibility is second to none. As well as conventional systems, it boasts excellent support for a wide range of netbooks, including all currently available Asus Eee PC models, the Acer Aspire One, the MSI Wind, and others.

Here are just some of the features you can expect to get:

• KDE 4.4.3: Many new features to KDE 4, including some that were notably present in KDE 3 but lacking in KDE 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2, along with some brand new features. It should also provide a more stable desktop experience than KDE 4.2.
• GNOME 2.30.1: Mandriva is no less prompt in bringing you the latest and greatest releases from the other major free software desktop environment, GNOME. Mandriva Linux features the latest and greatest GNOME release, 2.30.1. Continuing the GNOME 2 tradition of releasing solid incremental updates on a regular schedule.
• LXDE: Mandriva Linux 2010.1 adds another to the extensive list of desktop environments integrated into Mandriva Linux - LXDE. LXDE is a lightweight yet modern environment designed to give a modern desktop experience on less powerful hardware. It has been integrated into Mandriva Linux 2010.1 with a particular eye towards its use on netbook systems, for which it is ideal. LXDE provides a fast and attractive desktop with a traditional launcher menu and panel, a full configuration application, a file manager (PCMan File Manager), task manager, display configuration tool, image viewer, notepad application, and archive management application. Installing LXDE on Mandriva Linux 2010.1 is as easy as installing the task-lxde package.
• Mozilla Firefox 3.6.x: The default web browser in Mandriva Linux, Mozilla Firefox, has been updated to the version 3.6 release series.
• OpenOffice.org 3.1.1: Mandriva Linux 2010.1 also brings a major new release of the premier open source office suite, OpenOffice.org. Major features of OpenOffice.org 3 include Import filters for Microsoft Office 2007, Collaborative editing of spreadsheets, Multiple page display in Writer.
• Improved boot performance: Mandriva have worked hard to improve boot performance. Boot speed should be improved by 25% or more on most systems. You will also find the system shuts down, hibernates, suspends, and resumes faster.
• Netbook friendly: 2010.1 includes full hardware support for every currently available Eee model. Mandriva have worked together with the Mandriva Eee user community throughout the development of 2010.1. The original Eee was used as the main test machine in performance and usability testing, to make sure Mandriva Linux 2010.1 boots quickly, performs speedily and is fully usable on the Eee. All the Mandriva configuration tools have been tested and tweaked where appropriate to fit into the lower resolution screens common on netbooks, and have tweaked third-party applications for this restraint. As mentioned earlier, the lightweight LXDE desktop is available in the Mandriva Linux 2010.1 repositories with an eye to netbook users. And going beyond the Eee, Mandriva Linux 2010.1 includes excellent out-of-the-box compatibility with other popular netbooks, such as the Acer Aspire One, MSI Wind and more. If you've got a netbook, Mandriva Linux 2010.1 may just be its new best friend!
• Re-designed Control Center: Mandriva Control Center is an exclusive feature of Mandriva Linux. It is even easier to setup your system, network and hardware. The RPMDrake software manager gives you access to more than 20,000 software packages. Your printer is automatically detected and can be configured in few clicks. Internet has never been easier: connect to the Internet either in broadband, Wi-Fi or 3G. You have never been as secure: you are protected from spyware and viruses thanks to the built-in firewall. And thanks to the parental control, your children can have safe access to the Internet.
• Even better hardware support: Mandriva Linux 2010 Spring gets all of Linux 2.6.33 kernel benefits: improved wireless support, enhancements for RTL 8187 wireless driver, included support for RTL 8187 SE wireless driver and adopt Mesh utilities and test support for ralink, atheros and others. You also get better hardware support for 3G USB keys, like download/upload quotas, PIN/PUK code management, operator selection. As well as better support of audio and video hardware; updates to the Ext3 & Ext4 filesystems; faster encryption and booting; Tomoyo security framework.

Base Hardware Requirements:

• CPU: All Pentium, Celeron, Athlon, Duron, Sempron processors.
• RAM: 512MB minimum, 1GB recommended.
• Graphic Cards: NVIDIA, ATI, Intel® i8xx and i9xx, SIS, Matrox, VIA. 3D desktop features requires NVIDIA GeForce or later, ATI Radeon 7000 or later, or Intel i810 to i965.
• Sound card: All Sound Blaster compatible cards and AC97 – please note that Creative Labs X-Fi cards are not currently supported.
• Minimum hard disk space: 2GB for a smooth installation- 6GB Recommended.
• Serial ATA: ATA, IDE, SCSI, SAS: most controllers are supported in non-RAID mode, and some are supported in RAID mode.
• DVD-ROM player required.