[kcs-linux] Mandrake 9.0 Installation

[Jim Herrmann]

Rick, this is a wonderful testimonial!  It was so good, I just had to cross 
post to the Kansas City Linux User Group.  Hope you don't mind.  They will 
love it as well.  Just to let the LUG know, Rick is my boss's boss, and 
posted this experience on my KSCR Linux list.  Way to go RIck!  Welcome to 
the other side!  :-)

Peace,
Jim Herrmann

On Saturday 26 October 2002 10:13 pm, richard stones wrote:
> Just a brief description of my experience installing Mandrake 9.0...
>
> System configuration:
>
> Processor = Athlon 1 GHz
> Memory = 256 Mb EDO RAM
> HD-A = Western Digital 30 Gb
> HD-B = Western Digital 3 Gb
> Video = Matrox 400 max dual head
> Sound = Creative Soundblaster Live! Value
> DVD player = Pioneer(?) can't remember speed.  It's old, so it's slow.
> CD player = Hewlett Packard CD-Writer Plus, 8200 (also old and slow)
> Printer = Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 5550
> Internet connection = Comcast cable modem
>
> I installed Mandrake 9.0 on the second (smaller) drive.  I have Windows XP
> Home edition installed on the larger HD.
>
> The installation was flawless.  I am astounded at how smooth it went.  It
> was *much* easier and faster than installing Windows XP.
>
> Everything went perfectly...All my hardware was recognized and configured
> properly... all virtually automatically.  I didn't have to download and
> install any drivers, or fool with my hardware in any way.  The only manual
> intervention was with my printer.  Mandrake asked me to specify a couple of
> parameters with the printer (I can't remember the specifics, but it was
> pretty striaghtforward).  The printer worked perfectly the first try.  My
> internet connection was automatically configured and worked without any
> manual "tinkering".  KMail was configured easily with the entry of my POP
> and SMTP servers, and I was sending and receiving e-mail within minutes.
>
> I'd say Mandrake has the installation process nailed!  With XP, I was
> downloading and installing new drivers, ripping out my DVD decoder card
> because XP didn't like it, tinkering with this and that for several days
> until the thing became stable.
>
> In fact, the only "problem" I have noticed so far with the Mandrake
> installation, happens in Windows XP!  After I installed Mandrake 9.0,
> Windows is falsely recognizing a new peice of hardware (Volume control?)
> and giving me a series of error messages when it tries to configure it.
>
> Enjoying my freedom experience so far!
> Rick Stones
>