MozillaQuest the on-line computer magazine

November 7, 2002

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Mandrake Linux 9.0 Retail Boxes Ship

Mike Angelo -- 7 November 2002 (C)

Note: we were putting the finishing touches on our first-look review of Mandrake 9.0 when the boxed-sets press release came in. We hope to have that Mandrake Linux 9.0 review published later today or tomorrow -- stay tuned.

Mandrake Linux 9.0 boxed sets now are available. You have a choice of the three-CD Standard edition for $30 (which is the same as the three-CD, free-download offering of Mandrake Linux 9.0), a seven-CD PowerPack edition ($69) and an eight-CD plus one workstation DVD ProSuite edition ($199). The Mandrake Linux 9.0 ProSuite Edition was Linux Standard Base certified (LSB 1.2) on Sept 25th, 2002. Sun's StarOffice 6.0 is included on the ProSuite workstation DVD. (All prices are in United States of America currency.)

According to a MandrakeSoft press release dated today, the Mandrake Linux PowerPack and Standard editions are designed for individual users, and the ProSuite Edition is created for small and medium-sized enterprises. Mandrake Linux 9.0 packs are available through a number of retail outlets worldwide and online from Mandrake.

In that 7 November press release, MandrakeSoft CEO Jacques Le Marois states: We are pleased to provide customers with an extremely adaptable operating system to fulfill the widest variety of computing requirements. Unlike proprietary systems, Mandrake Linux comes fully equipped with a complete line of productivity applications.

Mandrake 9.0 Standard Edition at a Glance

Mandrake 9.0 is based upon the 2.4.19 Linux kernel and features:

XFree86 4.2.1
XFree86 3.3.6
glibc 2.2.5
Apache 1.3.26 Web server
KDE 3.0.3 desktop suite
KOffice 1.2 productivity suite
OpenOffice 1.0.1 productivity suite
GNOME 2.0.1 desktop suite
Galeon 1.2.5 Web browser
The Gimp 1.2.3 Image Editor
XMMS 1.2.7 Music Player
Konqueror 3.0.3 Web browser and file manager
Nautilis 2.0.5 File Manager
GCC 3.2
and lots more.

For links and more information about Mandrake Linux 9.0, please see our article

Mandrake Linux 9.0 Released for Downloading.

Editor's Note: Our article about the Mandrake 9.0 beta 1 release included a most interesting interview with Mandrake's Gaël Duval. It is repeated in the text-box below for anyone who might have missed it. The Resources section with Mandrake Web site and download links and lots more handy links is immediately below the Gaël Duval interview text-box.

Previous Interview with Mandrake's Gaël Duval

Gaël Duval is the founder of Mandrake Linux and co-founder of MandrakeSoft SA and MandrakeSoft, Inc. In an e-mail discussion, Gaël Duval told MozillaQuest Magazine that Mandrake 9.0 is planned to be released in September.

We also discussed Mandrake's involvement with the Linux Standard Base (LSB) project, non-involvement with United Linux, and Mandrake dropping Netscape from its Linux distribution and replacing it with Mozilla 1.0. At that time, Mandrake 9.0 was not yet fully LSB compliant, Mandrake was moving in the direction of full compliance with the LSB and Mandrake 9.0 now is LSB certified. Mandrake will not participate in United Linux. And MandrakeSoft has dropped Netscape from its Mandrake Linux distribution.

LSB Mission Statement

The goal of the Linux Standard Base (LSB) is to develop and promote a set of standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant Linux system. In addition, the LSB will help coordinate efforts to recruit software vendors to port and write products for Linux.

(Linuxbase.org)

MozillaQuest Magazine: Mandrake plans to be LSB compliant eventually, is that correct?

Gaël Duval: Of course, that's our goal.

However, there are technical issues that remain to be resolved. So, Mandrake does not have a precise timetable for achieving full LSB compliance. Gaël Duval mentioned that Mandrake might publish a special "LSB" release in the future, maybe with updates, to make sure the product is as solid as possible.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Why do you feel it is important for Mandrake Linux to (eventually) be LSB compliant?

Gaël Duval: It's not only Mandrake; I think it's important for all the biggest Linux distributors to provide LSB-compliant products. Then it makes life easier for software publishers and users - and it finally gives more power to Linux to dominate the market and go mainstream.

Note: United Linux: why MandrakeSoft will not join, the document to which Gaël Duval refers, is an excellent and very informative statement of Mandrake's position on the United Linux endeavor. If you use Linux or merely are interested in Linux, you ought to read Mandrake's United Linux position statement.

What is UnitedLinux?

UnitedLinux is a standards-based, worldwide Linux solution targeted at the business user . . . Designed to be an enterprise-class, industry-standard Linux operating system, UL provides a single stable, uniform platform for application development, certification, and deployment . . .

(UnitedLinux FAQs)

While Gaël Duval is very positive about the LSB project and bringing Mandrake Linux into full LSB compliance, he has a very different view towards the United Linux endeavor.

MozillaQuest Magazine: How will Mandrake 9.0 fit in with United Linux? Will Mandrake 9.0 be part of United Linux?

Gaël Duval: "No. We've decided not to join United Linux for several reasons that are explained in United Linux: why MandrakeSoft will not join.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Will Mandrake 9.0 comply with the United Linux specs?

Gaël Duval: No.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Mandrake 9.0 will have Mozilla 1.0. However, I did not notice anything about Netscape. Is Mandrake dropping Netscape?

Gaël Duval: It's been dropped. MandrakeSoft is a company that is committed to Free-Software. That's the reason why we replace proprietary software by Free Software when it's possible. Mandrake Linux, the core product that comes as a 3 CD-Set and available for download, now comes without any proprietary software.