• PC World
• » Software
• » Operating Systems

So you're not a fan of Windows' "blue screen of death." Maybe you just hate Windows in general. Or maybe you're a simply a rebel at heart. Whatever the reason, you're ready to take the leap and give Linux a go.

But which Linux? One nice thing about this open-source operating system is that you're permitted to use, distribute, and copy the source code. (Just try to do that with Windows.) As a result, Linux comes in dozens of different flavors called distributions, each with its own collection of software and management tools.

We looked at one of the most popular distributions, the recently updated Linux-Mandrake from MandrakeSoft. Version 7.1 places an emphasis on user-friendliness and includes tools to gently ease you into your first Linux experience.

Mandrake's myriad enhancements include an updated kernel (the operating system's core, which handles networking, hardware management, and basically makes the whole thing work), enhanced Universal Serial Bus support, and a simplified graphical installation.

Getting Ready

First, find out whether your PC's hardware will work under Linux-Mandrake. We checked Mandrake's hardware support site and learned that our Dell Dimension Pentium Pro's hardware was supported.

You have a couple of options for acquiring Mandrake 7.1: Buy it on CD or download it for free. We downloaded two CD images from Mandrake's site. All told, the download was a whopping 1GB.

With the download option, you won't have access to e-mail tech support. But plenty of online resources are available to help you out of a jam, including Mandrake's own unofficial support site.

Alternatively, you can buy Macmillan's two-CD Mandrake set for $29.95, or the deluxe edition for $59.95. The standard version bundles StarOffice 5.2 (Sun's office suite), 100 days of e-mail support, and printed installation and user guides. The deluxe version includes free installation support from Linuxcare and seven CDs full of software and source code.