Mandrakesoft announced today the release of Mandrakelinux 10.1
Official, the latest version of its leading Linux Operating System.
Notable new features include extended support for mobile devices,
better hardware compatibility, and major application upgrades.
Following a successful “Community” release, 10.1 Official will be
the basis for a large part of Mandrakesoft’s range of products. The
value-added packs (Discovery, PowerPack and PowerPack+) are
available now for pre-orders and through the Mandrakeclub on-line
service. Prices start at EUR 44.90 / $49.90.
Mandrakelinux was designed, from the start, with the goal of
turning Linux into something that would appeal to the largest
possible number of people. The latest version, Mandrakelinux 10.1
Official, does not stray from that path. Hardware support has seen
much progress–Mandrakelinux will now run on a larger number of
configurations and support more devices. The rising demand for
mobility has been taken into account, with several improvements in
that area. Better ease-of-use, new software, and changes in the
system’s underlying technology, complete the picture. Mandrakesoft
will integrate this new technology into a coherent commercial
offering that features quality documentation and many on-line
services.
Improved Hardware Support and Extended Mobility
A lot of work has gone into extending the (already wide) range
of compatible hardware. Mandrakelinux’s renowned hardware
management software now detects and automatically configures a
large number of devices–from USB storage devices to network
printers.
Mandrakelinux 10.1 Official features out-of-the-box support for
Intel’s Centrino Chips, an extremely widespread mobility solution
on laptops. Laptops themselves are better supported, with
Mandrakelinux being the first Linux OS to enable easy advanced
power management. Wi-Fi users will be delighted to learn that
roaming is now a feature–Mandrakelinux will detect and remember
access points. And it is now possible to use BlueTooth devices with
your Mandrakelinux PC–which concerns many cell phones and
PDAs.
A Better User Experience
Mandrakelinux 10.1 Official carries both Gnome 2.6 and a very
stable KDE 3.2.3 (with KDE 3.3 being offered as an option), two
excellent desktop environments. Other notable new versions of
software include a new version of the Mozilla web browser and the
Gimp image editing program. The configuration and administration
tools are now more complete and even easier to use.
The technical infrastructure has also changed quite a bit. This
new version is based on a more recent, fine-tuned kernel, a new
compiler and a new device manager. Mandrakelinux’s package
management software (urpmi), now in version 4.5, does its part to
make the system more coherent as a whole.
All those new pieces have been thoroughly tested through the
recent release of Mandrakelinux 10.1 Community. Specifically made
for advanced users of Linux, the Community release helped make
Official as stable a release as possible.
“Our new release scheme is starting to show its full potential”,
said François Bançilhon, Mandrakesoft CEO. “10.1
Community was quite a successful product00many people use it, and
the feedback they gave us really helped us polish 10.1 Official.
This release will be one of quality and continuity in
innovation–better parts and a better whole.”
A sound basis for new products
Mandrakesoft will release three new products based on
Mandrakelinux 10.1 Official: Discovery, PowerPack and PowerPack+.
The three packs include documentation and various services:
- Discovery is a very good way to get started in Linux: it is
simple, lean, and well documented. It includes a user manual, and
one month of support for EUR 44.90 / $49.5 - PowerPack is a Linux OS for advanced desktop use. It is
incredibly complete (6 CDs, thousands of applications) and fit for
multiple uses (development, multimedia, etc.). It includes two
months of support and two manuals are included (EUR
79.90/$84.90) - PowerPack+ lets users set up small and home networks quickly
and simply. It has all the desktop capabilities of PowerPack, plus
advanced server features. PowerPack+ features a full groupware
solution. It includes three months of support, five phone support
incidents and two manuals (EUR 199.90/ $229.90).
All will benefit from new features in Mandrakelinux 10.1.
Availability
Mandrakelinux 10.1 Official packs will be available for retail
worldwide in mid-November. They can be ordered now from
Mandrakestore, our E-commerce platform.
Mandrakeclub members have download access to Mandrakelinux 10.1
Official.
- Standard Members and above: Immediate access to Mandrakelinux
10.1 Official “Download”: three Install CDs plus a fourth ‘Extra
applications’ CD - Silver Members and above: Immediate access to Mandrakelinux
10.1 Official PowerPack CD ISO images – 6 CDs or one DVD. - Gold Members and above: Immediate access to Mandrakelinux 10.1
Official PowerPack+: three Install CDs plus five additional CDs of
extra applications. This offer includes the Kolab groupware
server. - Corporate Club Members have download access to all Mandrakesoft
products, including Mandrakelinux 10.1 Official packs.
Public access to Mandrakelinux 10.1 “Download” will follow in a
few weeks.
For more information, see : http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/101