Built around the 2.4.8 Linux kernel, Mandrake Linux 8.1 PowerPack fancies itself a full-featured workstation system. In tests, it turned in decent results, but its not clear whether that will be enough to overcome similar advances found in competing open-source offerings from companies such as Red Hat.
Mandrake Linux 8.1 PowerPack was a snap to install, and, at $69 and loaded with useful applications such as StarOffice, the PowerPack is a good deal.
I had trouble getting the DNS address entry configured because it is hidden from the setup GUI (see screen), but I wrangled it in eventually, although no thanks to the documentation. Mandrake Linux 8.1 PowerPack was released in late October, at the same time as the server version of the operating system, the $149 ProSuite. The stripped-down Standard edition of the program costs $29.
The product is available in retail stores or from the Mandrake Web site (www.mandrakestore.com).