Mandriva 2009.1 is overall an excellent transition from Windows to Linux, and comes with many great features for the tech-savvy user who wants an improved, sleek desktop look and feel as well as an abundance of programs to use. Before its merger with Conectiva, Mandrake Linux was concerned with making the Linux desktop more compatible for the end user, easier to understand and operate, as well as all-around better looking. With those goals in mind, Mandriva Linux as it is known today has accomplished those goals of popularizing the Linux desktop all while creating an awesome user-interface that gives the utmost control to the computer user.

Installation of Mandriva 2009.1

The installation of the Mandriva Linux desktop is quick and easy and in many instances is easier to install than a Windows Operating system or a Mac OS for that matter. If installing Mandriva 2009.1 from a live CD (Mandriav One edition), the user gets a great out-of-the-box desktop that doesn't hinder or intimidate. All the necessary files are included with the installation files of course, including all of the drivers needed for NVidia graphics, all of the Adobe Flash files, as well as any other multimedia codecs that are needed for your Mandriva 2009.1 experience. In addition, the user doesn't need to stop what he or she is doing during installation because the computer system can be used for chatting, playing, or surfing throughout the installation period.

In addition to having out-of-the-box instant installation with the files that are needed, Mandriva 2009 One is equipped with all different types of multimedia drivers and of course supports mp3. Altogether, the installation is very user-friendly and is great for those who may be new to the Linux system. The sleek, professional-looking graphics of the Mandriva 2009.1 KDE desktop should impress anyone!

Mandriva 2009.1 Control Center

This version of Mandriva Linux has a brand new and improved Mandriva Control Center that is all about choice for the end user! Not only is it easier to use than previous versions of Mandriva Linux, but it's versatile and allows for the integration of settings, files, and a wide variety of programs. The MCC is the place for users to share files or browse a large volume of more than 20,000 packages and program software files. In addition, your network connection is configured and all of your data from a Windows operating system can be integrated through the Mandriva Control Center.

All of the possible hardware and software multimedia files and drivers can be found through the Mandriva 2009.1 Control Center as well. The Hardware section of the MCC is where users can find support for NVidia, Wifi, and any other packages that you may need Mandriva to support.

Ready To Use Software

Another great thing about Mandriva 2009.1 is variety of programs and support for gaming that it contains. First, Mandriva 2009.1 comes with OpenOffice 3.0, which is thoroughly compatible with other Microsoft programs. The Mandriva user can even decide to import Office 2007 XML for easy integration. Three other programs to note that Mandriva offers the end user are Scribus, which is a popular and easy-to-use open source desktop publishing program, Planner for the scheduling of projects and errands, as well as Homebank, which allows for control over your finances!

There are plenty of familiar home computer programs that Mandriva also installs for the user, including a graphics editing program (GIMP), a movie player called Totem / Dragon video player (depending on the One version), an audio player, as well as a document viewer. The latest version of Firefox is also installed for those Firefox junkies on the planet!

New Mandriva Linux Programs

If you previously used Mandriva Linux and are upgrading your system, Mandriva 2009.1 comes with a whole array of new programs to see and use. For example, Sugar is an educational environment created for kids and meant to provide a unique learning system that can be used by teachers, parents, and other educators all over the world. It contains features like the use of a paint feature, maze learning game, book and PDF reader, and a variety of other applications that are unique to Sugar.

Songbird is an example of another great program that you can find in Mandriva's repositories. This is an open-source music player that is completely user customizable! Songbird has completely customizable add-ons giving the user the choice to use such features as mashTape, Scrobbling, and SHOUTcast Radio.

Security in the Mandriva 2009.1 System

Security is not an issue. If you're switching from a Windows environment or a MAC OS, one of the concerns is that a Linux system may be less secure. However, with the utmost control that Mandriva gives to the end user, security is almost a moot point. For example, Parental Control features are included with the Mandriva 2009.1 system to allow parents to monitor and control internet surfing capabilities. The end user shouldn't be worried about intruders getting through the Mandriva system either because a Personal Firewall is installed with Mandriva One.

Backups of all your files and software updates are also easily accomplished. Mandriva 2009.1 has an automatically updated system that downloads the latest protections right to your desktop. Backups are easily performed through the Mandriva Click n' Backup feature for Mandriva Linux users, which is a great online service to store all your necessary data files! Draksnapshot is another new option for the backup of files in Mandriva 2009.1, which is a backup tool that essentially stores a snapshot of all the new directory files that are created.

Conclusion

All in all, the Mandriva 2009.1 is a great Linux environment that has the power to give both Linux-familiar and new-to-Linux users an awesome look, feel, and experience! With the 20,000 program directory that Mandriva 2009.1 contains and all the new programs that are unique to Mandriva Linux along with the quick, easy, and out-of-the-box instant setup, anyone coming to Mandriva 2009.1 should find it to be an enjoyable time!

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