I have been using LM since 7.0 and after installing LM 8.0 on my laptop and
my workstation at work I can say that I have faced a terrible disappointment
with the latest Mandrake release.
- The X Configuration failed on my laptop (pbm reported to F.Pons) but I
managed to finish the installation manually by running Xconfigurator...
- Shutdown gets stuck mid way (ie when shutting down eth0)
- My installation at work keeps on crashing in KDE or Konqueror, it is
completely inconsistent (trying to open the floppy or cdrom crashes Konqueror
except if an instance of konqueror is already running, although it hasn't
been a 100% consistent pattern...)
- X-Emacs does not provide any colorization, it worked like a charm in 7.2
out of the box (ex. opening a java src file)
- Fonts are a nightmare eventhough anti-aliased fonts look nice
- xpp/qtcups do not allow to save settings...
- Cannot compile gCvs and lincvs, again was fine in 7.2
- Selecting an OpenGL screensaver locks up the machine hard...
- and some more glitches...
Basically I do not want to be harsh because I really appreciate what the
Mandrakesoft team is doing for GNU/Linux, for example LM 8.0 really improved
on 7.2 for the configuration, the look etc... but the QA seems to go down
the drain at each release!
OK, some people will say that it is perfect and working like a charm on
their setup or for what they are doing, fine, I am sure some of us are in
this situation but from what I have seen on the cooker list there have been
and still are a lot of people complaining about this rushed release.
Eventhough 7.2 had pbms, I could setup a very good work environment that
did not crash... The bottom line is: I cannot trust this release in its
current state...
Even on my server/workstation at home (dual CPU, 512Mb, 2 HD) which runs
7.1 with KDE 2.0 I have less crashes than with 8.0 on a brand new Dell
Dimension 4100 with pretty standard hardware!!!
So the question is:
- Can we get a list of known pbms and possible work around fixes/tips for
LM 8.0 because I do not think the cooker list is the place to do that.
- What will be the difference between LM 8.0 Power Pack and Pro suite?
- Will these boxed sets be based on the same download ISOs? Hope not...
- Why is Mandrake rushing out the releases? What is the problem with
maybe 4/5 betas and 2 RC? it would be only 2/3 more weeks of testing
and that would pay off in the long term for the reputation of the
distro.
Thanks anyway for all your hard work and for being so dedicated to the
penguin :)
Fred
