> Hehe! I tried to tell him that there will be little difference > between KDE on RH and KDE on MDK, but Windows-centric IT people > are a bit odd sometimes! RH on my laptop and MDK on my desktop > look fairly similar at a desktop level, but configuration apps > have different styles...other than that it would be hard to pick > between them if it were not for that red hat replacing the 'k' on > the start menu...
As someone who is in the process of migrating I have a little experience here... though I can't say that I am even a very experienced Windows person (in fact I'm really not!). However, I first tried installing Redhat 8 and was very quickly discouraged. In fact, it delayed my beginning to use Linux on a daily basis by at least 6 months. Since installing Mandrake 9.1 I have been inseparable from my little beastie... much to the dismay of my wife! I am fully prepared to believe that Redhat is more powerful, or cleaner, or whatever, but I found from first putting in Disc 1 Mandrake was just simpler to grasp. The install was more intuitive for a Windows person and easier to understand for a person of reasonably limited IT experience. It basically did what I wanted. I also find that the gui system tools, particularly Mandrake control centre, are a lot easier to understand. Maybe almost exactly the same tools (KDE system guard, etc) are available for Redhat but sure as s@@t I couldn't work out weather I was Arthur or Martha in Redhat. It may just have been luck - that I was in the right mood and the sun was at the right angle - but I don't know how long it would have taken me to migrate if I only had Redhat. I may even decide in 6 months that Redhat is "better" and start using that. I have an open mind, but I would DEFINITELY recommend Mandrake over Redhat for the "reasonably bright and interested but not yet a true computer geek [trying hard to be!] who has experience only with Windows" person. At the end of the day, however, if I had got it in my head that Redhat was better I probably would have tried with that for a bit longer. My advice would be... "Ok, if you think Redhat is better give that a go. But I know quite a few people who have found Mandrake good for getting to know Linux, so if Redhat is a bit confusing give it a try." Or something similar. Cheers Anton ps. As soon as I get time (when will that be?) I will probably try a few others... Suse, Gentoo... as... why not!?
