In little more than a year, Linux Mandrake has gone from being an easy- setup version of Linux intended mainly for new- bies to the distribution of choice for many gurus. It isn’t surprising. Linux Mandrake is based on Red Hat’s familiar distribution but MandrakeSoft has made significant improve- ments with each new version. This is a distribution designed with modern hard- ware in mind. The precompiled kernels and most of the applications are Pentium optimized giving better performance than you’ll get from Red Hat - which is designed to run on everything from a 386 up. The kernels (version 2.2.15 in this release) also have USB support built in. Mandrake has one of the best graphical installers there is, ensuring that almost everyone will get Linux up and running quickly. The result is a distribution that should please all but those who still believe that installing Linux and locating software to run under it isn’t supposed to be easy. Mandrake 7.1 comes in two distinct retail pack- ages (plus a GPL version available for download or from places like The Linux Emporium.) Linux Man- drake 7.1 Complete is the cheapest version and con- tains three CDs. There’s also the seven-disc Linux Man- drake 7.1 Deluxe. You pays your money and you takes your choice, which isn’t as simple as you might think.