[LWN Logo]

Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 18:33:30 +0100
From: Gael Duval <gduval@mandrakesoft.com>
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: Linux-Mandrake 7.0beta available for download and tests.

December 22, 1999 - MandrakeSoft is very pleased to announce that its
new Linux distribution is available, only for geeks and testers who
can't wait to discover all the new killer features that have been
introduced. This beta version (NOT FOR PRODUCTION USE) includes:

 - New perl/gtk based graphical installer Drakx, including support for
many languages and the DiskDrake partitioner (lets one change the size
of Ext2, FAT... disk partitions).

 - Use of supermount (integrated in kernel 2.2.14) in order to
suppress the need to mount and unmount for most removable medias
(cdrom, floppy, zip): Mandrake easier to use than ever!

 - Several security levels are available. They let you use your Linux
box like a jail (extremely high security, restricted use), or like
certain very common proprietary OSes (very poor security, no
constraint in use). The default security level, medium, is the
security level found in most standard Linux distributions.

 - Improved desktop integration with new tools like DrakConf and
rpmdrake that let the user manage its Linux-Mandrake box like a charm.

 - New hardware configuration tools like lothar and XFdrake

The new distribution has to be tested by many people to detect any
problem that would not have been found internally.

Hackers, Geeks, Nerds or simply curious users, just download Mandrake
7.0beta, have fun with it and report all the bugs! For this, just see
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/oxygenbeta.php3 and read the
instructions!

					The Mandrake Team.