PC LInux OS

After using Mandriva Linux for a couple of months, I have decided to try out PCLinuxOS. At Distrowatch.org, PCLinuxOS is now number 2, behind Ubuntu, but Ubuntu is losing popularity while PCLinuxOS is gaining and set to overtake Ubuntu to become number 1. The fact that PCLinuxOS gained so much popularity in so short a time must mean something. Obviously, they are doing something right.

I had expected more from Mandriva, a Linux distro that makes you become a member of the Mandriva Club (and pay cash) to download. There is nothing wrong with asking for payment, but in return you may at least expect some advantages. Mandriva isn't offering any. A few points of comparison between Mandriva and PCLinuxOS:

+ Mandriva doesn't allow you to log in as root. This is a nuisance, because sometimes you have to do some administrative chores which need root privileges. If you can log in as root, you can use the gui. In Mandriva, you have to do it all at the command line. Not very user friendly.
+ Mandriva doesn't offer video playback (wmv-files) out of the box. You need to install separate codecs and you can only do that as root. You see the problem. Under PCLinuxOS, video playback works right from the start.
+ Mandriva showed my system was completely updated, which it clearly wasn't. PCLinuxOS's system for installing and updating files works better.
Mandriva is a heavier system (over 4GB) while PCLinuxOS still fits on a CD-ROM and is simpler, leaner and meaner. I have the impression it runs faster.
+ The only downside for PCLinuxOS is that there is no 64 bit version, but as the 32 bit version seems to be faster than Mandriva's 64 bit, who cares.

As PCLinuxOS is still gaining in popularity, it will no doubt further improve in the future. Thumbs up!