First Distro Testing of 2021: OpenMandriva Lx 4.2 Argon RC

Yesterday, I read the DistroWatch announcement that OpenMandriva 4.2 RC had been released, so I decided to download it to give it a quick glimpse.

All the technicalities are found here.  To a non-technical Linux user like me, they do not say much, except for the upgraded versions of the programs I use, like Firefox, LibreOffice, etc.

I really want to see how this new release looks on my desktop, so I used the Rosa Image writer to create the live USB and ran it.  This is what I found:

1.  It does not have any problem to boot with my nagging UEFI PC.  That's great! 

 

 Notice the "rolling" text...

2.  OpenMandriva Lx 4.2 RC boots fast.  The DE was ready in the live session in around 30 seconds.  Is this what the zstandard does? The description reads "zstandard - new real-time compression algorithm, providing high compression ratios implemented in our kernel, provides faster boot- new real-time compression algorithm, providing high compression ratios implemented in our kernel, provides faster boot."  I remember the old days of Mandriva, when I had Mandriva InstantOn, which booted the computer in 30 seconds or less.

3.  Everything is working: sound, effects, USB headset, and even the WebCam (with VLC)

4.  It comes with the OM Feeling-like user interface changer, so that different users can quickly turn the DE into something that resembles Ubuntu, Windows 7, Windows 10, or Mac OS.  

 

5. You must install Firefox and GIMP because they do not come with the live version.  But Kdenlive has been upgraded to version 20.12.0!

All in all, this seems very promising!  Great job!!

UPDATE:  I also booted the live USB on my laptop and everything is running smoothly (including the wi-fi and the webcam via Kamoso).