what is the difference between mandriva linux 2008 and mandriva spring 2008 with subscription?


difference between

http://www.mandriva.com/en/download/free


and

http://store.mandriva.com/index.php?cPath=...amp;language=en

Mandriva Free: Only truely "free" (open source) software

Spring: Contains some closed source software (such as non-oss drivers)

Powerpack: Includes proprietry codecs, and includes 3 months of e-training and support

1. all of them are free or we have to purschase them for support and proprietry codecs?
2. which system is it based on like debian or rpm?
3. WHat are its advantages over fedora. Should i prefer it over fedora 9?

Yes they're free and you are purchasing support if you buy the Spring/Powerpack ones. Neither are like Debian as they both use rpms. Not sure of advantages over Fedora.

The spring one is actually free (as in no cost to you) to download, and doesn't come with any support other than the forums etc - you just have to agree to license agreements and whatnot.

Really? I didn't know that. I thought you had to buy it. Been a while since I've touched Mandriva (actually it was still Mandrake last time I used it )