From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com   
      
   Hi readers and writers,   
   	I broke my rule about dealing with pre-release version of   
   the OpenMandriva and downloaded and installed OpenMandriva 3.0 beta,   
   wrote it to a disk and booted it up and here is what I found.   
      
   OpenMandriva beta with KDE 5   
      
   [live@localhost ~]$ uname -a   
   Linux localhost.localdomain 4.6.2-desktop-2omv #1   
   SMP PREEMPT Tue Jun 21 13:34:59   
   UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux   
   [live@localhost ~]$   
      
   Boots very slowly from DVD in Live Mode.   
      
   KWrite Version 16.04.2 is being used.   
      
   Menu can be switched between classic menu, default program   
   launcher and an Application iconic menu window.   
      
   Firefox 47.0   
      
   Kate Version 16.04.2 still does not have   
   the valuable plugins such as insert file.   
      
   LibreOffice5 Version: 5.1.3.2   
      
   Somewhat kalieoschopic background   
   Task bar/panel on the bottom,   
   It is called OpenMandriva panel and you   
   can open it at the bottom or add a default   
   panel or an empty panel as well.  The   
   default panel can be anywhere on sides or   
   top of the display.  No choice but folder   
   view and desktop for configuration. Icon   
   to Install OM, Join OpenMandriva, Welcome   
   and Donate are shown on startup.   
      
   KDE's Plasma 5.6.5  has a default slide   
   animation to switch between desktops.  This can be   
   turned off easily but the page icons cannot be   
   given numbers   
      
   Graphics include the usual stuff plus Krita an excellent   
   paint program which I usually have to download.   
      
   I called up the OpenMandriva LX Control Center which is a   
   Mandriva holdover which in the past OpenMandriva has   
   somewhat devalued.  Seems to be back in full.   
   Checking Hardware section I was informed that it needed   
   laptop mode software.  In Local Disk management all   
   drives and partitions were show.   
      
        If not for the KDE's Plasma 5 and its shortcomings   
   this would be a very nice and pratical distribution.   
      
   	This is very close to a usable work machine.   
   I will be sticking with PCLinux OS 2016.3 for the   
   time being because I find the copy-able Digital Clock   
   very handy and prefer to set my desktop to Newspaper   
   Layout   
      
   	KDE will be establishing a LTS version for   
   KDE's Plasma 5 in Plasma 5.8 but that won't be out   
   until mid-Autumn.   
      
   	bliss   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)