Mandriva Linux — the seventh most-popular Linux distribution¹ — has just provided as good a reason as any for a popularity-push, with the unveiling of their latest release, Mandriva Linux 2009.

What's there to be excited about? To start with, the release incorporates the latest version of the K Desktop Environment — KDE 4.1 — along with a new installer that can detect systems with low resources and automatically switch to another desktop environment. Along with this new installer is a completely redesigned graphical installer, improvements to the application installation and update process, automatic repository configuration, and notices when a new distribution is released, and faster boot times.

Improvements have been made to parental controls, and the latest versions of applications like Firefox and OpenOffice have been incorporated. The system will also now automatically detect orphaned packages and — with approval — automatically remove them. The release also provides graphical synchronization with Blackberry devices, selected Nokia products, and Windows Mobile 2002/2003 and 5/6.

Mandriva Linux 2009 is available as three distinct options, two of which are free-to-download. Mandriva Linux 2009 One is a LiveCD distribution which includes certain non-Open Source components, including drivers and plugins. Mandriva Linux 2009 Free contains only Open Source software. Both can be downloaded without cost from the Mandriva website.

Mandriva Linux 2009 Powerpack is a paid distribution, which includes a number of proprietary offerings, including audio/video codecs, VMWare virtualization, and other commercial offerings, as well as commercial support. Powerpack can be purchased as a boxed offering, including documentation, for $89/€69, as a "slim pack," which does not include documentation, for $69/€59, or by download subscription — which includes twelve months of downloading, or two releases — for $69/€59, all available from the Mandriva Store.