I just upgraded to Mandriva 2010. I don’t usually use the year version of Mandriva and wait for the spring version, but I wanted to see how KDE 4.3 is. It is pretty decent. I only had one problem with the video card, but it is resolved now. The interface is clean and modern. Now all I need is a more modern video card to run it all.
Now, I want to pass on some knowledge that is applicable to Windows and Linux users in terms of DVD burning:
1) Always run the latest firmware for your burner. It makes a big difference! It will usually turn a quirky drive into a reliable one and solve many problems with not being able to read and write to some brands of DVD’s.
2) Always burn at HALF of the rated rate of the disk. If it is a 16x disk, burn at 8X. It’s not a race, so let the burner take a little longer to get better results. You don’t save any time making coasters. Force your DVD program to burn at a lower speed. This disables the OPC, which is the Output Power Check, which can take time and stresses your drive.
3) Try to buy decent, name brand media, if you can. You will usually get better results. Often, when on sale, name brand media will be the same price as the no name brands.