There's been various articles over the years discussing their strategy. They were targeting the third world market with customized distributions for inexpensive

There's been various articles over the years discussing their strategy. They were targeting the third world market with customized distributions for inexpensive educational computers, and focusing on making the installer easy to use. http://www.olpcnews.com/software/operating_system/mandriva_classmate_linux.html http://www.olpcnews.com/software/operating_system/mandriva_c... > Mandriva, a France-based Linux distributor, spent eight months customizing its operating system for the Classmate, and adapting education applications specially developed for Intel's World Ahead program. In addition, these Linux-based Classmates will be produced in Brazil, part of Intel's local laptop assembly manufacturing plan, for delivery to Brazil, Mexico, India, and other assorted developing countries. http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/News/Nigeria-Puts-Mandriva-Back-on-Classmate-PCs http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/News/Nigeria-Puts-Mandr... > At least 11,000 Classmate PCs ordered by Nigeria will run Mandriva Linux, and not Windows, according to a government spokesperson. ... Mandriva will be deployed on at least 11,000 PCs destined for the Nigeria Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), a government organization. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122332198757908625 http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122332198757908625 (paywall) http://my.ewb.ca/posts/13/46149 http://my.ewb.ca/posts/13/46149 https://handyfloss.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/my-opinion-on-mandriva-vs-microsoft/ https://handyfloss.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/my-opinion-on-ma... (for non-SWJ subscribers, these two summarizes some of the WSJ article's points.)