I started with Mandrake, I think 8.0, in 2001. I just looked at that website a few weeks ago and something is off. If I remember correctly, there were updates to the site in that year. I wonder if this is a snapshot that somebody re-uploaded?
Oh gosh! I remember mandrake. I don't remember version but do remember it. Was certainly an experience for me. Had no clue what I was doing. No idea how I went from that to gentoo. Stage 1 install was a nightmare I couldn't forget. Stage 3 is a breeze now.
Down the memory lane! At that time downloading a full distro with my poor 33.6k modem was an unfeasible nightmare, and I remember buying the Mandrake Powerpack box with several CDs, books... and stickers! I fondly remember how the included assistants (diskdrake and similar "drake" tools) tried to make things easier for newbies like me... and of course they only worked half of the time!