I'm currently using Mandrake ... would Anaconda be better to use?
Anaconda is the installation program for Fedora Core from fedora.redhat.com
It is not the Linux program. Whatever the installation program may be for Mandrake, it should recognize existing Windows partitions and existing unpartitioned space.
I'm sure there are some people here that have installed Mandrake in a dual boot setup. I wouldn't change flavors just for that reason.
It installed and worked nicely without a hitch for me. The only time I had a problem was when I tried to create the Linux partition before installing. When I simply left the space unpartitioned, it worked.
The first time through, this can be very frustrating. Even after you get it isntalled, there are some things that must be done that aren't particularly intuitive. You will probably have to tell Linux that it should turn on your Ethernet card.