Best Linux distribution

[hooloovoo]

For a Linux "newbie":
<BR>What (in your opinion) is the best Linux distribution for a beginner?
<BR>Most website seem to state Red Hat and Mandrake as the best.
<BR>

[Synkronos]

I have no personal experience, but my flatmate keeps raving about the Debian distribution *shrug*

[v1c]

Most people like Red Hat, however I started on Slackware and have had no problems with it.
<BR>
<BR>I think it mainly depends on your XWindows windowing/desktop program. KDE has got a similar look and feel to Windows along with Gnome and are pretty easy to use (tons of extra programs too, specially games <IMG SRC="images/forum/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif"> )
<BR>
<BR>If your feeling really brave you could always try doing things from a terminal. Just a thought.
<BR>
<BR>v1c

[blessed_confusion_reigns]

<!-- BBCode Quote Start --><TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
<BR>On 2003-04-19 17:36, v1c wrote:
<BR>If your feeling really brave you could always try doing things from a terminal. Just a thought.</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE><!-- BBCode Quote End -->
<BR>
<BR>Fun fun fun! <IMG SRC="images/forum/smilies/icon_lol.gif">
<BR>
<BR>It all depends why you want to use Linux in the first place?

[ZeekY]

I to am a linux newbie.
<BR>I have tried Mandrake 8.2 , 9 and SUSE 8.
<BR>Out of the three I find SUSE 8 the easiest to use. it has alot of options that other distros don´t have.
<BR>I have been told that it is one of the most secure distros out there. <IMG SRC="images/forum/smilies/icon_wink.gif">

[--ReLiC--]

For beginners Red-Hat is good, but if you are looking to run services like Qmail, Squid, FTP ... then it may be a good idea to use Debian. I do not like Mandrake very much (Personal Opinion) It is a bit too complecated to get up and running properly. I run a few linuse boxes doing file serving and e-Mail (both POP3/IMAP using qMail and Sendmail).

If you are new and want to set up a mail server, stay away from sendmail. It will confuse you needlessly. Got to qMail Rocks it will help you alot to do a bullet proof mail server.

[bb_matt]

For begginers, Debian is a nightmare - the install pretty much demands you know exactly what you are doing.

The same applies to Slackware.

Your best bet is to see if you'll like Linux first and the easiest way to do that is to get a live distribution like Knoppix, or Suse.

These live distributions will boot up from CD, so you won't disturb your windows install and you can have a good look at what you'll be getting yourself into.

Other than that, any of the following are good :-

Mandrake 9.2 (9.2 has just been released to the public via ISO)

Can't find local mirror anymore ?

Redhat 9.1 (easy to use, but lacks multimedia support out the box) :-

ftp.saix.co.za/pub2/linux/distributions/redhat/9/en/iso/i386

Suse 9.0 - try out the live eval first, as you can't download full ISO's for Suse :-

ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/live-eval-9.0

[1rr3t4t3d]

Ubuntu Linux is by far the best for beginners ..

[WAJeff]

Ubuntu Linux is by far the best for beginners ..

+1!!!
If you looking to get into Linux, Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS is the way to go

[DAE_JA_VOO]

Ubuntu Linux is by far the best for beginners ..

Oh my goodness.

Thread revival of note.

Dude, this thread is 5 years old...

[1rr3t4t3d]

Ubuntu Linux is by far the best for beginners ..

Oh my goodness.

Thread revival of note.

Dude, this thread is 5 years old...

LOL I wanted to post something in the Linux section, I was in there, then a client phoned, when I put down the phone I could not remember WTF I wanted to do and I read this, so I answered without even looking at the date .. he he .. but ooh well it is about time for a update on the best *nix for beginners ..

[WAJeff]

Ubuntu Linux is by far the best for beginners ..

Oh my goodness.

Thread revival of note.

Dude, this thread is 5 years old...

LOL dude, you always seem to pick that up