Which Linux to use?

[rspassey]

Ok, I know you probably get this question a lot, but I'm going to be getting a semi old (3-4 years) computer for free from some friends who don't use it anymore. It wont compare anything to the system I have now, but I was thinking of putting Linux on it and getting a book on Linux and learn about it through experience. I have been looking into Linux Mandrake, but what distributions would you guys reconmend? I don't want it to be the most confusing version, but I also don't want it to be a walk in the park either. Something userfriendly, but also something that will pose a challange for me, and I'll have to learn how to do things. If you get what I mean .
I'am pretty sure the hardware will be compatible also.
What versions would you recomend, and also, would you be able to include a link to a safe site to download it from. I have seen a few questionable dl sites so far.
Thank you,
ryan124712

[ffreeloader]

I have been looking into Linux Mandrake, but what distributions would you guys reconmend? I don't want it to be the most confusing version, but I also don't want it to be a walk in the park either. Something userfriendly, but also something that will pose a challange for me, and I'll have to learn how to do things. If you get what I mean .

To start with why don't you just download Knoppix and play with it until you get familiar with things? That way you have some familiarity with the Linux OS and file system before you install. Plus, Knoppix is very good at hardware detection if you're worried about that.

Once you're used to playing with Linux that way you probably will be ready for one of the distros that require more knowledge to install on the hard drive too. It's actually the distro's that have the reputation of being "difficult" that will push you to learn. For all intents and purposes my first distro was Debian and I've never been sorry. It's forced me to learn, but the help from resources such as the debian-user mailing list from the Debian site as it is one of the best help resources around helped a lot. There are some very knowledgable people on that mailing list and it doesn't take very long to get replies for most requests for help.

[rspassey]

Thanks. I took a look at Knoppix but I was looking for something other and a live cd b/c I want to make linux a permanent OS on the computer, I would also install xp or windows 2000 on a different partition. I will be getting it with a completely blank harddrive. I read through a lot of the Debian information, and I might go to the book store and look for a book that has the same information in an easy to read format. Debian however does look a little too complicated for a first time linux user. Is there a different distro that has a little simpler installation or is this about as easy as it gets?
Again thanks for the reply.

[rspassey]

I think I would like to try Ubuntu, it seems like a nice OS.
Has anyone had any troubles installing it? Is it easy to install or wil i have to input every detail about my hardware first?

[rspassey]

EEK, I just downloaded Ubuntu, and when it finished it disapeared. I dled the install version, watched it finish, went to my computer to where I had downloaded it too, and its gone. Was it a virus or does this always happen?

[Daggerfall_Addict]

the only version I know of is the ISO which you have to burn a CD with

[Karnevil9]

Knoppix, Mepis and Ubuntu are all Debian based systems. Which means that with few exceptions anything you can do with Debian you can do with the others. Knoppix and Mepis have live CD's that you "can" but don't have to install on your hard drive. That is why they are good systems to start. Once you install a system, if you then find that you don't like it, or want to try something new, you have to go through the uninstall process. With these live cd's you can see if you like it before you install it.
Keep in mind that if you put Linux on a hard drive along with Windows, make sure Windows is there first. If you don't, windows will copy over the Linux system.
If you plan on buying a book, you will find that many Linux books come with the cd version the book was for. Many of these are outdated but with many Linux systems you can just install the updates and the out dated system is now up to date.
Ubuntu, like most others linux system will find most of the hardware on you computer. All the Linux systems I mentioned along with SuSE, have excellent hardware recognition.

[digitalfreedom64]

You could try SUSE Linux, I'm working with it now. Mepis is also a good choice It's one of the easiest Debian base that I used. I tried Mandrake, really didn't care for it. There's Fedora Linux which was good too. I quit using it because I would have needed to convert all my MP3s to OGG. They removed the ability to play MP3 files in Fedora.

[Colonel Sanders]

I would recomend SuSE, or Kubuntu (Kubuntu uses KDE and Ubuntu uses Gnome. . .). However if you want to learn a bit about Linux during the Install, go for Gentoo.

L J

[digitalfreedom64]

I don't know if this is a problem with any other Distro but the only thing I don't like about SUSE is that it won't play DVD movies.

[rspassey]

Thanks so much, it found out the download didn't actually disapear, it was just hiding on me. Im going to keep all that your told me in mind, and while I have a spare computer lying around (doing nothing, just sitting there) try a few distro (starting with ubuntu) and if I don't like it I can just wipe the drive (thats why having a live cd ot not doesnt matter much to me) and salvage some of the hardware. I definately want to get some Linux knowledge, and I assume first hand experience will be the best way to do.
Thanks again to everyone.