I know this is a pretty basic question, but I'm trying to learn, and also to pick the best distribution for me. I'm thinking about downloading a Debian based distro just to try it but it's kind of outdated (KDE is at 3.1). So can apt-get/synaptic update it to the most current KDE version, or would I have to start over?

Thanks in advance,

Justanewbie

Why don't you try Ubuntu (Gnome-based) or Kubuntu (KDE based), both released around last Friday. Kubuntu has KDE 3.4 and is based on Ubuntu. Both are Debian-derived and have apt-get. Plus, when you activate all the included repositories, add multiverse and jdong's backports respositories, it brings you up over 16,700 packages.

Very easy to install. Check out distrowatch.com and let us know what you think.

Mepis and Kubuntu are very good KDE centric Debian derivatives. I am not sure if KDE 3.4 is in Debian Sarge yet. If it is, then you could install Sarge ntinstall and then install KDE.

Debian (both testing and unstable) have currently KDE 3.3 available, I think. If you insist that you need KDE 3.4, you might want to install Kubuntu.

But I think that your main problem will be if the Debian-based distro of your choice will be Debian-compatible enough to use Debian packages without breaking. I've heard that Mepis, Kanotix and Libranet are pretty much Debian-compatible while Knoppix and many others may cause problems. Kubuntu has its own freezed version of Debian packages but it's not guaranteed that all of them will work. Debian (with the new Sarge installer) is 100% Debian-compatible.

If you think that Debian proper is too difficult for you, I'd personally think Mepis or Kanotix would be the best choice. But, of course, this is only my opinion and it's up to you to decide what you want.