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Either Mandriva 2006 or OpenSuse 10.1 would be my recommendations for the RPM packing side of the fence. Ubuntu is also good for .deb packing style. In my experience, either type of packaging methodology has their strong points and weaknesses. As to going online and downloading new stuff, that's about the best way to get new stuff, unless you wait for a new distro to include the desired tools.
Mandriva sells a Powerpack edition that is spread across 7 cd's (or one dvd). It should have everything you need for that older system, and then some. You won't be able to plav Windows video clips without downloading from one of the plf sites (easyurpmi.zarb.org has simple setup instructions), but they do have a lot of applications.
Jam packed with lots of stuff. If you want JAM packed, you could get all 13....is it still 13? debian disks, wont get much more than that hahahah. But yeah I suppose a distribution that comes on a dvd is a good choice. Opensuse comes on a dvd, not that i reccomend suse I got stuck in dependency hell. It could be a good choice though if you dont plan on doing much updating, because I believe it has good hardware detection and comes with a decent selection of apps.
Personally I would install debian from the net install cd and download what you need in one hit. Athough if your worried about bandwith you could always see if your isp mirrors debian? like ftp.yourisp.com and look for debian. My ISP does and so I download updates for debian all the time.
But mate, even a small install of debian, mine is 1.2 gb and most of that came from the cd, is not very large and contains all the necessary tools.
But see, I don't have internet access where I live, so I come into town and use my local library's computers which have broadband(I am so jealous I could be the Mask's stuntman), and WINDOZE, I really despise Windows, since finding out about Linux.
So that's my predicamant. Well it was until I tried a Live-DVD (Gosh, it works perfectly ) I am in heaven. The staff at the library(WINDOZE users, in other words Technogolically-inpaired :P )haven't noticed anything different
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