New to Linux
 

I am a windows person (I will admit it) but I have finally got enough parts for a computer. I plan on installing Linux on it and trying it out.

I am wondering what type of Linux should I download off of the web and where I can get it? I am not a computer idiot but have never used a non-Windows/DOS OS so ease of use is a big factor.

Go Mandrake all the way!
It's very gui oriented and is best known for it's of ease of use
to linux newbie enthusiasts.

Two options:

Mandrake 8.1
Red Hat 7.2

Try both and see which you like. I like either with Gnome, but plumped for Mandrake in the end cos it came pre-installed with Evolution.

I think that the best Disto for newbies is Mandrake (I am a newbie and I am having great luck with it). It has an install process that is very nice.

http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/ftp...35100c7f27.php

This link should take you right to Mandrake’s Download Page, if don’t have broadband then I would just go to a store like BestBuy and buy a box set.

Being you are a newbie you might want to think about just buying a box set from a store. This way you get tech support and a book.

Good Luck

Casper

I've found that the great thing about Mandy is that if feel like trying your hand at being more techie, you can. If you don't, then you don't have to. If you're a GUI person (which I presume you are), then Mandy is your best bet. I've heard plenty about how good SuSe is, but they don't have a proper version for download - only to buy.

Some will suggest either Slackware or Debian since you will have to learn much more, much quicker, but then if you can't get things to work properly 1st time, you might end up saying 'Buggar this Linux lark! I'm going back to Windows', and we don't want to see you doing that. All this 'apt-get' stuff you might read about Debian is all well and good, but I'm still convinced that Mandy is the distro of choice to ease yourself into the Linux environment and community. I'm still on Mandy myself (although I have tried some others), but that's mainly because it works well and I don't have to work at it (I'm in my last year of University - I don't want to have to work at it).

There are many threads on this forum regarding 'which is the best distro for...', and for newbies, a resounding MANDY can be heard.

Mandrake all the way
 

:Pengy:

I've been searching like you for some time, trying to find the right distro for me and I've pretty much tried them all- Slackware, Debian, RH, SuSe and now Mandrake. I'm not sure if its safe to admin but i'm a Windows admin person and Mandrake 8.1 beats all other distros for ease of use. The boxed set of 3 discs cost me $10- aust and I've had no troubles, the site i used was:

www.everythinglinux.com.au

and I'd recommend them to anyone, even overseas.. I've actually set up the box as a internet gateway and firewall and I'm thinking of setting up another as an Apache and Samba server for my home Windows network and a backup for the network at work. The control centre (sounds alot like control panel) and does pretty much the same job and setting up network connections and other system sort of stuff couldn't be easier. As I told my boss, Mandrake 8.1 is the first real desktop competitor to Windoze in some time

Mandrake 8.1 is the best to get for a first-timer!. but i hate the fact that my ports get blocked for no reason when i am logged in as a normal user. When i log in as root LimeWire and Gnutelle client can sucessfully connect but when i as a user it wont connect. Internet and ICQ ALWAYS work though...weird huh?

I have only tried Mandrake 7.0, Redhat 6.2 and Debian 2.1...

Based upon that experience, I would definitely recommend Mandrake for a new Linux enthusiast.

-CJ