Which should I install?

I admit that I'm a bit new to linux, but I'm a computer's person so don't treat me like a tender baby please!

I installed RedHat 9 without problems, it detected everything. (almost*)
And everything was great, I got apt-get, Installed a few things, got the latest NVidia drivers...

I could NOT get tuxracer to work
Probably because there is a problem with it. (Its a dead project now... and buggy )

But it might be a problem with RedHat.... (?)


Anyway, I also had a problem with my modem*.
RedHat did NOT detect it at all... I have a router, so I had an internet connection but if I connected my modem directly to the computer... nothing.

Also, sometimes speeds were slow.
Both browsing and downloading, and sometimes by downloads would freeze. (Thank god for KGet)

Anyway, all that and hearing some time ago that RedHat personal is no more... (yes, I know there is feodora thingy but still...)

I decided to switch to a new distro.


After some soul and google searching I decided that I should either install Debian or buy and install SuSE9.

So which do you think I should choose?


I read that SuSE is great as a desktop.
It looks good and its very user friendly... (at least that's what I read)

So that's nice...

But Debian has lots and lots of packages... and apt-get
(I don't know if apt-get has been ported to SuSE like it was for redhat...)


This is what I need:

Openoffice - both have
Mozilla and Mail Client - both have
Download manger - ? don't know if they have it...
CD (NOT DVD, just CD-R/RW) burning program - ?

Easy update - ?
Nice looking user friendly - SuSE has that. does debian have it?

GAMES - yap. I know they both come with tux... but I also would like to play games like flight gear... and winblows games, with WineX... I don't know how good is the support for that.

Hopefully an easy install - SuSE prolly has that.

oh, and some basic developing tools maybe? for C, C+...


So... which of them is nearer to what I'm looking for?
Which would you recommend and why?

Also, I'm confused about debian.
There is Woody, and 2 other versions... ? what's the diff' and which is for me?


Thanks for your help

Both distros (like any major distro) can do all the things you mention. If you want to go for easy install and gui-user-friendliness I would recommend SuSE.

thanks

ok, then what are the pros and cons of them against each other?

what does SuSE do better, and what does Debian does better?

IF there is somebody here that used both please post!


The easy install is not a must, I don't mind tinkering a bit with the install if its worth it.

The user-friendlyness... well, I was using windows for years so I can live without it

I bought SuSE 8.2 after trying various distros. Didn't like it. I couldn't install it without having to jump through hoops (thanks to my NVIDIA Nforce2 kit). In the end I had to used a text mode installer. Don't particually like the way the distro is put together, although I can't really put my finger on why. I don't like the way everything relies on YAST (though some might say it's a strength). Saying that some things are good about it (the way the icon appear on the desktop when you plug in a flash memory stick for example). Hardware detection is also generally very good in SuSE.

In the end I bought Libranet which is 100% Debian compatible. Nice and neat, doesn't install ten tonnes of apps which I'll never need or want. It's got a simple text mode installer. Package installation is great. I actually enjoy messing around with it and learning Linux. You could try Libranet or Gnoppix to see if you like a modern Debian. I think you'll find plain Debian 3.0r1 is a little bit old now (although you can install and upgrade it).

Each to their own though.

Ok.

But there is sarge and sid... they are newer versions right?

"You could try Libranet or Gnoppix to see if you like a modern Debian."

Whats that? can you post a link please?


I don't see why you don't like SuSE.
You said that hardware detection is good, and that it looks good.

You had problems installing, well thats not a biggy every distro install can be problematic for someone. But you got it to install in the end... so whats the problem?

As for a ton of program that you don't need.
Well, I have 40Gigs of HD so I don't really mind.

RedHat 9 is also like that...

"I don't like the way everything relies on YAST (though some might say it's a strength)."

What's YAST?


I really don't want to download 3 or more disk ISO's and install something just to decide that I should have gone with the other option.

Can I please have some more advice guys?

I'm deprassed.

RedHat is no more.
Debian is outdated.
SuSE is expensive.

I don't know what distro to choose!
For now (please don't flame me) I'm using XP, but only because I have too!!!

I can't decide on a distro... please help me choose.

I'd second the vote for Libranet. It's a perfect Debian, basically, with all Debian advantages plus ease of install/configuration, and more modern package set. The only disadvantage is it costs some money, but even so, it costs less than SuSE...

Have you tried e-bay? I bought a 5 cd copy of suse 9.0 on there for £4

Do yourself a favour and start with the "easyer" stuff, something very GUI based. Like MDK Linux or RH Linux?

err... why?
And RedHat is dead... I have it installed but I'm looking for another distro now.

How about FREE downloadable Distros?

I really don't want to pay for a distro right now.
I downloaded RedHat9 ISO's for free... I want to download my new distro for free to...

thanks for your suggestions...

keep 'em coming please (the suggestions that is...)

Very GUI based distro's is a good and less frustrating way to try out Linux and feel your first "linux experience". at least that was how I felt my first time with linux. ( I used MDK, i think its slow tought... If i were you, i'd give RH, or SuSE a try ) and free iso's?

www.linuxiso.org

Slackware 9.1 is awesome.
Only ever had one problem with it, but I don't think you'll have the same problem, if your computer runs WinXP it will run Slackware nice.
(My computer had trouble running 98se so I tried Slackware, and it runs better than what I thought 98 ran, only problem now is my desktop resolution... )
But the desktop res is something to do with my monitor, so not to worry for you

Try Slackware, you won't be displeased.

If your as n00b as you seem, you shouldent try out Slackware, its too hard and command based.

If you've already got Red Hat, you could just stick to Fedora... Red Hat is far from dead, just think of Fedora as Red Hat Freebie, developed by the community, while Red Hat themselves concentrate on their Enterprise line.

Nah, I was a full newb.. I was unfamiliar with what Linux really was.. But I still installed Slackware.
It's not *that* bad, just takes time to get a bit used to it.