The "simple" distributions...
 

Hey guys! I was wondering - with Distributions like LindOS, XandrOS, and Ark Linux if you'd go to compile a new kernel or other changes of that nature, is it prone to break easily? I love XandrOS, think it's a great system, and easy to install and almost everything is configured and running but how customizable is it? Will I really be able to learn Linux on it? I don't even mind paying for it just for the simple fact that most of the big distributions you seem to be better off buying the retail packaging now anyway.

Thanks as always for any and all help - I thought I posted this before but didn't see it show up. Maybe I was day-dreaming? :)

Depends on what you want to learn...

For those distros that you've mentioned I know that you are guaranteed to learn one thing very well... How to use a mouse and click on things on the screen. Other than that, I'm not so sure.

Paying is good if your intention is to contribute to the company/person producing the distros... just remember that some are more worthy than others.

If you haven't used Linux before, I'd suggest something light but still Linux-like... say Mandrake. If you are familiar with Linux but would like to learn more administration skills, then probably Slackware and/or Debian. If you really want to learn Linux inside and out and not afraid of the command line, compiling, debugging, reading tons of docs then probably you'd appreciate something like LFS.

Pick your poison :)