What have you found "unstable" on Intrepid? I've got it running perfect on 4 machines. A reasonably new PC, a 2yr old Laptop, a new Acer Aspire One (that came w/ Windows), and an ancient custom PC. I've not had a single problem out of any of them.

People still have problems out of Hardy, just like people still have problems out of Gutsy, and people will have problems out of Intrepid, its inevitable.

IGF

What do you mean by bullied? I did not really bully you in any form. If that hurts...sorry but I just said wich should have been which. Whats wrong? Does it in any sense seem like bullying? How? Why?

well, you're right, but i mean "in general" most of them provide exactly the same kernel (linux ofcourse), same DE (70% KDE or GNOME, which is so boring) and the same applications, ...

welcome to Linux! try something with a live cd or dvd first. You can play with it and not hurt your computer, (not that I've ever hurt my computers installing the *nixes. I've only helped them!)
if you check out reviews of various versions of GNU_Linux, You'll find one. distrowatch.com is a good place to look, they even have links to the downloads.
I recommend, Linux Mint, PCLinuxOS, Freespire, Ubuntu. I found the Gnome environment to be the easiest to master. KDE has more controls that may confuse a new user.
Here is a list of *nix programs that are compatible with a windlows counterpart.
Outlook--Thunderbird mail
IE-- Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Office --OpenOffice.org
Yahoo instant messenger/windwos Messenger--Pidgin

It's gotten to the point that you can do anything in the *nixes that you can do in windows, but you can't do everything in windows you can do in Linux like----virus free surfing.

Thats hardly a reason to call them all "the same"... because no matter how you look at it, they're not.

IGF

I'm a strong Windoze user and will be giving Ubuntu a try.

What are your thoughts on KDE versus Gnome?

Thank you!

mplark,

As an established KDE user I have to say that Ubuntu 8.10's default Gnome was very easy to understand and use. I can recommend it.

This long-term KDE user obviously felt the same way.

http://www.deviceguru.com/intrepid-i...e-black-tower/

I also use KDE with Mepis 8 rc1 (final version of M8 due out VERY soon).

Both Ubuntu 8.10 and Mepis 8 rc1 use Live CDs so you can give them both a test run to get the feel of Gnome and KDE BEFORE actually installing one of them on your pc.
Good luck.

I prefer Gnome. KDE has just always felt sluggish to me. That said though, KDE has a lot of fans out there. Download Live versions of both, and see which you like. I'm not a *fanboy* of either, and think all the GUI's are great(Gnome, KDE, Xfce, Flux, Enlightenment, etc, etc.), just for the simple fact, you have a choice.

IGF

I have tried a lot of distros and I recommend Ubuntu or OpenSuse. Stay far away from PCLinuxOS for the time being, they froze their repositories in September and haven't even security updated their browsers. Several people have requested security and other updates but are simply ignored by the developers.

Artie

I am new to Linux and after 8 different windows OS'S, Starting before 95 and the last one Vista. I decided to try something that didnt cost me every time I broke it. I'm on my 8 Linux Distro and the 9th one is ordered. Ubuntu has been the easiest (for me) to setup and use. the only problem I have had with any of them has been me, I love trying new things with each one and I usually break it. Ubuntu has been the easiest to fix. (for me).

Ubuntu the best choice

use a linux liveCD to get the feel then you can decide to for the one that suits your test, BTW you can try knoppix/ubuntu live.

any of the ubuntu family are good for newbies as are opensuse and mandriva and xandros.
linux mint is another i have not really used but have head good things about.

my advice is to download a handfull of live cds and play, then install the one you like best
(livecds are slow so dont be worried about the speed, they will run many times faster when installed)

Those live-cds

This is the standard list of live cds. Which linux will suit you best is a matter of needs, use, taste, and your hardware, not necessarily in that order. You did not mention what this linux is to run on. The advice by dasy2k1 about trying many first will give you a good basis for making a decision.

http://www.livecdlist.com/

Welcome to linux

yeh, my experiance went somthing like this
RH7 (came on the back of a book i borrowed from the library) (even then it was way out of date)
slackware 10.0 (couldent really get on with it, a bit too advanced for me, but their website did point me here as this is their official help site)
tried ubuntu hedgehog but couldnt get X to work
opensuse 10.0 from beta onwards.
10.1 10.2 which was badly broken then 10.3
then my wifi died and i diddnt have cabled acsess to download the driver.
ubuntu feisty worked immidialtly,
gutsy, hardy later i wanted to give kde4 a go so went to suse11
that broke eventually so i went to ubuntu ibex.

so even now i still change around a bit, but thats the beuty of linux distros, the same progs will usially work in any distro