Hello, I am a new member of this forum. I want to dump windows and give linux a try. I have tried linux in the past a few times but I always had problems or the version of linux had bugs in it. I recently tried linux elementary os but found out that the email program and web browser would crash a lot. I would like to fix this problem and be able to use linux elementary os. I am a basic computer user. Does anyone have any suggestions on which version of linux is good for a newbie without the bugs that is a stable os? Thanks!

Hello and welcome to the forum

Please note that this particular forum is for introductions only. Please re-post your question in the "Newbie" or another appropriate forum. Thanks!

Regards...

I would suggest Linux Mint...it is probably the most "Windows-User friendly", and will probably support most consumer hardware right off the bat.
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2978

That points you to the "Rosa" Mint edition, with the KDE desktop. One thing to keep in mind about Linux is that it is *NOT* the 'window dressing'. You have choices...the KDE desktop is different from Gnome, XFCE, and others. They look different, but under the hood, they're pretty much the same. KDE is a bit more Windows like right off the bat, but that's just personal preference. You can also try Cinnamon:
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2947

Slightly different look...similar enough.

While true, you could have also answered the fairly simple question the OP posed, without blowing them off and (essentially) telling them to go elsewhere.

Welcome, johnny306. Mint, as TBOne mentioned, is pretty well regarded, as is SUSE. I would start with one of those.

Also, for web browsing, Firefox generally is stable (I'm not sure what Elementary was using) and for email, try Thunderbird.

Obviously there are several alternatives to those if you decide they don't work they way you want them to work. A strength of Linux is your ability to "build your own", so try everything you can and find what you like. Then stick with those things. At least, that's what I did and it has worked out pretty well; I use the apps I love, the OS I love, and I don't really have any complaints.

But most of all, have fun!

Agree with all of the above...I'm an openSUSE user myself, and like it very much.

That said, johnny306, I do want to address something I noticed in your initial post. You said "without the bugs that is a stable os?" Linux is *FAR* more stable than Windows is...not sure what you're referring to, but unless you download a beta version (that is, an unreleased, still-working-on-it version) of any OS, it's going to have some issues. That's why it's not a released version.

And while notKlaatu prefers Firefox...I use Chrome, because with an Android tablet and phone, I like the synchronization between everything. And I get my email through the browser, and don't have a mail client. But again, this is all what YOU decide. You have many options.

Hi...

I didn't blow them off, I simply asked the OP to post this in another forum as required by the rule I linked to.

Regards...

Perhaps another read is in order. From that 'rule' (which is actually a sticky-post readme): "but we'd request that you ask any Linux questions in a more suitable forum".

And by not answering their question, and just telling them to re-post somewhere else, what would YOU call it, other than blowing them off?

I interpret it differently....

I think the word "***NOT***" makes the desired response (or result) pretty clear. However, if you want clarification as to how this should be interpreted, please ask Jeremy to render a decision as to how this should be handled and what the lines are.

Just what I said in my previous post.

Regards...

Welcome to the forums, Johnny306!

And pay no attention to those people scuffling behind the curtain! OK?

You can run Linux on Virtual Machines to try out distributions to see which ones are best suitable for you. I like MINT and Ubuntu, as well as SUSE.

You can also Live boot a distribution using a USB or DVD without installing it, to determine how well you like it and how well it works on your particular system.

Enjoy!

Here's a tip to help you 'interpret' plain words better: go with what they mean. For example a REQUEST is asking for compliance, while something else (such as DO NOT do xxx) is a rule. Further, if it was a rule, it might actually have been included IN the LQ Rules....it was not.

Split hairs all you want; it wasn't (and ISN'T) a rule, and certainly did not preclude you from answering a question. How would you feel being a new member to a forum, and having someone essentially say "Hey, saw your question...you posted it in the wrong place, so try asking there."
The 'lines' are obey the LQ Rules...what you posted was not, and IS NOT part of them, but a simple request sticky post.
...which was, essentially, "I blew them off". You went out of your way to acknowledge you saw a brand-new posters simple question, and instead of answering it, you told them to go elsewhere.