I also started off using Slackware 10.1, deciding not to take an easier route by using fedora or mandrake. I'm not sure whether I learned anything, but I can say that it wasn't difficult at all to install it, or to get ATI drivers installed. Go the slack route, you won't regret it.

not being a risk-taker, i started off with suse, loved it, then learned to dual-boot so i could install slack and learn it little by little. i found myself using things i learned using slack to fix things in suse...ergo, if you use suse, you learn suse, if you use slack, you learn linux...but in all honesty, i don't think i would have stayed with linux had i started with slack...i needed the handholding of a user-friendly distro like suse to get me going. both are great distros...but without a doubt, i'm a definate slacker.

***edit

on a side note, 99% of my questions were actually answered here, mostly by searching, but also by other members happy to help

I think Fedora Core is not a bad distro to start with and learn the basics. Once you are comfortable with the basics, you can then experiment with other Linux distros. Personally I don't believe in the old joke that if you learn RedHat/Fedora, you'll know RedHat/Fedora (there are other variations to this). The reason why I say this is that the basics are the same regardless of which Linux distro you choose. Those very same basics can even be used to learn other Unix operating systems without a huge learning curve.

The advantage that Slack has is that its very simplistic in nature and leaves things as the original developers intended. Its downside (which is a plus for some) is its lack of gui config tools and dependency tracking tools (again not a biggie because those who need it can use tools like swaret etc). Also if you have used Slack before, its fairly easy to install and use an OS like NetBSD or FreeBSD because the installation routine is quite similar and so are the system startup scripts. Fedora Core has various gui config tools and very powerful package managers which can make it easy for newcomers to administer various aspects of their systems without being entirely overwhelmed by text based configuration.

I am Russian, and I want my system to be localized into Russian. With Slackware it is not too difficult and works well (if the hands are not too bad). AND. Slackware is the only distribution I have ever seen working on my computer where my USR Courier 56k V. Everything EXT works. Sounds funny but I couldn't make it work neither @ Fedora Core 2 nor @ Ubuntu nor @ Knoppix. Only @ Slackware

hey! Don't mess with El Rebaño Sagrado LOL

I just installed Slackware 10.2 on my Laptop. I agree with everyone. I am coming from Fedora and I want a system that is like my work. I use AIX and I hope Slack will be close to it. I do agree with those that say you do not learn alot about linux from fedora. I felt like it was holding me back from truly understanding how linux works. And now that I got my book on linux kernel Development I hope to truly learn linux.

Side note from rambling on, If you are new to linux I would start with Fedora, but learn and dump it quick.

The only Linux distribution I've tried is Slackware. I started using it over a year ago on a server as an excuse to learn about Linux. I'm really hooked on Slackware, but always read these "slackware vs..." posts just to ensure I'm not missing anything by not trying Suse or debian or fedora or whatever. Sounds like there's no pressing reason to try any other distro :-)

The odd thing is that after I started using Slackware, I switched cars from an automatic to a stick-shift. Coincidence? Hmmm....