Slackware uses BSD-style init scripts and its own unique package management system (slackpacks). I really like it but certainly wouldn't call it a "normal" or "typical" Linux distro, so really not sure why its recommend so often as a learning distro. Anyway..

And FWIW, Gentoo 2006.0 now has a GUI based installer run from a LiveCD! It's really very slick, but still not for newbies.

I have been using Linux for about three months.
I have tried most of the "major" distros now.
I have settled with Fedora. My experience with FC5 as a newbie:
stable, good support, and very functional.
It pretty well does everything I ask of it.
I have learnt a lot from tinkering with Linux.
As they say: it has put the fun back into computing for me!
Jonathan

i divide system depent on what i need for the server i chose slackware nogui and for desktop i chose fedora , current my production fedora 4 , i wont use fedora 5 till after half year release then i will start using it , same with fc4, release after 6 month then i will think to start produce it for desktop because i sell it " fc 4 base customized desktop" customer satisfied with the system worked for all

not much money i get but this is the way i introduce linux to others then some people buy the machine and send to me and i charge USD 40 for "my own altered" linux

or maybe wait till fc6 release then i will use fc5 for production this is because stability , i believe will be full stable after global test realise with livna update