Hi guys, I'm new to linux and I would like a small simple linux that I can play with and learn the basics. I'm not ready to dedicate my hard drive to linux but I would like to find one to run off of a usb drive besides Damn Small Linux. And just as an extra, where can I learn to use linux, for example the basics and more of the programming aspect of the OS. I will also be using it for internet with wireless card. My first goal is to find a disto that is best suited for a usb and can have setting saved.

Thanks.

Also i would don't mind a Live CD distro that can atleast save the data. I would like it to save on NTFS but if has to save to usb thats fine too.

I am reasonably sure you can accomplish what you seek with Puppy Linux. It's small (<100MB), fast (runs completely in RAM), and it can either be installed on a USB or boot from a CD and save session settings to a USB. It is also supposed to be capable of saving session settings to an NTFS partition.

Regarding learning Linux, the book I recommend to someone who is brand new is Test Driving Linux. It is a little old, but fine for learning. For more advanced users, I recommend Guide to Unix Using Linux. I used this book for a class and although it is a little dry, it is quite comprehensive and reasonably easy to follow.

Thanks for the info. I will look into it.

You might try using qemu and Puppy:
QEMU-Puppy - A Personal Portable Computer
http://www.erikveen.dds.nl/qemupuppy/index.html

For learning LInux I would recommend RUTE:
LINUX: Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition
http://linux.2038bug.com/rute-home.html

Along with the various docs for whatever distro you decide on.

Other helpful links:
Linux StepbyStep
http://www.linux-sxs.org/child2up.html

The Linux Documentation Project
http://www.tldp.org/

Welcome to Puppy Linux Video Tutorials!
http://rhinoweb.us/

PuppyLinuxWiki
http://puppylinux.org/wikka/PuppyLinuxMainPage/

Puppy would definitely be a good place to start.

Puppy Linux
http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=3

Slackware
http://www.slackware.com/

SLAX Live CD
http://www.slax.org/

BeaFanatIX
http://bea.cabarel.com/

Elive:
http://www.elivecd.org/

Luit Linux
http://luitlinux.sarovar.org/