Friends,
I have been using Windows 98. Now I have planned a complete switchover to Linux. After some deliberation, I restricted my choices to Ubuntu, OpenSuse and Debian. While trying Ubuntu, I had some problems (scanner detection, identification of windows partitions, etc). With OpenSuse, I feel that it is little outdated. Concerning Debian, I have to download 3 DVD iso's (are they three required?). Now, please advise me which, in addition to this three, is the best in the following respects.

1. Excellent hardware detection
2. Availability of drivers
3. Completeness

Let me expect your gracious and invaluable suggestions in this regard
Thanking you
A.M. Tony Allwyn

amrtuti, I can't address all of your concerns, but installing Debian requires only one ISO of about 100 MB. That will install a base system and you will add other components online.

This is the net install CD and it is available here: http://www.us.debian.org/CD/netinst/

edit: added link

Ubuntu is a polished version of Debian. I'm with you on OpenSuse, I don't know if its Dated, but I don't like it. If you're planning a complete switch to Linux, why are you concerned about it reading Windows partitions? Some hardware is just extremely difficult to configure under any distro. My guess is, if you had scanner probs with Ubuntu, you'll likely have them with Debian also. Whats the make/model of the scanner?

I don't know a whole lot about Debian, but I know Ubuntu fairly well. It really is about as dumbed down and as easy as it gets.

If you download the current version of Ubuntu..7.04 Feisty Fawn, the below links may help...

Mounting Windows Partitions..

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Au...ountPartitions

Lots of good info...

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Feisty

Edit: Here's some info I found on scanners on IRC:

Setting up Xsane

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ScanningHowTo

Supported Hardware

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupp...onentsScanners

Hope that helps...

IGF

The link below might be helpful....

Dear Friends,
Thank you for the replies.
Let me say my standpoint more clearly.
Firstly, I need not have to update online every now and then. Once I install by way of a DVD, it should work until a new version is released, even after a year. This is what I meant in 'completeness'.
Secondly, my scanner is quite old, it is HP ScanJet 3200C. My repeated attempts to have it working proved futile in Ubuntu. Here, when saying hardware detection, I mean some operational flexibility to get the job done (for example, by forcibly installing a different driver as in Windows).
Finally, While I wish the distribution to be relatively bug-free, it should also install chipset drivers correctly (Ubuntu and OpenSuse did not work in some video modes in my nVidia 6100 northbridge).
Now, I request your good selves to suggest a suitable distribution.
A.M. Tony Allwyn

Have tried ubuntu, opensuse and debian and liked them all. All my systems have nvidia video cards and none of them are supported by default by any distro but the drivers are pretty easy to install and all resolutions work perfectly ( once the video driver is installed ).

I guess what I am saying is that the nvidia drivers for most distro's aren't going to work by default on newer cards. But with most distro's i have found that installation of the drivers are almost as simple as (sh NVIDIA*) and selecting yes to all options to get it working.

To forcably install the nvidia driver in Ubuntu I found these instructions helpful:

http://wiki.serios.net/wiki/Ubuntu_NVIDIA_proprietary_display_driver_installation_using_NVIDIA's_installer

Just have to make sure the video driver you are downloading supports your card (the readme on the nvidia driver download page gives you the list of supported cards).

If this is your first experience working with linux then, ubuntu is a good choice. I started with ubuntu, got frustrated with it doing everything for me and needing more than the repositories could offer so I tried slackware 11.0 and its still my main os although debain has managed to hang around my hd for 3 months now .

I think you might find the nvidia fix simpler than you imagine and these forums friendly and helpful.

Good Luck and Welcome to the forums.