I am not sure which disro/BSD to use.

Here is some info about me as a computer user:


I will be running Linux on a fast, new (probably 64k) mac through Parallels Desktop.

I am using Linux for desktop purposes.

I want the linux ot be free for basic things.

I want a liveCD to try it out.

I have never used Linux before, but I know some stuff about it.

I don't know how to code, but I wouldn't mind doing some copying and pasting.

This distro should run off KDE or Gnome (but preferably have a KDE option somehow)

I have linksys wireless internet.

I need a somewhat mature, pretty fast, nice-looking OS that makes it ewasy ot get a lot of free software.



Ask if you need ot know anything else, but besides thta, give me a top 3 list in order of best suited first.

If your looking for ease-of-use and "out of the box" workings, such as th I'd recommend Ubuntu or SuSE.

If you want to learn how Linux really works, I'd recommend Slackware.

use kubuntu

Kubuntu
http://www.kubuntu.org/

Mandriva
http://frontal2.mandriva.com/en/downloads/mirrors

PCLinuxOS .92
http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/dist...glish/preview/
ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distr...glish/preview/

This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.

BeatrIX
http://www.watsky.net/download.html

Blag
http://www.blagblagblag.org/download/

Mephis
http://www.mepis.org/

feather Linux
http://featherlinux.berlios.de/

Vector Linux 4.3
http://www.vectorlinux.com/

DSL
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

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

Slackware
http://www.slackware.com/

BeatrIX
http://www.watsky.net/

you can find more here

http://www.linuxlinks.com/Distributi...Distributions/
http://www.linuxlinks.com/Distributions/Floppy/

Distro Choosers: http://eedok.voidofmind.com/linux/chooser.html
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

Any more replies?

I think per your specs that Kubuntu would be the first one you should try..

* It has a KDE desktop by default.
* It's modern, and looks nice
* Additional software is easily installed using the Synaptic GUI or from the command line with apt-get
* Lots of help for basic configuration and troubleshooting is quickly available through the Ubuntuguide
* There is a live version of Ubuntu available which would have the Gnome desktop, I dunno if Kubuntu has a live CD or not... Ubuntu and Kubuntu are the same except Ubuntu has Gnome and Kubuntu has KDE by default.
* Running Ubuntu under Parallels Desktop on a Mac and yet another how-to

Best of luck to you !!

SuSE, if you're a complete newbie. Ubuntu is relatively easy to use, but expect to invest some time and a learning curve to master the system.

Good luck.