ok im at a loss here guys,
im sick of windows, i need a linus distro to run on my dell latitude d520
Notebook: Dell Latitude D520
Processor: Intel Core Duo T2300
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 128 MB
Display: 14.1 inch, 16:10, pixels

all i need it for is office ( mainly writing)
wireless internet
idjc internet radio

what does everyone recomend

Go with ubuntu. Remember it is a new experience so wathever you choose give it some learning time!

I recomend Ubuntu 9.04 32bits version. My wife has this Dell D520 notebook and it works right from start. No need to search any drivers... Wifi and Video with acceleration work right from the boot CD, which you can try without even installing it on you HD.

I don't recomend 64bits neither the latest Ubuntu version 9.10 because they have some glitches that need more experience to deal with.

Welcome to the Linux world! And enjoy thousands of ready to install opensource applications directly from the "Add/Remove Programs" in Ubuntu.

Hi in2media,

I have tried both Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10, and both are good for what you need. However, if you need/have to use a type n wifi usb at any time, ubuntu at present may not recognise it. However I have found that Mint 8does for Netgear.

I can tell you from experience that the GMA 950 and the Core2duo will work with nearly all modern Linux distros
(the ones mentioned below definitely do)

Office (as in openoffice.org) comes with many various distros out of the box (including the ones mentioned below), so no problem there.

The only potential problems you might encounter are with the wireless internet, but many distros offer proprietary drivers included (distros mentioned below will, too).

My suggestions would be:

1.) Mandriva (Easy as Pie)
2.) PCLinuxOS(Made for Windows converts)
3.) Linux Mint (Based on the amazingly easy Ubuntu, except there is a control panel that makes it easy to edit your settings, and more proprietary drivers)

If you own an MP3 player with many MP3s and AVIs and MPEG-4s, or you are an avid watcher of youtube and need the Flash Player, PCLinuxOS comes with great support for that. Mandriva has most of them, and in Linux Mint, you will have to download the "Restricted Extras" package (not very hard):P

Also have a look at this website that compares Linux distros side-by-side (I saved you some time by comparing Mandriva and PCLinuxOS already ): polishlinux.org

Also have a look at this website: http://distrowatch.com/.

And heres a Quiz! Yes a quiz! to find Linux distros for you: http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

Also, please look at the link in my sig for the Linux newbie guide. It will answer every newbie Linux question you throw at it.

Good luck, Linux is fun, free, and best of all, you have literally thousands of Linux users who will help whenever you have a question.