Hello!

I am a Linux newbie who enjoyed my experience with RH9 on a server and am debating on which version is right for me on my other computer (dual-boot with XP). I do lots of work on my computer and I can't risk it being down. Also, I'm an enthusiast with lots of Linux-compatible software. Which is right for me--RH9 or RH Fedora?

consider fedora as redhat10.

basically, what you're saying is that Fedora is the next version of RH9, right?

Thanks so much for your help.

"next version" for linux users on the desktop. RH has pretty much stopped promoting their linux distro for desktop users, and are concentrating on their corporate clients. so, they are backing the fedora project for desktop users now.
there are sooo many distro's you can (and should) try. just download the first iso of any distro, and install and try it out. so, with about 5 cd's u can have tested 5 distro's (but it will be a very basic system).

You might aswell wait till april if you are on a slow internel connection.
thats when Fedora Core 2 comes out.
which comes with the latest 2.6 kernel.

already?

Okay.

response to qwijibow: i have a fast DSL connection, so downloading speed is no worry, trust me.
still, i'll take it into consideration.
thanks for the info.

response to h/w: yeah! I'm sick and tired of windows problems.
I can't get any work done without having to download patches, fixes, updates...
in fact, i should have switched earlier. ;-)

it's strange, but i only remember one problem while on win32 - that of removal of pc-cards just by ejecting. it would just hang if i did that. apart from that, i never had a virus (i had that stupid messenger dialog box popping up, but that was easily stopped from services.)
i dont think i have seen a BSOD on my win32 yet. heh.

i just find linux more educational and fun though.

hey, if you're relatively new, would you like to try libranet? it's debian-based (which is what i use), and the installer is supposed to be a breeze, and lots of newbies here (those who don't use mdk or rh) have said good about it. just a suggestion - cos once you get the hang of it, you can try others easily (debian, slack, gentoo ...) will be fun.

hmm, i sounded like a salesman for libranet there - no, i'm not.

thanks for the suggestion there
maybe i'll try it out
but you see, i have experience with Red Hat 9.
and i feel comfortable with it.
the think is, it's hard to have more than two OSes on a PC at once.
for each distro u try out, it's either a new partition or a new computer.
I've had to deal with quite a few win viruses.
I just don't find it worth my time.
That's why I like linux.
Also:
1. It's STABLE (I Know, I know, XP is supposedly stable but programs freeze every other minute).
2. It's free of lots of things, including costs and viruses.
3. It's great for developers.
4. It's open-source.

how easy to use is fedora?

Well, I would consider the following distributions the easiest for Windows users:
1. Mandrake Linux
2. Fedora
3. RedHat

Although, I generally consider Mandrake the most user-friendly distribution for Windows users, RedHat and Fedora are a close second. Mainly because Fedora is Redhat 9.5 (or close enough). Basically RedHat gave the Fedora team all the code, they updated a few packages, and changed all the graphics and logos.

Since the desktop version of RedHat is going away in April, I would go with Fedora. Personally think this move by RedHat unwise and foolish, this is the direction they have chosen. I wonder if they will be around in a few years.

Personally, I like Fedora. Seems easy to me. The only questions are stability and long term lifespan of the project. Only time will tell.

I am using VectorLinux on an old laptop ATM to get some experience until i get highspeed here in a few days and can start trying distros.

I too have heard that Mandrake is the easiest to use. I've narrowed my selections down to:
Mandrake - ease of use
Slackware - harder but very powerful

And last, but not least, Fedora. I have heard good things about it, but there is the question, as stated above, of the projects lifespan.

Plus, doesn't it sound cool? "What OS do you use?" -- "Fedora Core 1"

I have used RH9 but didn't like it too much.

beats the apt-get outta "fedora core 1", don't you think? heh.

I've heard a lot of people say that Slackware is a harder distro to use than most (I suppose due to the lack of GUI based configuration tools), but in what way is it more 'powerful' than other ditros?

Unless I'm very much mistaken, all Linux distros are running a kernel of some version or other and all (usually) have the same packages available for them, so I would have thought they were all equally as powerful give or take the odd little thing here or there.

Would someone care to enlighten me?

Many Thanks - echelon