I want to run the best linux for me on my amd64. I prefer kde, want apt-get/synaptec (and the kde one). Kubuntu looks a bit sketchy. I was wondering if it's possible, particularly for smoeone with no command line ability, to put apt-get into mandiva, or to just kind of maybe compile my own thing from debian, putting in everything i like. Also wondering how (k)ubuntu can have amd64 support tho debian doesn't. could i somehow work that in to one that doesn't myself? I guess I'd be biting off way more than I could chew, but it might be a good way to get to know everything thru & thru. Or I could just settle for something and wait for the future. Any thoughts appreciated.

There are a couple of Debian offshoots that have amd64 versions. There is a debian for amd64 but it isn't officially released yet - check out the Alioth project.

If you would like something with amd64 support, native apt-get (Debian-based) and KDE may I humbly suggest Kanotix? It is optimized for hard drive installs, is based almost entirely in Sid and so doesn't break like others with apt-get dist-upgrades. Ubuntu was uses many experimental packages and it is best to stick with its own repositories to avoid breakage.

fc3 has a 64 bit version and kde

I agree that kanotix would probably be better for you there.

If you wanna use an RPM based distro you can install apt-get into mandy, but it's not that fun. I hate to say this, but if you have no command line experiences, you should start using it. It's the foundation of Linux and incredibally powerful!!! Get crackin'

As soon as I dropped RPM based distros (I heard that the others didn't have dependency hell), I realized something. the only reason Debian doesn't have a "dependency hell" is because it has tons of stuff in its repository. All well and good, but back to my main point. You can install apt-get into Mandy, but it's repositoresi aren't that big, so it's almost worthless.

You'll probably miss the gui admin tools from mandrake if you decide on kanotix, but, really, when you get a system setup, you don't need them anymore anyway (and I subcribe to the arch/slack mentaity of KISS, so text file editing, while daunting at first, makes more sense to me... but i'm weird).

And, just because Ununtu is based on debian doesn't mean it IS debian (although it's close).

And if I'm not mistaken, Kanotix uses the official debian repositories, while (k)ubuntu doesn't.

Deus, yes, Kanotix does use official debian repositiories and is practically pure Sid. But two caveats, the newest version is using KDE3.4 from the experimental branch. And the AMD63 port does have some apt problems (that is why I believe Debian hasn't ported it officially yet). Kano has done an artful job of compiling the kernel for AMD64 and a intricate work of pinning packages for use of KDE3.4. Not sure if a newbie is up to maintaining, upgrading that combo.

Myself, I have it running on a spare machine just fine. My main machine has an older version of Kanotix with kernel upgraded to 2.6.11 but is using only officially debian - still KDE3.3. If the spare machine breaks I probably can fix it after awhile with help but I don't have the expertise to recover quickly if I suffer major breakage on my main box. I don't have any AMD64 machines and my only experience there is seeing the posts in kanotix and debian forums regarding it.

I agree Intrepid must get more comfortable with command line. But apt has wonderful front-ends like synaptic and KDEs package manager makes it as simple as can be. So a newbie can get most of what he needs to get started while not having to get into CLI before they are a bit more comfortable.

FC3 is a good choice too. I have it running on a spare partition. But personally I just found the apt system to be the best and Deb/apt a perfect pairing. Myself, I am holding off on building an AMD64 box until Debian has an official port and the packaging system is working smoothly for it.

I think FC3 for AMD64 would fit your description very well. It comes with KDE (default with GNOME, but of course you can change that), and apt-get. It's easy to install and use, works with most computer hardware configuration/combination. I suggest that you wait for FC4 release next month, if you can wait longer.

Doesn't FC3 use RPM not apt-get?

FC3 is an RPM package distro. Your choice of pkg mgrs is up to you. I have installed apt on FC3 and synaptic. It works better than yum - a little more user friendly, verbose. The pkgs themselves are still rpms.

Don't fear command line, it's really not that hard to use, even for those of us who start with no experience whatsoever. After a few weeks you will feel just as fluent with your keyboard in command as you do with your mouse in GUIs.

Thanks for the info Nishtya!

I have heard a lot about Kanotix, and perhaps now I'll try to install it. I'm using KDE 3.4 on my Arch box and haven't had many problems with it (although when I made the mistake of installing it initally... which was before they announced it... it completely broke down and wouldn't work.. .crashed all the time... so I switched to Enlightenment for a bit until all the bugfixes came out).

Sometimes I forget about Synaptic and KPackage.. those tools are wonderful, especially because apt doesn't give you a way to search the package database (so using Synaptic and KPackage gives you those).

On a side note, does anyone know how much a decent speed athlon 64 bit beast will run me? I've been thinking about upgrading this desktop I've got here (it uses a 1.6 XP 2600+ at the moment)