Whats the deal with GNU?
 

I have seen these lists on the internet that say these are the only "free" Linux distributions. Does this somehow mean that other more widely used distributions are illegal or somehow not free?

http://www.gnu.org/links/links.html#...xDistributions

"These are all GNU/Linux distributions we know of which consist entirely of free software, and whose main distribution sites distribute only free software."

Other distributions contain some proprietary software. This does not make them illegal. Distributions containing proprietary software are not free in the sense of academic freedom. Whether this distinction is important is a matter of personal opinion.

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Steve Stites

Those are the only distributions that refuse non GPL code to be used.

Most of any distro is GPL, but stuff slips in like sun java, flash player, ndiswrapper with proprietary drivers, etc. It is socially responsible not to use this garbage, but if you can't afford clean hardware, sometimes you have no choice but to suckle off the corporate teet for driver support. (Video cards, RAID controllers, what have you.)

OK thanks so there is nothing wrong with other distributions like opensuse because that was what I was planning on installing.

There is so much wrong with OpenSuse, I don't even know where to begin :P
But it's all a matter of opinion, so go ahead. (I started out with suse too btw.)