Which Linux is the easiest to use?
 

I dual partitioned Ubuntu Jaunty but I have had no end of problems such as no internet access, no sound and have not been able to get any constructive help. I've wasted days trying to get the problems sorted, reading forums asking questions etc but have not solved any of my problems. I am seriously thinking of going back to Windows but I want to give Linx one last try. I really don't want to as I like the Linux idea over the Windows monopoly but I just don't have the time to spend hours trying to learn new ways.
So requirements:-
1. An easy to use OS which requires no messing around with commands just simple mouse clicks. I am a total novice & don't want to spend hours trying to get to grips with permissions, commands etc as it's way above my head.
2. Internet access via wifi (Belkin Wireless G+ USB adaptor F5D7051)- I read that Madriva or Fedora might be best for this type of device but that Madriva isn't completely free.
3. PDA use.
4. Easy to install software.

If Linux is way out of my league then I'm not afraid to be told so. I will just wait another few years as I know things are constantly getting better.

Thanks.

In my opinion, if learning how to use Linux is not something you are willing to do, Linux is not for you. Expecting Linux to be Windows is a bad expectation. Question to ask yourself is, you want easy and unstable, or learn a little and secure/stable?

Network should work out of the box if you use DHCP and if your hardware is supported. The latter applies to sound as well. If either is not the case,then any operating system will fail to work out of the box. So the real question is: is your hardware supported? We can only know if you post the output of lspci -v. You also need to find out how you connect to the internet.

And when you first sat down at a windows system you knew what you were doing?? Didn't you have to learn how to use windows? You don't have to have one or the other, dual boot and as you have time work with Linux, if that's not possible then stay with windows, that's called freedom of choice.

If you don't want Windows, and you think Linux is too hard, then just buy a Mac. Macs have always been very easy to use, and AFAIK they didn't even have a command line until OS-X.

If you are determined to use a Linux OS, then I'd recommend Ubuntu. Ubuntu is very well documented and has an enormous number of users to help you on your way. However if you ever ask for support online, be prepared to learn some command line. It's simply much easier to tell a user to type in a single command versus trying to explain how to move the mouse and where to click.

Edit: Re-reading I see that you've already decided against Ubuntu. Of the following list, I haven't used any of them, but perhaps one of these will suit you better:

openSUSE
MEPIS
Linux Mint
Mandriva

If none of those seem to suit your expectations, you can try using the Linux Distribution Chooser to find something you like better.

PCLinuxOS is a good one to start with.

Ubuntu IS the easiest for new Linux users
But you could try " OpenSUSE " it's user interface is a lot like xp and vista
but be warned -- If the computer is NOT "Vista - Pro " ready then openSUSE will be a bit slow

Usually Ubuntu is considered a very beginner-friendly linux distro. It has enormous amount of documentation, forum help, packages,... If that didn't suite you, then my personal suggestion would be you try Mandriva 2009 Spring, preferably KDE edition.Time has changed. Try Mandriva 2009.1 (aka Mandriva 2009 Spring). Its free, functional and excellent for beginners. The KDE version makes windows uses more at ease.

I learned on SuSE. Everything seems to work right out the box. After learning more I felt more at ease with other distros. Learning is healthy just dive in!

You may find problems initially using Linux, but later you would enjoy.

You should know configuring and some handful commands to use. But for playing some media you should have proper decoder available.

Best of luck.

Goodbye Windows!
 

Well I re-installed Ubunutu Jaunty but NOT as dual boot, just Ubuntu. I then connected to my modem via ethernet & got connected plus sound! So hopefully I can say goodbye to Windows once I get my wifi connecting, PDA sorted & Evolution connecting to my talktalk server (won't accept password). So overall I am well chuffed. Thanks to all who helped.