Hi - I currently have a 32bit system, with just 2GB of RAM.

The Debian System Administrator's Handbook, written for Debian 6.0 (current is 7.0) says that "A minimum of 512 MB of RAM and 5 GB of hard drive space are really recommended for a basic office desktop workstation." I think if you look at the hardware recommendations for many distributions, you'll find that your computer is more than adequate.

Aww, its not that bad.

If you have a 1521, its a AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 CPU which is 64bit capable.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-In...21.6672.0.html

To get the full potential from your laptop upgrade it to 4gb of ram, that way you can get and test the full 64bit system on it.
I was in a similar situation as you are in right now.
I tested distros' right left and center. The Linux distros' (to me anyway) is similar to walking into a ice cream shop full of different flavours to choose from, some are good, strawberry, vanilla, honey topped.

I choose Fedora because I can change the layout if I needed it, Debian is also a good choice if you do not like so many updates that Fedora has. Your flavour of distro (the right one for you) will come down to what you need (Linux) to do.

All do email and youtube on-line, but few will do video out of the box (if that is what you need or want).
PDF wise you can download "foxit reader" to nearly all of the distros'.

Some distros' have the correct drivers to your system, so do not.

So, which version of Linux is best for you?
The best way to find out is to download the top ten distro versions (or the ones you like) and burn then onto a cd/dvd and install them to see if they pick up your on-board drivers to your laptop. The ones that do pickup your drivers will be the best for you in this situation, for anything else such as: firefox, office suit, etc, they can be added on with no problem. The problem you face is which one does the job without less hassle to your system.

The people on here are good (well some are ), we can guide you through some stuff if you get stuck.

I've said it once before, I'll keep saying it if you continue- You do not need 4GB to run 64bit.

Umm.....I'm yet to see any distro that doesnt do video by defualt. Even if its just a console.

You probably mean 'play video files "out of the box"'. Many distros do have support for video formats 'out of the box', and its not hard to add the codecs if the distro doesnt have them.

Or you could use a nice, GPL/MIT/BSD licenced PDF reader from the repos of whatever distro you use.

(@ Ladycog- repos are 'repositories'. Most distros have a source for software called a repository, so you can get software easily and safely from a trusted soruce).

Getting 3rd party, proprietary and old software like foxit (last release for linux- April 21, 2009) is ignoring one of the advantages of linux to do things a harder, less secure way.

if you are a beginner then try either linux mint or fedora..
actually if you wanna go for debian package then go for linux mint

but if you wanna go for rpm package then go for fedora..

but when you start lerning things then you will realise that fedora is much easier to use....

The big question you need to ask yourself is...."Why"?
Why..oh..why do you need to nit-pick on a post that is trying to help the original post in question?

Maybe you have accumulated your many posts by nit-picking other posts, it sounds like it to me from your stature.
So, instead of "nit-picking" post something informative and helpful, it just might help someone in need.
Thank you for your NON help from your post to mine.

Please, just stop your un-helpful posts, it is unethical.

I would argue that a post that wasn't completely honest is unhelpful and that it is unethical (if ethics exist her anyhow) not to correct errors.
I have been corrected myself and will be again and I think that's fine as long as the original purpose of the thread is in mind.

A better question, is why is pointing out that 64bit has different requirements to what you keep posting cause such a reaction?

Not addressing any of the points I've raised, but deciding to use personal attacks instead.....and you're calling me unethical.

Take a concrete pill both of you!

Just don't try Fedora.

For me personally, it is perhaps the worst Linux distribution I ever tried. Slow, full of bugs, not very configurable and customizable (most attempts break the distro). Its almost like a Windows bundle where the user has few choices. Most packages have an abnormal amount of dependencies. Using a custom Kernel is a pain. People in the Fedora world were rude and unhelpful I found it.

Hello and Welcome to the world of Linux Ladycog
There certianly is a lot of "flavors" to choose from isn't there . I would like to second (or third) PCLinuxOS to you , but then I'm a bit biased. I'd suggest you try as many as you can, as just like ice cream they all have a different taste to them. Make no mistake, Linux is different than Windoze, but I went from win98 to Linux (one that is now defunct) back in '06 and had only minor problems transitioning to it. Wanting to learn something different and having to learn makes a big difference.
If your laptop can run Vista then it should handle most all of the different distros just fine I'd think. Don't worry about the 32 bit vs. 64. bit thing as few real benefits exist unless you're doing "heavy work" from what I've seen. But it is the "latest and greatest". I still use 32. have tried 64 and thought meh...

Anyways I wish you nothing but fun. there's alot of good links in rokytnji's sig.
In a world without walls, Who needs windows ?

1) You are not that bright. You should know that you never answer a question with another question.

2) Addressing YOUR points? I do NOT need to address your points at all, come to think of it I do not need to address anyone else's points either, but I do sometimes because of politeness. You did go OVER the top there though.

3) And I thought this forum was to help people over come their shyness about using Linux of all things, not to slag them off right left and center.

4) Nit picking on posts is not healthy to you, so stop biting and eating it unless you want to be slagged off all the time.

I do know this post is not helping the Original Poster, but I just need to make my point about ethics and about being polite and respectful to others.

My words of wisdom:
Do not do unto others that you do not like to be unto to you.

I take issue with this, a little. I'll agree that Fedora isn't the smoothest way to learn how to use Linux and, therefore, might not be a recommendation for a person new to Linux.
However, I have found Fedora can be quick and does have the benefit of being very, very new. I'm not a current user, but I do appreciate the distro.

At this point I think a private message would be more suitable than to continue an argument, it reminds me of facebook.