Hi all,
Can you tell which linux is the best.
Redhat?. Mandrake?. Suze?. Gentoo?. What else?. Topimerah?. :-)
So far I only tried RedHat. And my head became Red, it burned all my hair. Still struggling with BoardCom ethernet network connection.

I heard Windows XP is good. Just kidding

I am using Mandrake 9.1 and I love it! You should try it too!

It really depends on you. There are alot of good choices out there and I don't think any one stands out as the "Best". The best way to find the one for you is to try a bunch. Go to www.linuxiso.org and try out a few.

I'm using slack 9.1 and am loving it.

If I had the time, I'd compile gentoo onto my comp. From what I hear, if you can get beyond the install, it's the *best*.

But then it depends on your tastes.

Slack is awesome though.

I'm using Slack 9 (hehe, it's written left below my nickname) and I like it enough to not change it. But my personal opinion is relative. It isn't garanted that what I like will you like. If you prefer user friendly GUI, so get Mandrake or Red Hat. If you prefer doing things in the 'right way' then go and get Slack or Debian. But while you use Mandrake or Red Hat you won't understand so much of the things that make Linux working.. You'll see that window's style GUI everywhere, except if you compile some programs that do not use GUI. If you like to know in every moment what is happening on your box, to see 'the core' of the OS, then I will recommend you Slack.
But there's something else. If you are new to Linux, do not use Slack. You won't ever install it without help. (Though, some people do it) Instead try Red Hat. It's some kind of mix between Mandrake and ... Slack It will help you giving the knowledge required for using the 'hardcore' Linux distribuitions.

Download winlinux2000 for winlinux2003 for your windows machine. It installs as easily as any other windows application, even has an install wizard. No repartitioning necessary. Runs as a windows application. Since it runs under windows, any hardware you have running under windows now should continue to work.

or

Get a CD set of Mandrake with written instructions. Hope it autodetects and configures your ethernet connection.

or

Download and burn a knoppix CD. You can run this from your CD-ROM drive without installing to your hard drive. Give it a spin. Hopefully, it will all run nicely without much prompting from you, and you won't need to research "cheat codes". Its autodetection is great. If this works for you, it is not too hard to figure out how to install it to your hard drive. Look for information on how to do this via a google search.

which broadcom chipset? I got mine working with the driver from broadcom.

There is not best Linux.....

Go browse the Distribution forum where probably 40% of the threads are discussing this same question you just asked. Your most likely going to find your answers there on how your going to choose which distro suits you best. Or just go to www.distrowatch.com

...gross reccommendations...
*1) do not get winlinux...and i know i never tried it, or even seen it before, but i will guaruntee its terrible..
*2) you don't need any instructions to install half of the linux distros, let alone mandrake....mandrake is easier to install then windows 95. ...
*3)and lastly this is the only thing i can agree with, just to get the touch and feel of linux before actually taking the plunge...this wouldn't be my number one option, so if your really unsure if you want to use linux, or not then this would be your best bet and get knoppix..

and just like anyone else these are only recommendations and opinions, but i will throw in my two cents and tell you either redhat or mandrake..

slackware really isn't that hard to install if you know what you're doing...

Although like some of the people said, you might want to try out mandrake first...then switch over once you're comfortable.

I would have to agree that for simplicity, Knoppix is awesome. I gave a cd to a friend and he was able to get up and running with zero input from me. Of course he now dual boots to RH instead of Knoppix because of the packages he wanted. That being said, you would really have to figure out what you intend to do with Linux. If you like the windows style gui, then Mandrake or RH are your best bet. Suse is nice, although a bit different, plus I don't like the YaST installer (closed source) If you want to go with a "real" distro, Slack or Debian are open source goodness. Both are nuts and bolts type distros, and let you really dig down deep-- of course they are a bit tougher for newbies. I installed Gentoo on a machine once, and it was a fast distro, but the time taken to compile it was a bit much for my schedule. It is a bit complex for newbies as well. So, in summary, do you want to learn how the OS works, or do you just want to use a computer? All I can say is keep trying them. Linux is like anything else, it takes time to learn, but with each session you learn a little more.

Enjoy!

There's no best of the best. Only Slackware... lol, just kidding. Although I love Slack, apt-get and emerge like tools are priceless for updating and installing stuff. All distros are cool in some sort of way. Flip a coin and choose one, that rules

BigNate,
It is Broadcom 4401. I have successfully (I mean not quite) installed the driver, I can see it from Network setting, I can ping my own IP but not other IP's in the network. The only step I missed during installation was INSMOD. it came out with "bash: insmod: command not found". So I skipped this step and rebooted my PC. The network is Window workgroup. Well, I will try again tomorrow. I installed redhad on my home PC (HP pavilion) and it works great except sound card doesn't work :-(. Well still struggling. But I love it though, a lot of challenge then Windows.

PS: To all, thanks for all of comment's or input regarding various version of Linux.

There should be some penality starting these threads & reply to them
Search first, talk later...

Well, you can get debian the easy way...

Libranet!

It's great