new to Linux, need help with picking a distro

[DarkPathfinder]

Yes, I'm betting that when you first read the subject heading that you were thinking "Oh god... not ANOTHER one...". Well, sorry! However, I would still like your help in picking the distro I should try first.

I would like to say at this point that I DID read the NHF for the Linux Distro, but I'm still not sure.

I would like a distro that is rather simple, a 6 to 10 (on a scale of 1-10) for stability, and compatible with a lot of Linux software. I'll mainly use the computer I put it on for school work (programming and working toward an A+ certification along with the basic math, science, Lit, ect. classes) but that's not saying that I wont try a game or two :)

I dunno if I need any specific hardware specs for the distro, but if I do, I'll post them. Basically, it's a P2 350MHz, 128 SDRAM, Creative Labs Soundblaster AWE 64, Voodoo 3 3000, and basic things such as CD-ROM drive and Floppy drive.

Well, now that you know what I want and what I need to work with it, you think you people can think of a distro that suits me? Oh, and if you haven't guessed, I've NEVER even seen a computer with Linux on it, let alone used one. :)

[hungarian]

You must pick the one with the BEST documentation, since you are a newbie.
Currently
Suse 7.1 Professional gets my vote as the best for newbies.
Excellent hardware detection and speed, start with KDE or Gnome as desktops.

[DarkPathfinder]

Thanks! I'll look for the homepage on that.

However, your post brought another question to my mind: What's the differant in the desktops? As a windows user (ug... crash city) I only know of the 1 desktop... could you tell me what the desktops in Linux are, and what the main differances are?

UPDATE - Just saw the SuSE 7.1 package, and it looks like a good choice for someone like me.. thanks!

[ 31 March 2001: Message edited by: DarkPathfinder ]

[scott_R]

Not that it matters, but you might want to know that suse 7.1 was annoying for me at first. Not the distro itself, but KDE2. Before you judge linux as a whole, make sure to download all the updates, especially the kde2 ones, as the version shipped was missing a huge amount of the features in kde1.

Other than that, my only complaint is that the suse ftp/update site crashes more than Windows. The easy way around this is to ftp (gftp personally) the distro specific rpm files to your box from the .orgs that produce them. Not exactly a beginner/windows user pleasure, but not hard, once you figure it out. All in all, I'd recommend suse 7.1 for your typical linuxer, but not for a complete newbie. An older, more stable version, with kde1, etc., might be better to start with.

IMHO, of course.

[killerasp]

Ive tried all the newbie distros out there more than i can count. As im writing this im still thing over wheter i should ever use linux again. Yes it is great, but installing certain things (ex: Mysql) can be tedious. Ive spent litteraly 2 days (72 hrs) trying to get it working and still no luck. Im want a distro that has everything or at leasts explains it to the newbies out there. The How-to's are really that good. If there is a distro i can recomend it Mandrake 7.2. Suse 7.1 is not downloadable, so you have to buy it. Mandrake is available to download so its a best bet if you dont want to spend money.

[willk]

Slackware made a believer out of me...
RH7 seems to have the easiest install..as far as I am concerned...but the support docs seem as clear as mud. But i learned a lot with RH...perhaps slack would not seem so easy if it were the first I tried...but the docs DO seem a lot clearer.
Thought Mandrake just plain sucked.
If I had a fast connect I would do the Debian thing...
All in all...Slackware is my recommendation...

[ph34r]

I'd go with Slackware 7.x or Redhat 6.2 or 7.1 - depending on which comes with the big fat book your gonna go buy :)

[tallulah]

Mandrake for the most hardware support! You will want to try other distros later.

;)

[DarkPathfinder]

I think that i'm going to try Redhat 7. Anybody have any suggestions on this? Also, I just want to make sure that all my hardware will work with it. Here's was my systom config will be on the Linux comp:

Voodoo 3 3000
Creative labs soundblaster AWE 64
128 SDRAM
Regular windows keyboard
logitech mouseman 4 button w/ wheel mouse
2 USB ports
32x CD-ROM
1.44 Floppy drive
350MHz P2

If any of that isn't gonna work, then please tell me now! :confused:

Also, would the Redhat 7 software (bought from redhat.com) contain any apps? I can D/L anything i need to onto the computer, so if I still need something, then by all means tell me! Thx for all the help!

[Joshie the CK]

Step one, lesson for newbies. :)

Don't expect this to work first try, and don't bet the critical data on it.

You should expect to screw something up and have to reinstall at least once, in the first month or two. At least. :D
So don't go saving critical stuff on it right away. Take the time to understand the filesystem and such, and get a good stable working install going first..
(I'm STILL working on totally understanding the filesystem... heh)

Also, I've heard that RH7 "blows goats"...
Might consider 6.2.... It's not like upgrades later, when they come out with the next "stable" release, cost all that much... :D

Redhat's nice for beginners IMHO. 6.1 was awesome for me...
Of course, you will, later, want to upgrade to something like debian, but redhat's great to start. :)

Okay... My $0.02

[Two_five_zero_one]

yes, AT LEAST once. i've had to re-install Redhat SEVERAL times before i got it working to my liking. i first gave it a go at RH7, which did blow, then got a copy of 6.2 from cousin. also have a copy of SuSE 7.1 which i'll try out as soon as i'm done with my latest box. good luck.


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