Linux Distros: Which is the best?

[ShellShock]

I want to give Linux another try (been two years since I last tried it) by creating a dual-boot partion on my Western Digital 60gig HD. I have 52gigs free and am thinking about partioning around 30gigs for Linux.

Anyway I want to know which Distro is best for:
-Stability

-Navigation and ease of use (I don't need my hand to be held, but I also don't feel like exploring a linux command line interface for some obscure root directory)

[Sidekick Floppy]

Red Hat is my favorite. Unfortunately the current version will be the last one for free...

[Ryan]

Well, if your going for your first time, I suggest using RedHat, espically 9, as its failry easy to use, and has lots of goodies preloaded to get you goin.

You would have to specify in your poll the use of Linux before I could vote. Depends on what your going to be using it for

Mandrake and RedHat/Fedora are the easiest distributions to use.


Linux distributions
-Stability - ( not for beginners);
Debian

-Navigation and ease of use;
Mandrake, RedHat/Fedora

The easiest distro for a newbie that is free would be mandrake. The power users of the linux world use Debian. Now if you want to try out linux and not install it on your HD you can use Knoppix which is available for download to be burnt onto a cd at http://www.knoppix.org Klaus has done a real good job of making this distro .

Quoter {I want to give Linux another try (been two years since I last tried it)}

I think we now know he really means best for a newbie to linux. AWK

[ShellShock]

Well I'm probably going to download and use Mandrake at first, then once I'm comfortable with Linux I'll try my hand at Slackware.

Also I guess I'd use Linux for web browsing. If Microsoft Office and/or Photoshop can install on it I'll use it for that too. To be honest, I really don't know what the hell I would use Linux for.

the progression through the linux world for most . mandrake , then redhat then suse then slack or debian.

[Chacal]

I use Debian myself

Hey Chacal you might want to check out http://www.knoppix.com it is a pretty awesome tool for learning linux and even saving data off messed up operating systems. There are alot of things that can be done with it and that ORALUX I mentioned in the post about Blind users is built off the Knoppix concept.

[Chacal]

Yes, I have it too. Knoppix is well known in security circles.

I hear that the friendliest version is "Lindows" I use Suse and Mandrake on my old P2 machines. The hardest part I have had is getting the internet to work correctly with my DSL provider. Something about WinPoet and a different version. All Greek to me. I just keep them offline.

[RCglider]

Originally posted by senwolf31
Hey Chacal you might want to check out http://www.knoppix.com it is a pretty awesome tool for learning linux and even saving data off messed up operating systems. There are alot of things that can be done with it and that ORALUX I mentioned in the post about Blind users is built off the Knoppix concept.

I use Knoppix, but it can't write to NTFS. I use ERD Commander for that. It is nice to run off CD though, and is virtually (well nearly) impossible to muck up you pc from viruses etc.
For most people, Mandrake would be best imo as it's quite user friendly these days.

[Chacal]

It can read NTFS though, bypassing any access controls. Insert CD, power off, boot, steal data, reboot.

[TChicken]

I also don't feel like exploring a linux command line interface for some obscure root directory)

Well I'm probably going to download and use Mandrake at first, then once I'm comfortable with Linux I'll try my hand at Slackware.

I use slackware at home and it's defnately the king of odd command line interfaces, but that's part of the attraction, right?
I have redhat 7 at work and it crashes every 2-3 months, so stability shouldn't really be a concern.