Best Linux Distro for Linux n00b

paintballdude13's picture

They have: 42 posts

Joined: Feb 2003

Well I've decided I wanted to mess around with Linux and I dont really know much about it yet. What distro do you guys suggest? Also where could I download it from the the fastest? I started trying to get Redhat from there site and I was only getting like 3k and it always ended screwing up like 200mb through the first file. Thanks

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

I'm a fan of Mandrake. http://www.mandrakelinux.com I found the install to be fairly easy. It's similar to RedHat, but I found that the RPM manager in Mandrake 8.0 to be easier to use than the one in RedHat 7.0. Lots of mirrors on mandrake.

Also, if your having download problems, I would recommend getting Download Accelerator Plus. I've got the free version. It can download things faster by opening the file in multiple streams. That alone is nice, but it also supports resume.

Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.

paintballdude13's picture

They have: 42 posts

Joined: Feb 2003

Ok thanks, right now I'm downloading all 3cds getting about 130k total over all 3 files. I'll burn them later and see about installing them on my other comp. How do you recommend installing it?

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Real men use Slack. I tend to prefer Slackware but only cause I am used to it. It doesn't have the pretty installers like the other ones and you have to do your own Fdisk. Mandrake is definitely a good first choice.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

paintballdude13's picture

They have: 42 posts

Joined: Feb 2003

Hmm well I've tried several times getting them, they all day Done when there like half way done, and I cant resume them using Opera. This is ticking me off.

paintballdude13's picture

They have: 42 posts

Joined: Feb 2003

Ok I fixed it now, I got it downloaded, the first cd anyways. I can download the rest later. Gotta wait till dad gets home tommorw though to install and crap cause he isnt home and I dont know what he wants backed up.

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