Beginner: which linux version should I use?

[ajor]

Hi,

I'm not sure if it's the right place to post this question. I don't know much about linux, I just used the Mandrake a few times. There are so many different linux, I'm quite lost actually in all those Mandrake Debian Red Hat,
What would you advice me to install on my computer? I just use it to write, to travel inside Internet, to use a few software, etc. I don't like games, I don't know if those informations can be useful to choose the right version. Maybe I should just take any linux I find and don't get headaches for that issue... I don't know...
Thanks

Ajor

[x86processor]

What is your hardware?

[ajor]

I've got a laptop Hundyx M540G2,

Processor: Intel Celeron M360 1,3 Ghz
RAM: 512 MB DDR2
Hard disk: 40 GB 4200 rpm
DVD dual

I installed Windows Xp Professionnal and would like to keep using Windows sometimes, so I'd like to have both OS on my computer

Do you need more information?

[x86processor]

I'd recommend Ubuntu.

[Nikesh]

Yes, go for Ubuntu
you can get more information on this great product at : http://www.ubuntu.com/

[weknowtheworld]

Visit here for Ubuntu details...

[ajor]

Hi, I come back because I didn't managed to install Ubuntu on my computer, I had troubles that I exposed in this forum: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=375521

I'd like to try another linux system, which one would suit the best in my computer appart Ubuntu?

[Erik765]

In that case,
try Mandriva.

[maleck]

HI, first, I do not like kubuntu (I guess Ubuntu is just the same with GNOME), becouse it has not an intuitive tool to configure (it is just like in windows), Kubuntu has pretty good support for laptops, and detect almost all the hardware, including the miselaneus butons for volume and stuff like that, but if something is not configured by the installer, you has not a good tool to configure it (as I say, just like windows). In Mandriva you has a pretty good tool (mandriva control center mcc), but it do not recognize the miselaneus butons. Another problem with Kubuntu is that it get blocked with wifi broadcom 802.11g, (that is why I left my kubuntu try).
In mandriva you can use the wifi with ndiswrapper.
However, if you want the miselaneus butons to work, try SUSE, this distro also use a pretty good control center called yast. (My problem with suse was I could not make the wifi work with ndiswrapper)
PD: My laptop is hp pavilion dv8000, then the hardware is different

[shorty the eskimo]

Heya,
I'm also pretty new to the linux world and i've been trying to read as much as possible on as I can, and there are alot of distro's around
such as mandriva, debian and others mentioned-
i thought that Mandriva was a beginner friendly linux distro as far as i could conclude from the stuff i've read on the sites.

my laptop is an ACER
processor AMD TURION 64. 2 mobile tech.
ATI RADEON Xpress 1100

i use it to write alot, and also use the multimedia programs alot too, to watch movies_play games_ movie creators etc.
so i need high graphic definition.

which one can my computer use? which distro should i go to do you think?

If i could get any feed back i'd be glad, send me an email at "neverlandfairiesrock@yahoo.com"

PS. i thought of downloading some versions and trying them out but i don't know what sites to go unto...
and how can i launch the "Live" versions once i have them?

thanks,

[naraku629]

here is links to many live distros. Once you have the iso, burn it to a dvd using nero or something similar. Then, just pop it in the drive, restart your computer and boot from the cd. You may need to change your bios settings to be able to boot, if the cd does not boot automatically.

Hope this helps

[shorty the eskimo]

um... you didnt give me the link ^^

[naraku629]

lol..a guess thats my bad ...  http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

soz about that