looking to download Linux.

[CrazyCrusher]

I’m looking to download Linux and I’m not sure which one is best, I’m only downloading it to try it as I had to RMA my SATA drive. So it’s going to take a week or so before I get my new one that will give me some playtime for a bit. So which one is best to play round with, I will not be playing allot of games so that’s not a problem, its more so to get to know how to use that OS.

Thanks in Advance

PS: does anyone know a faster download site than the Mandrake Site?

[Midknyte]

"one site to bind them"
http://www.distrowatch.com/

Fedora, Mandrake, or Suse would be ok. Fedora (Freeware Redhat) has 4 cds. Suse only has 1 for the desktop version.

You can also get knoppix or morphix which are fully bootable OS cds. Knoppix is a definite keeper in your toolkit.

[CrazyCrusher]

Im going to get the Mandrake and the knoppix, which version of mandrake/knoppix should i order mid? im a newbie with linux, and one more thing will I have any problems connecting to my network at home, all my computers are running XP.

[Midknyte]

I'm not a linux guru either. what do you mean by connect to your network? as in share files or just get internet? Linux doesn't like NTFS from my experience. maybe the newer versions have changed that.

10.1 is the latest for Mandrake.

[Johnny Fist]

I don't really care for Mandrake. I'd like to see you try Fedora first. As fas as networking goes, the Linux box will probably have no problems seeing network shares from your XP rigs but good luck getting them to see the Linux box.

[Midknyte]

Fedora is basically freeware RedHat, so it would be good to know if you're going to look for a corporate job. There are oodles of RedHat webservers out there.

Linux didn't like writing to NTFS shares. I've messed up partitions before. FAT32 should be fine.

Knoppix would be the best way to get a crash course. No installation required. Just boot and go. I would at least take a look at this before going with a full hdd installation.