Technofyed

I get asked this question a lot... which Linux distribution would you
recommend?

My answer has always been, shoot for one that is very involved.
Slackware, Debian, Fedora.
If the user wants to truly learn how an install works, what is
involved, & learn a lot about Linux, then I say take the high road.
Worst case scenario, they can't take the heat & they now know their
limitations to Linux, & they can either go back to Windows, or use
Ubuntu.

However, a lot of my friends disagree with me. They suggest the
Ubuntu versions, as there is very little to getting it up & going, so
that to keep the user less aggravated. My thought on this is that the
user will see the GUI, along with it's icons, & it's familiar. I
would think that this would mislead the user that Linux will function
like Windows, in the manor that they are used to. I also believe that
if the user starts to think this, they'll be reboot-troubleshooting
issues, as well as get tunnel vision as what Linux has to offer. "If
an apt-get doesn't exit, then it isn't for this distro" for example.

Please share your experiences, as well as your thoughts, with
recommendations to new users.

I've mainly used fedora as well as knoppix. I've had bad experiences though so I don't like it. I personally don't find it as user friendly as windows. It isn't for me. It isn't for everyone. Thanks for sharing though.

If you are a starter then you should start with fedora but red hat is the best distribution for the advance users

Can you add any 'meat' to that statement? Why do you think these things? The purpose here is to discuss, not just throw accusations

Linux Online tries to be impartial, particularly when it comes to for-profit, commercial distributions. We really don't recommend any one distribution over others. Also, there are so many factors to take into account when choosing a distribution that it would be impossible to make recommendations in general. I know what you mean. When I had an iPod, I was forced to setup a windows partition with the only purpose of running iTunes. I wish the was a Linux version of it.