Choosing a distribution - Not total noob

[TuxicSkillz]

I know a little bit about the different Linux distributions, but not a lot.

I need one that's versatile, good for hacking, stable, and pretty user-friendly for new Linux users.

Suggestions I've gotten so far:
Gentoo
Ubuntu
Backtrack 3
Knoppix (He said this was CD based and good for learning the basics)

Problems I've had so far:
Knoppix wouldn't burn as an executable
Monitor took a **** when I tried to use the LiveCD of Ubuntu

Suggestions?

[devils casper]

Post your machine's specs here. Have you tried here?

[darkrose0510]

You can get the alternate install CD for ubuntu, that should get around your monitor problems.

Gentoo is good for hacking and getting to know 'nix, and is as stable as you make it; just follow the handbook for installing and you shouldn't have too many problems. Sabayon is based on Gentoo and might be easier to install, I'm not sure as I've never personally tried it.

[lovefist233]

try fedora 10, seems to work nicely

[eerok]

I need one that's versatile, good for hacking, stable, and pretty user-friendly for new Linux users.

Suggestions I've gotten so far:
Gentoo
Ubuntu
Backtrack 3
Knoppix (He said this was CD based and good for learning the basics)

Gentoo isn't so user-friendly; if you want to tinker an install, I'd go with Archlinux, a very solid bleeding edge distro, and save yourself a ton of compiling.

Never heard of Backtrack 3.

I'd go with Sidux rather than Knoppix.

Debian Testing is also a great all-around distro.

Now, all my recommendations have one thing in common: they're all rolling releases. Once you've been around for enough years you get sick of having to reinstall your distro all the time. It's a real pain, and often you end up with something you like less than what you started with. A rolling release you can keep current, in theory, forever without ever reinstalling.

[TuxicSkillz]

Just tried Knoppix for the first time

It was...interesting

Like being on a really old Mac

Hopefully the other distro's will be better ^_^

[saivin]

I know a little bit about the different Linux distributions, but not a lot.

I need one that's versatile, good for hacking, stable, and pretty user-friendly for new Linux users.

Suggestions?

I have only one distro in mind for the above question - Debian

versatile - it does every job I want from it on my system...except perhaps to run some windows-only proprietary softwares used in my office. (some suggest trying 'wine' in such cases)

good for hacking - Ofcourse, Yes!

stable - very much! Now, seniors please don't start that openssl-implementation crap again...lets forgive debian guys. hopefully they have learnt their lessons...

pretty user-friendly - Yes. I started with Debian (after trying Knoppix live CD ofcourse). Infact Etch had support for mp3/mpeg etc by default...

[devils casper]

First of all, you should check your machine's specs. If your machine is old, less RAM and disk space then a lot of distros won't work.
Check the link in my signature. We have several Polls on distro choice.

[TuxicSkillz]

First of all, you should check your machine's specs. If your machine is old, less RAM and disk space then a lot of distros won't work.
Check the link in my signature. We have several Polls on distro choice.

No, it's not old

I made it myself two years ago

Granted, it's not Alienware, but it definitely gets the job done for what I want it to do

Which is no longer gaming because I've moved to console

[techieMoe]

No, it's not old

I made it myself two years ago

Granted, it's not Alienware, but it definitely gets the job done for what I want it to do

Which is no longer gaming because I've moved to console

We can't really make informed recommendations unless you post the specs on your hardware.