The Best Live Distribution

[chopin1810]

Wow.
I was asked by my cousin about Linux. He wants to see it in action so I thought I'd bring over a live distro. Problem is I don't really know which one. I've been thinking Mepis because if he wants to keep it then all I have to is fire up the functional installer (which as far as I know Knoppix doesn't have).
Any thoughts?

[genesus]

damnsmalllinux, it has always functioned wonderfully, will boot on even very lowend comps, and looks better with each release, plus it is functional with apt...

[truoc444]

there are even live (demo) versions of bigger os's such as Suse. but Mepis and DSL are my favorite 2.

[drakebasher]

...functional installer (which as far as I know Knoppix doesn't have).

Knoppix does have an installer and it's very simple. I can't quote details, but I know I had no trouble with it. Can't recall if not having a swap partition would complicate it, though. The introductory page has the instructions for installation. Knoppix is a good choice for a first system, because "what you see is what you get" when you install it to the hard drive.

edit:
The "introductory page" (file:/cdrom/KNOPPIX/index_en.html) has a link under paragraph "Tips & Tricks" for file KNOPPIX-FAQ-EN.txt which, answers a question about hard drive installation with "sudo knoppix-installer. No warranty."

Knoppix Installation is done in 6 steps as follows:
1. Configure Installation
2. Start Installation
3. Partition
4. Load config
5. Save config
6. Quit

First step has choices of:
=debian: Debian-like system (recommended)
=beginner: Multi-User System with hw-detection
=knoppix: Knoppix system like from CD

Can't remember which I picked. Must have been "knoppix" 'cause it looks pretty much like the CD.

[a thing]

I've heard only good things about MEPIS. I should try it myself. I don't recommend KNOPPIX because it has proprietary packages (for example, acroread) and free replacements for them (for example, KPDF).

[anomie]

Although I'm a big knoppix fan (I recently bought the O'Reilly Knoppix Hacks book), I have to say that ubuntu also creates an excellent live cd. Which is ironic for me, considering I am not crazy about ubuntu as a distro.

[bryansmith]

...all I have to is fire up the functional installer (which as far as I know Knoppix doesn't have).
Any thoughts?

Try this: http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Knoppix_Installer.

Bryan

[Dapper Dan]

I've tried most of the popular live cd's and my heart is solidly behind Mepis, if I had to make only one choice.

[chopin1810]

Hmm... distrowatch.org said some time ago that the Knoppix installer was practially unfunctional in the way it performed. I suppose it may have been wrong, or maybe I'm just quoting an outdated article.

[darklordsatan]

Mmmm, I have to vote for knoppix here. Having tried myself several Live Distros, this one is teh pwnerer IMHO.
And the new DVD version :rock: