Newbie with questions about Linux

[Userb1b]

I want to load a version of Linux on a clean computer. I am replacing a fried hard drive and want to set it up on Linux. I plan to use the computer as a desktop for web searching, checking e-mail and maybe adding available apps that are similar to MS office software... Word and Excel. I have a couple of questions.

1. Does any of the Linux dist out there come with a web browser or do you just download Firefox or something like that after you load the Linux OS?

2. I was looking at Linux Mint. It appears to be a good one to use for a novice like me. For what I want to do and my minimal knowledge is that a good choice or do you think I should try something else?

If this is not too painful I may just come to the other side. If it proves a disaster I will lick my wounds and move on. It might be interesting for some of you to see if Linux has come of age and people that are not programmers can actually use this OS.

Thanks,

Bill

[MikeTbob]

Hello and Welcome.
Most modern Linux distros have Firefox included or a comparable browser like Seamonkey.
Linux Mint is a fine choice for new to Linux folks, I think it would be a perfect first choice. Good Luck
ps. Come to the other side, we have cookies.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

I agree with MikeTbob's comments, and would like to add that other browsers are available if you don't like the one that came with any particular distribution. I'd recommend any of the top 5 or so distributions at DistroWatch.com as a good place to start. You can check the link in my signature for lots of good information on getting started with Linux.

Do let us know what you go with, and how it works out for you.

[Userb1b]

Sincere thanks for taking the time to reply. I am so new to this I am still in the orginal packaging. I have read a lot on the site and it can be a bit overwelming. You start to wonder if you can really get your hands around this. Even your newbie section is filled with jargon I have never heard of before. I want to be able to know more about how my computer software works and how it communicates with my hardware. This is going to take a lot of time and study I know and I will try to find out what I can before pestering you experts. I thought I could start on the Linux rung but it appears I may need to find a good starter book on Unix itself but do not really know if that would be much help yet or not.

Bill

[cosmicmittens]

I highly recommend Ubuntu or Fedora because they have the largest support communities for new users and their package management is superb. If you ever get in to Linux professionally down the road, Red Hat is widely used for servers, so much of yum and rpm experience will carry over from Fedora/CentOS experience.