Choosing a Linux Distribution

[Uniqueuponhim]

After having suffered a crash followed by a BSOD that wouldn't let me start up windows and caused me to have to reformat my hard drive, I've decided to give Linux a shot on my laptop. I'd like to keep a partition with windows on it, a partition for all of my data and important files I want to keep safe, and a partition on which I'll install linux so that I can have a stable work environment that is more efficient and where I'm less likely to crash and lose my work. The problem is that there are so many distributions out there to choose from, and I don't really know which to choose. I'm downloading Mandriva as I type this, but I'm not 100% sure it is the right one for me. I'll tell you what I'm looking for:

Stability is obviously very important: I don't want to deal with BSODs, and if a problem does arise, I'd at least like to have the ability to still get into the OS so I can try to fix it. That being said, as I am new to Linux, so I obviously have a lot to learn. I'd like a distro that is easy for me to install and use, but also that enables me to learn about Linux, understand it and how it functions, so that I eventually can use it to its full capabilities, and fix problems that may arise on my own. I'd like it to be easy, but I don't want it to be a mysterious black box that just does everything for me.

Also, while I will be using this mostly for schoolwork and research, having the capability of playing games would be a nice bonus, as I'd like to try to shift to using Windows less and less as I learn more about and get better at using Linux.

Finally, I'd like to note that I'm not averse to using one distribution to learn about Linux and then switching to another, less easy to use but more customizable and potentially more powerful distribution later once I have learned enough to be able to use it properly. I would just like this first one to be easy to use, while also being transparent, not a black box the way windows is.

Thanks to all for your advice.

[bryansmith]

Welcome aboard!

This question has been answered many many times. Please check the distro thread in my sig.

Best of luck.

[techieMoe]

Welcome to the forum. You've touched upon the number one most popular question asked by new users of Linux. Unfortunately it's also one of the only questions to which there is no real answer. It's relative. For more information, see the "Which Distribution Should I Choose?" article linked here:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

As for differences, I think you'll find that most major distributions (i.e. the most popular ones right now: Mandriva, Ubuntu, Fedora Core, Debian, etc) all have the same capabilities and run the same software. The difference lies in aesthetics, which are very much up to the individual. Our best advice on what to choose is try a few and see if one grabs you. There are many Linux distributions that will let you try them out without making any changes to your setup (LiveCDs). Good luck.

Of course, if you have any trouble with a specific distribution you're encouraged to start a thread in the appropriate section of the forum and we'll do our best to help you out. Again, welcome and happy hunting.