Have always used Windows, but want to try Linux for a variety of reasons.

I use my pc for:
Counter Strike
CD/DVD Burning
Emule
Movies
Email/Net

Is there a version of Linux that will do those things and is easy to learn the basics of? Never used it and would appreciate your feedback. Thanks guys = }

I think Suse would be best for you
/Rinish

eMule on Linux is called aMule - http://www.amule.org

oki

I've only been using Linux for about a month now. As a novice newbie, I'd say avoid Mandrake for now. I tried it for 3 weeks and it very nearly put me off linux for life. Just my opinion. Many newbies are very happy with Mandrake. (Actually called Mandriva now)

I've since discovered Ubuntu, which has a GUI similar to a Mac (Gnome), but if you're a (potential) Windoze convert, try Kubuntu. It's the same as Ubuntu, but with a more windows like GUI (KDE) Ubuntu/Kubuntu is easy to use straight away, and downloading and installing new software is a breeze compared to RPMs.

There's also a great Ubuntu forum (as well as this one) where you can get help amazingly quickly, but do a search first.

I'm so impressed with Ubuntu, that I haven't even fired up Windoze for a week. One downside, there's only one CD, so you need broadband to get any specialty apps, or ask someone to download for you. There is also a DVD available with a lot of apps from the 'main' repository.

You're gonna get a lot of different answers to your question. The thing to do is try them all and stick with what you like. If you've got broadband, download every distro that the ever helpful members suggest and enjoy!

Be prepared for a bit of a learning curve though.

And do a search before posting.

Ok here is a list of linux programmes that you can use:

Counter Strike = i think you can get a linux binary for this but check it out. if not you can look into cedega
CD/DVD Burning = k3b
Emule = amule (as already stated)
Movies = totem/mplayer (two good movie players)
Email/Net = mozilla thunderbird/mozilla firefox

and here is my 2c on it all

I'd reccomend you use kde as your desktop environment as its closest to windows (but it is bloated and slow so you may wish to switch once your used to it). my reccommendation on the command line is to not think about it to start wth. once your a bit more comefortable then get stuck in as you will learn to love it (if your not a command line person already).

if you have an nvidia graphics card the easiest way to get it to work is libranet linux (it is a commecial distribution but they are doing their old relese for free) this sets up all your nvidia drivers beautifully. then you can use the admin menu to install other programmes. the best thing about libranet IMHO is that it gives you possably the best linux distribution (debian) wrapped in a nice easy to install (which original debian instalation isn't) and has the adminmenu. they also have pretty good user support on the site along with debian being one of the best supported distros arround.

Try slackware... If you really want a start, try REdhat 9

Ummm... user friendly ===> Redhat, although it's not my choice..

I told you you'd get a lot of different answers!




And the night is still young.

I recommend you start with what are called "Live CDs". These are linux distros that run completely from CD. You boot from CD-ROM, it loads, you can explore and play. Pull the CD and reboot and you are back to Windows.

The simplest distro is Beatrix. It only has a few apps so you won't hurt yourself. I also recommend PCLinux and Knoppix. Both come in Live CD forms.

Note that if you load and run from a live CD, you can't save any data to disk without some configuration effort.

The next step after that is to install a distro. I recommend PCLinux and Mandrake.

Others will naturally have different opinions.

There are a lot of "user-friendly" distros out there designed to make migrating from windoze to Linux easier. The primary things to look at are ease of installation, hardware detection, and package management.

www.distrowatch.org has reviews and information on lot's of distros which makes it a little easier to make an intelligent choice.

I always recommend trying many different distros until you find the one that "fits" for you.

I would recommend Debian-based distros for a newbie as the package management is more automated and easier for a newbie to deal with as opposed to getting bogged down in dependency hell. Most of these automate configuration which makes life a little easier for a newbie. I personally don't like scripts tinkering with my config files, but trying to edit config files manually may be a bit much for a newbie to contend with just starting out.

Some good ones to read up on would be:

SimplyMepis
Ubuntu
Kubuntu


Ultimately, the decsion on which distro to use is a very personal one only you can make. The more of them you try, the more likely you will be to find one that really feel right to you.

Good Luck

I really appreciate you help thus far guys. As a Win user of years and years now it is an odd thought that I can find a version of Linux that suites my best. I am so used to the "you take what we give you" mentality of M$. I look forward to learning Linux and ditching the M$ crap altogether - with the exception of gaming, which from what I have read is the one drawback to Linux. If only the major game manufacturers would produce Linux versions as well! Thx again.

ubuntu

I would recommend Knoppix for starters, as it's a live CD but you can also have a choice of installing it if you like it.

The K Desktop Environment is user-friendly for Windows users, but it is slow (as stated), but there is another one called Gnoppix (which uses the Gnome desktop environment of course, and is based on Ubuntu NOT Knoppix.) but it has more of a Mac style and is a LIVE CD.

I've been using Mandrake 10.1 most of this year. I also looked at ubuntu but found the installer confusing, and the partition section unfathomable. Mandrake offers GUI for that, and did it pretty much automatically. Recognised windows and set it up in lilo so I can boot to either, but only boot to windows for scanner which is not supported.

I am a newbie and middle aged, and not geekish at all, so it was big step to go to linux, even if it is mandrake/mandriva. I now even do small things in the command line. I've found urpmi to be easy to use for installing software, and the mailing list help is excellent.

Just my two cents ...

silverbirch