What is the best version of Linux in your opinion and why?

im sick of windows vista ultimate i know security wise and speed wise the Linux operating system is the better choice but there are so many choices on which Linux OS you could have as your main OS i wanns know everyones opinion on what they think i should get and some good reasons to back up why i should get that version of linux

What is the best version of Linux in your opinion and why?
I use ubuntu and I don't bother with Windows at all anymore. I dual-booted for maybe 6 months and by then I was far enough up the learning curve that anything I wanted to do, I could do in linux.





There are basically two good user-friendly linuxes: Debian-based, and Red Hat-based. Both make it easy to install stuff by using a GUI-based package system. Lots of other distros use one or the other system, though in fact it is easy to use both since the "alien" program converts packages between the two types.





Ubuntu uses the Debian (.deb) system. Fedora uses the Red Hat (.rpm) system. And no matter which one you use, you will use apt-get from terminal quite a bit, too.





I like Ubuntu because it has the most user-to-user support. It has an international, worldwide theme, and a lot of people using it. Linux progresses by the actions of trailblazers, intrepid hackers who figure out how to to something then tell everyone else how to follow. Ubuntu's forums are a rich source of information on how to do practically anything that has been done in linux. Whatever you want to do, it is likely that someone has done it before in ubuntu, and posted exactly how in the forums.





For this same reason, ubuntu is a very good choice for someone new to linux. There are plenty of places where you can ask noob questions and not get laughed at. You'll have a functional desktop, menu and window environment right after install, and most things will be easy to do right off the bat.





%26gt;edit%26lt; Gentoo is a mighty fast linux to install on a ps3, that's for sure. Installing ubuntu on a ps3 used to involve installing Gentoo first, then downloading ubuntu ppc.


It's extremely configurable, but since that involves having to compile everything you install, it's not good for a first distro
Reply:You start with a simple installing version - Ubuntu, or one of the other in the top 4 or 5 at www.distrowatch.com. You tinker with that for a while, but ONLY as a dual-boot system. Then you can decide if you like Linux, and if you want to keep windoze. Then, after you have crossed that decision path at some point you decide if you want to tinker with other distros, and move from there to the next decision path - which depends on what you want to do as you know more about Linux - not as people tell you!
Reply:My opinion is Gentoo Linux is the best because you can customize it so much to your computer and it is the fastest distribution out there. It has almost every windows manager all you have to do is set it up.





For beginners I would use ubuntu but I am not an ubuntu fan. Debian is also very good too but some parts of it take some in depth know how.
Reply:All the "different" Linux choices you speak of are really all based on the same core. The differences between them comes down to the "look and feel" of the OS. The other main difference falls with package management, some use source based compiles, others use Debian packages and apt-get (my personal favourite), some use RPMS (Fedora), and so on. If you are really new to the Linux world, and not incredibly familiar with how things work I'd suggest Ubuntu as a good starter. It's a very user-friendly distribution of Linux with a great community that's always willing to help with any questions. Keep in mind, while Linux may be more secure and.. arguably faster, the application support is nothing near Windows. You may hear people always preach about how there are tons of great open-source alternatives to a lot of main Windows programs, but when it comes down to it Windows still wins on the application diversity and availability side. While most of the open source alternatives work fairly well, you may find yourself making a dual-boot with Windows (I do this myself) since there are just some applications that I need Windows to run.
Reply:The latest Ubuntu. It has the biggest following and therefore most support, the software installation package is easy and fast, and the whole interface is very friendly to new linux users.


OpenSuse and Fedora are also extremely useful to new linux users. No matter which Distribution you choose, you are going to have to be very friendly with google.