Which linux version of linux is best for me?

The easiest most straightforward entry level distro. (distribution) is Linux Mint 5 its 'plug in and play' and has most of the software you are likely to need preinstalled. Here is a thorough description of the features with Linux Mint 5 and installation tutorial http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-5-elyssa-r1 Download Linux Mint 5 http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=25 and create a Bootable LiveCD from the iso. using Nero Burning ROM or similar software. You can also run Linux Mint 5 direct from the LiveCD without touching your Hard Drive should you have Windows installed. If you want to Dual Boot with XP http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm If you want to Dual Boot with Vista http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_linux_vista_installed_first.htm These Dual Boot tutorials refer to Ubuntu but the same applies for Linux Mint. LUg.

Linux Mint. It's based on Ubuntu, but it includes popular proprietary codecs by default (encrypted DVD playback, Flash, MP3 playback, etc.)

ubuntu

Don't! Its no good, i tried Ubuntu and Mint. Too many problems.

Before installing I would suggest that you get the live-cds for various linux distros to see which one will work best on YOUR computer hardware. Some versions of linux have problems with some graphics cards (nvidia seems to work best) and wireless cards. The live-cd will not make any changes to your hard drive, and it will run a little slow because it is running from the cd and not the hard drive. Once it is installed it will run like all your other programs. If everything works with the live-cd everything will work when installed. If for example your wireless won't work with the live-cd if you install it it will need to have some work done (look for and install new drivers, edit configuration files, etc). It CAN usually be fixed but it will take a little work and for a person new to linux it can be very frustrating. When you find one that works and you like I would also suggest that you read the instructions and tutorials from the website of that distro on how to install, setup and use linux. This will make using linux a much more pleasant experience. If you just go ahead and install linux and try to use it the same way you used windows you are almost guaranteed to be frustrated and unhappy. Linux may sorta kinda look like windows but it is not windows and you have to do things a little differently in linux. I am not saying it is hard to use linux just different. Go to http://distrowatch.com/search.php and search there for some distros. Have fun

straight forward answer I would recommend pclinuxos and ubuntu for you to try just download burn the iso and try the live cd more complicated answer the above applies if you have at least an average computer and you intend to use it for general use if you have an old pc try mini linuxes such as dsl if you want to focus on graphics try graphics distro's like ubuntustudio if you are in security business try something like backtrack or auditor if you are into game try any gamerslinux and so on go to distrowatch.com see the reviews for most common linux distro's go for the user friendly distro's first and try thier live cd's there are many choices in the open source world get used to that and one more thing it is called distro like (ubuntu , mint ,fedora,knoppix ,...) the version is like ubuntu 7.10 or 8.04 and hint (ubuntu has many great support and how-to's sites more then any other distro )

Hi, there really is no right answer for this question, i believe the best way would be to download some live DVD/CD version and try them out be for you install them. At the moment i am using Mandriva Linux and i had no problems with it, even got the wireless internet work for once.

I suggest Linux Mint 6.0 (Felicia) It's based off Ubuntu, and it's easy to use for beginner like you (and me :-D). It's fast, stable, and looks very sexy. It's defiantly one of my favorite Operating Systems of all time. Here's a link to it: http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php It even has the option of creating a Dual Boot with your PC. My PC has Window's Vista Basic & Linux Mint 6.0 on it. I use Linux for doing basic things like web browsing, writing notes, doing things with pictures, playing music. And I use Window's for everything else: Gaming (Call Of Duty 4 :-D), Making and editing Videos, and everything thing else and programs that aren't compatible with Linux. You can also get "Wine" for Linux. Wine is a program that lets you install and use many of the basic programs and games you'd use for Windows. http://www.winehq.org/ (Wine can be installed on other OS like Mac/Apple, FreeBSD, Solaris, etc...) And here a list of some of the compatible games and programs that run on Wine: http://appdb.winehq.org/ I hope you enjoy Linux. I highly suggest getting Linux Mint 6.0 (Felicia) EDIT: Oh, and Mint has the option of running the OS from a CD. It's called a "Live CD". You just download the .iso image for Mint at there website, and burn the .iso to a CD. Then you just leave the CD in your CD driver and start your PC up! Then you can start using Mint without installing it and it harming/damaging the OS that you already have on your PC. And if you need any help with Linux (Especially the Mint versions) I would talk to "LUg" up there ^. I can see he's already answered this question, and he's a genius when it comes to everything Linux-wise. He's helped me it the recent past with Linux, and I'm very appreciative for that! :-D

Well you can try without installing - download the Ubuntu live cd http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download burn it to a cd and boot your pc from the live cd; ubuntu will load into memory An alternative is Wubi (also included in the live cd installer) http://wubi-installer.org/ this installs Ubuntu on your pc as if it were a programme - when you reboot, you get the option to boot into Ubuntu or windows - to remove Ubuntu, boot into windows and remove wubi from the the control panel>add/remove programs.