What's the best linux distro to learn with

[joeld]

I've had trouble so far with RedHat because of the different locations of source and files besides the default ones. For example, I'm trying to install some drivers for my audigy and I've had trouble because of the version.h file being in a different location and stuff like that. What is the best distro to use that is relatively easy to learn on (doesn't take much experience to set it up) yet has the system files in the default location and uses a standard kernel version? RH 7.3 comes with 2.4.18-3, instead of 2.4.18 or 2.4.19 -- not a user friendly experience to a linux n00b.

Suggestions?

 

[Nothinman]

2.4.18-3 just means it's RedHat's 3rd build of that kernel, RedHat does include some non-standard kernel patches but most of them are necessary for certain things to work better (and some to work at all).

RedHat is a good distro to start with if you want fairly easy setup, as is Mandrake. If you want to really learn get one like Debian or Slackware, the setup is difficult (because nothing's done automatically) but you learn a lot in the process and I think Debian is the easiest distro to maintain and use once you get the hang of it.

 

[NTB]

I got SuSE 8.0 up and running without too much trouble, except for my network connection - but that's up and going now, and I'm posting using Konquerer. Only real problem that I can see is that this isn't a downloadable distro, as far as I know. Go out and get the personal version for $40, or Pro for $80 if you want more software and documentation.

Nate

 

[wefixitalways]

I have Mandrake 7.2 on half of my 20.0 gb hard drive. It is very easy to install and finds almost everything on its own.