BUMP

debian

but if that is not an option, then ubuntu.
debian core and great community.

You didn't say what you want to use the machine for. A server might be very different from a desktop machine, and all that, and a machine that is just installed once is different from something that has to be kept up to date and upgraded. And why did you come to the conclusion to install Linux in the first place?

So I'll just assume that you are like me, and suggest that you give BSD a try. I use Net myself, and like it a lot. Free is obviously more popular, but I don't know much about it. Never tried Open. DragonFly is going to be damn interesting if you want to set up clustered servers, or want a less monolithic OS.

Pic and link related.

Both are suitable for the average desktop, but I much recommend Ubuntu. Its packaging system is easy, the Ubuntu community is helpful, and if you run into a problem with your hardware or whatever it has probably already has been noted on a forum. I'm sure Fedora has a helpful community/forum (I don't keep up with Fedora) but Ubuntu's has been quite reliable.

If you're really curious you could just install both by splitting the 10gb partition into two Linux partitions and a /home partition.

Ubuntu holds your hand until you become familiar with linux. After that, I would go with Debian, not Fedora.
(Ubuntu is very heavily based on Debian.)

I consider one of linux's biggest downfalls is incompatibility with games, however, this is not linux's fault. Every one makes their games for windows only 90% of the time. Linux is actually superior.

Unfortunately, two of the people living here use vista, so I always have to fix any problems they have. I was hoping never to have to bother with winblows again.

Oh well. I'm going to go party now. Bye.

Eh, Linux would beat out windows if only they could consolidate. Just have ONE or TWO versions of Linux with a wide community and base. Then company's could work with Linux and make games and more hardware compatible with Linux.

Game/Software/Hardware companies have limited resources and time. They simply don't have the time and or resources necessary to make things compatible with the near endless amounts of Linux's distros there are.

So its all about community and working together and trying to defeat Windows by giving one or two stellar OS's rather than 20-50 that are only 55% completed.

However as far as your question goes. I would say go with Ubuntu. They have a good support site, and they seem like they will be around for a while(a few years at worst).

>>8
The drivers are surely not the problem. If they are open-source (which is the best and sometimes only practicable solution) and of good quality (even this is no must because the community will most probably improve them, projects like ALSA even offer free driver development for companies at no cost), all major distributions will integrate them. On the driver level, there really are almost no differences between the distros (yeah, of course there are some that include more drivers than others etc. but if a driver is solid basically all distros will support it)

Arch Linux. Can't recommend it enough.

>>8
I think you've forgotten the nature of linux.

Linux has the stereotype of being the OS for 'geeks', i.e. those who like to tinker with their computers, instead of doing things with them. Coupled with the fact that it's not exactly created with the first-timer in mind (I tried an experimental install of Ubuntu once, and the installation of such was a pure nightmare, and using it was WORSE! I had no choice but to reformat the HD & reinstall Windows XP. Ironically, the experimental install of the beta of Vista was almost EMBARRASSINGLY easy). That, and the lack of software (and finding device drivers for Linux, compared with Windows).

And now you know why Windows has dominance of the OS market, and not just because it's preinstalled on off-the-peg PCs ), otherwise, people would be reformatting the HD & installing Linux en masse. Until Linux is as easy to install as Windows, drivers are as easy to find as Windows, there's as much software available as Windows, and is as easy to use as Windows (i.e. eliminating the need to use Command Line), then Linux might start eating into Microsoft's monolithic presence & thus it's profits. But it has to overcome that 'geek'-y image, and extremely steep learning curve & lack of drivers/software.

Pic very related.

You don't need to install device driver for Ubuntu or Fedora. Though, I notice some computers from the big name vendors are not Linux friendly.

>>12

"There is another."