Linux Help Needed!

[psten]

Okay - take this for what it is worth....

Currently on my system at home - RedHat Linux 7.3

Now - I have read many things and it seems that SuSE and Mandrake-linux are the top performers. However, SuSE is a pain in the arse to set up. Mandrake-linux is the easiest to set up (makes partitioning a breeze for setting up dual-boot enviornments). BUT - The newest version of Mandrake is slightly older than the rest. Therefore - it does not come with KDE 3.x and the newest version of XFree86. Not to mention the GNOME enviornment. Though, as of 8/7/02, Mandrake is releasing the Beta II version of their newest release. From what I had on Mandrake - I liked it better. It's config program had a lot more options that RedHat's doesn't offer and it just seemed to run faster and more stable. So if I like Mandrake better, why do I run RedHat? For the sole reason that RedHat comes with both KDE and XFree86 (both the newest versions) installed. And believe me, you do not want to go through installing XFree86.

Some tips:
- Use the KDE desktop enviornment - GNOME has a cool look... but the configuration options go down the drain, plus KDE is a lot more customizable

- When Mandrake comes out with their new version of Linux I am going to install it, I suggest anyone else does too (IMHO)

- INSTALL WINDOWS OR ANY OTHER OS BEFORE INSTALLING LINUX... If you are going to install Windows - make sure it is before installing Linux. Windows will overwrite your MBR and not recognize that Lnux is even anywhere near you system - plus GRUB and LILO look cooler than Windows' boot loader (if you ever get Windows' to work)

- Remember: You are dealing with open source software - which means there are going to be bugs. I don't care how stable anyone says Linux is - there are still bugs - such as the infamous disappearing system bar.

Hopefully this will help.
Good luck and have fun.