ok whats the best version of linux for a new pc, and where best to download it from please

UBANTU http://ubuntuforums.org/

plenty help there

[Edited on 9-11-06 by mangogrooveworkshop]

Ubuntu, as stated is pretty good, I still like Mandrake and always have knoppix handy on a cd

Cheers

Alex

Very much depends what you want to use it for. A lot of people like Ubuntu, I've never personally used it (though I think I will).

If you want a Linux for a solid server, Debian is very good but you won't find the latest software there.

The likes of Mandrake are good for desktop, as I guess is Fedora (if you've got a big disk but want to be pretty "standard" - it's one of the more popular distributions, which doesn't make it the best!)

If you want ultimate performance, then you want Gentoo. It's very cumbersome to setup, you compile everything from scratch - the positive side is it's absolutely tuned for your system to get the max performance.

I use Windows but I have Ubuntu on an old computer that I experiment on, I found it easy to install and use. I also used Mepis and Knoppix on this computer and you can download Live cds so you can use the OS without installing. It is slower than the actual install as it runs from the cd in ram but it gives an idea of what they look like. I've used them to access the net when my hard drive was down and if I didn't have so much good windows dependent stuff I would use them all the time.
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.knoppix.net/get.php
http://www.mepis.org/node/1462
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/FreeBSD-for-i-ISO--Beta-Download-2805.html


[Edited on 10/11/06 by Peteff]

Suse 10.1 is meant to be pretty good, its whats going on my second system when i pick it up next week

I've used Debian for years, and was very happy with it, especially the package maintenance.

I'm using Gentoo right now to try to squeeze as much performance out of my aging Athlon XP.

I've also heard great things about Suse from a friend of mine who has used many different distributions.

Ubuntu is basically debian with up to date packages and an easy install. Very gnome based by default.
It's also very easy to try out as there is a version that boots from cdrom and doesn't mess with your harddisk.

They also do Kubuntu which is KDE by default and now xubuntu which uses xfce for older machines.

It's best to stick with the dapper install right now, the new version (edgy) still doesn't seem to be quite ready for primetime.

Mepis is Unbuntu is Debian

Basically Mepis is Ubuntu with KDE all sorted out with all you need right off the install disc.