You've got my request re a new PC for my wife, and we've also got to settle on a new distro. Currently we're both using RedHat 7.3 with the Ximian Desktop (i.e. modified GNOME), kernel 2.4.20. I'm running a Pentium 4-2.4 GHz with NVidia video card and Conexant softmodem, the latter using a Linuxant driver. The modem is used solely for faxing but that function is reasonably important. Internet access is via Ethernet, a generic switch and a DSL firewall/router.
I've considered Fedora Core (logical successor to RH 7.3), Mandrake (readily available and supposed to be friendly to non-experts) and Suse (logical successor to Ximian). Unless there is a cogent reason not to do so, I'd like to stay with GNOME as our desktop. Her skill level: not interested as long as everything works; happy to use Linux and non-Windows applications as long as they work. (Still using a very old version of Quicken, but I'll get her onto Moneydance soon.) My skill level: about 2 years with RH 7.3; can compile tarballs if nothing goes wrong; can follow the detailed step-by-step instructions of sympathetic CLUGgers; can deal with the command line but dislike using it for everyday tasks. Recommendations and reasons? It'd be much better if I could just collar everyone at a meeting and shout a round of everyone's favourite beverage, but geography gets in the way. Thank you in advance. =====Andrew
