Mandrake would definately be one of the top ones for novice users, in my
experience. I can sympathize with your installation problems, however,
though I've never had the same with Linux. I had similar problems installing
RedHat 8 on a certain box, but on others it installs flawlessly. I've had
better luck with Mandrake overall. However, though it's a bit uncou for me
to recommend it on a "Mandrake" list, for brand-new Linux users coming over
from Windows I'd recommend SuSE. I haven't tried Mandrake 10 yet, so I don't
know if it's easier than SuSE or not, but SuSE is definately one of the
easiest to find your way around when fresh from the Windows world. Mandrake
is a close second though, next being maybe Fedora, but I haven't tried all
that many distros myself, so I'm not a real authority. Whatever you do don't
try plopping a newbie in Debian. Nothing against Debian, I like Debian, all
14 discs of Debian, but a newbie is liable to give up and never touch Linux
again for ten years before he even makes it past the base system installation
(Okay, maybe a little exageration, but still, there's a point)
Thanks for the response. I'm ultimately using all this info for an article I'm writing on computer security. Naturally I'm recommending against Windows and would like very much to have whatever alternative I recommend be a positive experience.
I'm interested in seeing SuSE 9.2 as well - it's supposed to have a graphical installer with built-in NTFS resize, and some feedback during the resize about what portion of the Windows partition is free space. According to the SuSE folks there should be a downloadable version (I don't know if this will be full installation CDs or a net install) soon.
If I can get Mandrake 10.1 working to evaluate it does sound promising, though the installer presents a little less in the way of explanatory text than I might like for novice users (I think the text is the same in the graphical and text installers?). Again, the NTFS resize is attractive (though no free space feedback), and I'd love to see Mandrake's take on the GNOME desktop.
I've also heard Debian isn't a novice distro. However, the Debian-based Ubuntu distribution is promising, and I think might be a good newbie distro when its next release happens in April.
I'm also considering Fedora, as you suggest...aside from the lack of Windows partition resize it seems like potentially a good option, and the install process is pretty polished. I'm also looking at Xandros (though I like any of these others better, it does go out of the way to be Windowsy, which may be attractive to switchers).
PS: I might add that, though smaller in volume, I've found this Mandrake list
much more helpfull and prompt on response than the higher-volume SuSE list.
That's good to know and important, since presumably a newbie will have questions :-)
Ultimately, the plethora of good distros is both a blessing and a curse. To a new user who wants to try Linux, it can be daunting. :-p
Thanks, --Dave
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