Which linux distribution should I install

I suggest centos !

Just use ubuntu, like everybody else. Once you feel comfortable and you want to know more, you can start writing shell scripts, build you own kernel, etc... do not listen to crazy people talking about their weird little distribution. To be able to learn, you want something that works and supports your hardware.

AND MOST IMPORTANT: Always use the LTS (Long Term Support) version of ubuntu. The normal releases are very often unstable. Especially when canonical are experimenting new stuff like UNITY (a new desktop environment based on GNOME)

EDIT: And I'm not saying other distributions are not worth a try. Many are very interesting.

Hi,

Why not try Zorin OS Linux, based on Ubuntu & is Windows like. zorin-os.com

Installation Videos in Urdu language http://asakpke.blogspot.com/2011/06/learn-to-install-linux-operating-system.html

regards

Aamir Shahzad asakpke.blogspot.com

What are your needs? For a basic distribution, why not try Mint or Ubuntu? You can download Ubuntu at http://www.ubuntu.com

I suggest TinyCore or Floppix.

Use whatever you want to use, they all have the same software available (sometimes you have to work harder). If you actually want to learn about linux, pick up a copy of bare Debian, Arch, Slackware, or maybe even Gentoo (or slews and slews of other similar distros).

If you want a more "friendly" experience, Ubuntu or Mint are good choices (although http://zorin-os.com/ that Aamir linked looks nice)

I'm probably biased, but I use Mageia, a fork of Mandriva, started about a year ago. It is nice and friendly -- basicly a cleaned-up rationalised version of Mandriva with some improvements. It is community-based, and has lots of friendly contributors very willing to help you with any questions. One of the better ways to learn Linux is by contributing, in some small way (at first), and there are plenty of ways you can do so.

We're at http://mageia.org/ ... our blog at http://blog.mageia.org/ ... downloads available at http://www.mageia.org/en/downloads/

You could use the live CD's to try out Mageia without installing it, but if you have enough free disk space, I would recommend downloading the DVD or using the network install, as running from disk is necessarily much faster than running from a CD. Also you will invariably want to try some package that can't fit onto the CD. As well as wanting to save your configuration to disk.

So presuming that your running a version of Microsoft windows, it is advisable to unfragment your hard disk partitions if you don't already have some free partitions. Then Mageia will be able to repartition your drive(s) as necessary during installation. (making various suggestions subject to your approval, of course) More info on what to download with installation tips at http://www.mageia.org/wiki/doku.php?id=mageia_installation_media

BTW, a lot of the friendliness of Mageia comes from utilities inherited from Mandriva, with our various enhancements. As well Mageia supports a number of desktops (graphic window environments), including Gnome, KDE, LXDE, and Xfce. (Starting with their next release, Mandriva will support only the KDE desktop.)

Mageia also has good support for server and development packages. And if you're interested in games, more and more are being loaded all the time. Like most major distributions, Mageia is multi-purpose. As well as conforming more and more to evolving Linux standards.

So why not give Mageia a try ?

I suggest Ubuntu, You can easily find about it in the network. It's the most popular!

You could install Ubuntu.

You must install Mint -> http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php