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[eddie]

Try the Mint version of Ubuntu,has all the non-free stuff allready incorporated. access to all Ubuntu (Debian based) repo's and also some PPA's as well for bleeding edge updates.
It will also install DEB files from the Debian repo's.
All the popular Window Managers are available,Gnome,KDE, etc.
AND--its Free!

eddie

[Mr Skrunts]

Just set it downloading, nicesteady speed of 696/702 KB/Sec

Gotit now all I need is a program to burn the image with and a disk.   

[TheBoy]

I thought Linux was supposed to be free?

It is, depending on your definition of 'free'

Redhat, for example, is hugely more expensive over a 5yr period than, say, Windows server. But its still 'free'

Only if you want updates and tech support from what I can see 

You are not allowed to use it without a support contract, which I think is around £150 a year, probably more if you buy a year at a time - but you do get free upgrades to new releases. Similar scheme to MS's Software Assurance (almost rental) scheme.

[TheBoy]

For the desktop, the best 'free' (as in zero cost) general purpose ones if stability isn't a concern, the likes of Fedora (Redhat's testing platform), Ubuntu (overhyped, bit flakey, not really any support) are sensible choices.

Sticking with general purpose desktop, but a bit less amateur, and a whole heap more stable, you'd be hard pressed to beat Debian. Will be a few months behind the less stable options above, but that leads to better testing, and greater stability.  Debian makes a reasonable server as well, within the confines of the Linux kernel.

Then you are in the realms of the professional ones, 'free' but quite expensive. Redhat, SUSE EL, Oracle (basically a clone of Redhat, but with a search and replace on the copyright notices ), all more geared up for workstation and server use, which they do well (again within the limitations of the Linux kernel).


Then you get into the realms of 'proper' Unix, though many of these use non x86 hardware, although Sun do offer Solaris in an x86 version as well as Sparc.


All kernels are capable of long uptimes - I have plenty at work with 5+ yrs uptime (at OS level - hosted services been restarted frequently!) in Solaris, Linux and Windows.  And at the OS level, Windows does appear to be the most stable 

[ChevetteNick]

Gotit now all I need is a program to burn the image with and a disk.   

Use ImgBurn for all your burning needs...when you get the discs