As the subject suggests:

Being new to the world of Linux, a lot of things are "new" to me...

I have been reading the Moving To Linux book, and even thought the author doesn't come right out and suggest a Linux "flavor", they do tend to favor the Mandrake install.

Having so many choices; Mandrake, Debian, Red Hat, etc... is more than this poor ol' girl can take. I'm used to the M$ world, you take what you get, like it or not, this is it, kinda stuff. It appears that in the World of Linux, Choices are numerous.

Can anyone give me some input on this subject? I guess the next question I am going to get is: "What do you want to do with it?"

I tend to use the web a lot, research, downloading shareware, utilities, and development "plug-ins" for Visual Basic. Word Processing, email, printing, photo retouching, wave file editing and creation. And I want to get involved with developing software within Linux - as soon as I learn the language within Linux - which I assume is probably "C" (another learning curve to climb).

I also enjoy playing audio CD's and DVD movies, and ripping backups of my system, new CD Audio files, compilation CD Audio discs, and the ocassional backup copies of my original "copyrighted" CD Audio discs.

I used to be a die-hard M$ follower, and was looking to Win[fill in the version of your choice] on my new system, but after seeing the Knoppix Live CD, I was FLOORED!

The guy at the puter store, [ma and pa type, with a high hardware knowledge], had to go through a whole re-configure with my change to Linux OS. He is also the one that handed me the "Knoppix CD" and asked me if I could get it running. He wants to start using it as OS installs on new puters he sells, but is more the hardware tech, whereas, I am the software. So, not only am I excited about Knoppix/Linux, but I have someone else that is also getting my excitement of it.

I think Linux is the future of OS', and am durn well going to give it it's shot. Considering the alternative, Win[etc...], and still they haven't gotten it right. I think Linux is going to leave that "other" OS in the dust.

So? Anyone got any ideas? I am decided on Linux as my next OS of choice, what one do you recommend? And why?

Thanks for any input, and as always, you people are the greatest
Cuddles