What is the best linux for a laptop?

[kwacker]

I'd like to install linux on my laptop. Which is the best FREE linux version to install?

Kwacker

[slinky]

what do you want this install of linux to do?

There are so many different flavours that carry out a huge number of jobs, it'd be hard to recommend without knowing what you want to do...

have a cruise around http://distrowatch.com/ for an idea of what is available...

If you want to have a play with linux but don't want to go the whole hog of installing, investigate something like damn small linux, a 50Mb CD based linux..

hth,

slinky

[fredf]

If it's just to start experimenting with linux then i'd recommend using a CD distribution to start with, both Knoppix www.knoppix.org/ and Ubuntu www.ubuntu.com/ are very good.
A CD distribution is also very useful as a recovery tool should things go wrong

[Bodo]

kwacker said:

I'd like to install linux on my laptop. Which is the best FREE linux version to install? Kwacker

All Linux distributions are free, and every current popular is good with laptops. If you pay, then for the medium and getting it to you.
When you want it now, all you need is a (fast) internet connection and a CD (DVD) burner.

Those downloadable distributions come in different volumes. Some have only the necessary stuff and come on one CD. If you need any special applications with it, then you download them later on.
Others include everything and come on several CDs or one DVD.

I recommend either the aforementioned Ubuntu for a quick download, or the latest SuSE 9.3 Professional which fits on one DVD.

Ubuntu
SuSE 9.3

Fedora isn't bad either.

When you haven't dealt with Linux yet, it's a good idea to read the online introduction before installing

[_dobbo_]

Bodo said:

kwacker said: I'd like to install linux on my laptop. Which is the best FREE linux version to install? Kwacker All Linux distributions are free

Except for Redhat Enterprise...

[NST]

currently running SUSE 9.2 pro on a ASUS A4G laptop. runs very well with no problems at all.

[zumbruk]

_dobbo_ said:

Bodo said: kwacker said: I'd like to install linux on my laptop. Which is the best FREE linux version to install? Kwacker All Linux distributions are free Except for Redhat Enterprise...

Incorrect. From www.redhat.com/software/rhel/faq/#1;

4. Is Enterprise Linux open source?

Except for a few components provided by third parties (like Java) all the code in Red Hat products is open source and licensed under the GPL (or a similar license, such as the LGPL). So you always have free access to the source code. In fact you can download the source code from our FTP servers at any time. However, Red Hat does not provide free access to the binaries of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and these, combined with an annual subscription to Red Hat Network, access to upgrades, and a selected support service, are the components that comprise an Enterprise Linux subscription. Since every Enterprise Linux product includes support for the system on which it is installed, Red Hat supplies the products with a per-system usage/support agreement. This simple model ensures that systems which use Red Hat Enterprise Linux are able to access the maintenance, services and product upgrades to which they are entitled. Of course, as mentioned before, this has no impact on your access to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux source code.