Even though i tried to install linux on my laptop several times, and have about 5 linux distribution in my CD colection, i never managed to stay to long in the linux enviroment.
But it seem like the day has come for me to go fearsly into the unknown teritory of Linux. Recently i have received the assignment to build a new network for a Mall to offer them internet service. And since in Romania people are still to to glad to spend money on licence software, we came to the conclusion that the best option was to install a linux OS on all the network computers. This will ensure that the store owners will save quite a few buck with all the software licenses.
So far so good i would say. From here comes the tricky part, i had to find a linux distribution that had to be verry user friendly, since the users would have no knowledge of linux and all cammed from windows, have as much driver suport as possible ( to avoid any hardware recognition problems ) and preferable light weight ( to work OK on oldder desktops and laptops ).
So i took my little knoledge of linux and my trusted friend google and got to work 
. After a few hours of forum and reviews digging, i decided on 4 distribution to test:
1. Linspire
Seemed like a good distribution, and i read good things about it’s ability to make windows user at home with linux. I read a few bad reviews about it that question it’s stability, but the overall opinion was that it is a good distribution for first time windows users. I should mention that the distribution is not free, below there’s a link to buy it from amazon :
I bought the Cd and i can say that indeed for a windows user it’s a real help and will not drive a person away . I first install it on my desktop computer and it worked fine, but when i tryed on my laptop as a LiveCD it didnt boot up properly and the looding progress would stop at like 35%. Even if somepersons might comment on my decision, i decided to look for another distribution.
2. Kunbutu 7
As i was browsing the internet in search of a new distribution to try, i cama acroos a forum thread that discused the Linspire distribution, and one of the members was saying that instead of the Linspire Distribution he whould prefer kubuntu that is more stable but also keeps the user friendly look & feel. So i downloaded it in a hurry and decided to give it a try. The instalation went perfectly, and after this i got a warning about my Intel wireless card, that its driver it’s in the ‘restricted’ repository. Still the device was enabled and working. I spent about 45 minutes trying to connect to my wireless router, and the lack of the wireless assistent in the original distribution install ( i know you can download one 
) convince me to look some where else.
3. Unbutu 6.06
If you didnt figure it out Kubuntu is bassed on Ubuntu distribution . So my next choise was the original thing ). I remembered i try’ed it once in the past and it seemed OK. And also i had a CD with it laying arround ( i had that ordered of the internet a year ago ) so i went right to work and install it. Everey thing went perfectly, all the drivers were found. The wireless connection was up&running in a minute with the wireless assitent. The only problem that i experienced was the wireless router security encription ( WPA ) that as far as i saw wasnt suported. But as soon as i changed the wirelless to WEP encription i got a conection . But i searched the internet and found that it is possible to do a WPA encription with unbuntu ( as soon as i managed to do this i willl post the results here ). Overall i think this is my distribution to be .
4. SUSE 10
I also heared a lot of good things about this distribution. Unlike the previus distribution i wrote about that have usualy 1 CD, Suse has 5 CD’s.
One of the flagship features of SuSE is YaST, SuSE’s installation and system management tool. A key to a easy life with Linux is being able to easily manage the system and install software. Also i heared that this last version has an emproved Wireless Network Suport. Althogh i also have this distriution in my CD collection i din’t get a chanse to test it. As soon as i do i will inform you of my thought about it. The only thing that doesnt make me to excited about it is the fact that it need a lot of installation space.
That is it for now. I will keep you updated with the problems i face in linux and the solution i adopt, maybe some of you will use them and save some time.
Looking to you’re comments.
Cheers
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Enjoy!