Linux comes in a wide variety of flavors, better known as distributions. Such an array can make choosing between them very difficult for both the experienced administrator as well as the new user migrating from a different operating system. Making a decision isn’t easy, but we will do our best to simplify the process of selecting the ideal Linux distribution for your needs. What’s Your Style? Before deciding on a Linux flavor, it would probably be wise to give some insight into the type of style you have as a user. This is very important because whatever the answer is will have a huge impact on the future of that particular distribution. For example, if you have your eye on strictly open-source versions, you may choose a system that comes packaged with proprietary drivers and codecs. If you will be using Linux for a network of people, your choice becomes even more crucial. More than likely, some members of the group will be totally new to the operating system, so whatever you choose can impact their perception of the platform as a whole. There are many Linux distributions and the differences can be substantial. The New User Linux has always been perceived as an operating system for geeks and IT experts. However, that outlook has dimmed over the last few years. With common features and applications such as Flash and media players, even the new user can come to embrace it. One of the best distributions for the job is Ubuntu. Among the most widely used flavors, Ubuntu is perfect for new users, offering ease of use and all the visual goodies of a modern desktop system. The system is very compatible and can run on most hardware without flaw. If this is your first run with Linux, Ubuntu is definitely the way to go. The Migrating User If you are a user with a knowledge and would like to migrate to Linux because of the limitations imposed by commercial operating systems, Mint could be the distribution for you. Mint was built on the solid architecture of Ubuntu, which gives it many excellent qualities. This distribution offers great hardware comparability, an easy installation and improvements on some of Ubuntu’s weak spots. Mint supports a number of codecs and comes with both Abode Flash and Sun’s Java pre-installed. The Business Professional If you are the person who is responsible for picking a Linux distribution for the office environment, the selection process gets a little more difficult. If you would like something that resembles the simplicity of Ubuntu and the high degree of reliability needed to ensure availability, OpenSUSE would make a fine choice. OpenSUSE is a highly scalable system with excellent support from Novell and various third-party providers. It integrates seamlessly with OpenOffice.org into the desktop environment of your choosing, which is also configured for compatibility with Microsoft applications. In fact, OpenSUSE is capable of running several applications native to the Windows environment. Conclusion We haven’t even touched the surface on Linux distributions but hopefully this info will aid in your decision. Once you narrow down the list and choose the right flavor for your needs, you will likely enjoy many perks that were absent in your previous OS. | 
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