[ale] linux recommendations

[Geoffrey]

James Baldwin wrote:
> On 22 Dec 2004, at 10:25, Barnes, Michael wrote:
> 
>> I am building a computer for my daughters and am considering installing a
>> LINUX distro. Since, I will be away from the house (do to job), I need a
>> distro that is easy to install and maintain. This distro will need to be
>> able to work on a wireless network and access a printer that is being 
>> hosted
>> by windows xp pro.
> 
> Since this isn't for a Linux savvy technical monkey, your choice should 
> be based on stability and ease of package management (the latter is the 
> only measure I think worth anything nowadays when deciding on a Linux 
> distribution for a non-commercial purpose). I'd have the recommend 
> Debian stable.

I can easily say the same for SuSE.  There is nothing easier than SuSE 
YAST.  You can search by all kinds of criteria.  Further with a purchase 
of SuSE 9.2 personal or pro, you get user manuals.

> The tools won't be bleeding edge, or anywhere even approaching current 
> but they will be stable and secure. Apt has an excellent package 
> manager, and with a little extra effort is very easy to cron updates 
> with exception handling (I'd be surprised if someone didn't already 
> distribute a script for this).

I know very little about apt. Does apt have a gui interface?  Does apt 
have a search ability?

> I don't know any distribution that will not "work on a wireless network 
> and access a printer...".

Agreed.

-- 
Until later, Geoffrey