just because there are a lot of different distributions doesnt mean one works better for one thing and not another. its just a matter of now comfortable the user is while using a specific distribution.

just try them all out and see which one you like the best.

many people will recommend ubuntu, some will recommend PCLinuxOS while others might recommend Fedora or Debian or even Slackware or Arch or Vector. just pick one, try it out. then, try another one, then another, finally sticking with what you liked the best.

every distribution will do what you want it to do, its just a matter of finding out how and with what programs.

My step father is running Ubuntu and has not been able to use the dvd burning capabilities on his computer. I do not know if this is because of ubuntu or his limited exposure to linux, but it is something I wish to avoid if at all possible. Thanks for your input.

there is no one stop shop for DVD movie burning in linux like there is in windows. but, here is a how-to on that subject.

http://www.smorgasbord.net/2007/06/29/converting-video-in-linux-using-ffmpeg-and-mencoder/

the problem is usually never the distribution, but with the users lack of knowledge (particularly lack of knowledge in using search engines). every single problem that someone might have with linux can be solved in a matter of a few minutes of searching google. its just a matter of using the right search strings. and in those rare instantces that it really cant be found, there are places to go, linux related message boards, newgroups, irc channels where more qualified people hang around.

Message Edited by sakuramboo on 10-07-2007 10:52 AM

Give Linux a try! You won't be diappointed. You should have a look at distrowatch.com where you can find lots of useful information and reviews on the many different distributions. Maybe you can find some reports concerning hardware-compatibility at "http://www.linux-laptop.net/", too.

Allow me to recommend two distributions that work very well out-of-the-box (at least for me):
1) Linux Mint (currently 3.1 Celena) that is based on well-known "Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty" - with good hardware-support, multimedia-codecs, encrypted dvd-support, flash-plugin, Acrobat Reader and some other nice features pre-installed. The default Desktop is Gnome.
2) PCLinuxOS 2007 that is number one at distrowatch.com for quite a while. Its default desktop is KDE.
Both distros provide so-called LiveCDs that enable you to boot the system from CD and try it without affecting your hard-disk.

floba