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Back on topic, much as I love Hikaru and Go, both.
I started out with Debian back in the late 90s. While studying computer science, it remained a highly useful tool for server use and general programming.
However, what Debian lacked was speedy updates. It is highly stable and secure, which are its primary benefits, but it accomplishes this by (among other things) a very careful (read: slow) update schedule. From potato (version 2.2) onwards, there was a release every two or three years. Once a release was made stable, a new "snapshot" of then-current software was made. If, say, a new version of Mozilla was made available soon after a snapshot, it would propagate into the next snapshot after two-three years, and then finally hit the stable release another two-three years after that. After a THOROUGH vetting of the software and its code.
This made me install things outside of the package management, which made upgrades sometimes wreck "everything". Luckily, I've always tended to keep backups.
Anyway, when I switched from hard drives to an SSD in my current computer, I decided to make the jump to Ubuntu. I haven't regretted it since - everything is (almost) up to date and even older versions get new software releases. I'm using Firefox 10.0.2 right now, which was released a couple of weeks ago, and which will not reach Debian stable for another two-three years, minimum.
I still use Debian for my server, though, but apart from software versions (and some consequences thereof) they're virtually identical from the command line point of view.
As for specific Ubuntu version, I would recommend either Kubuntu or Xubuntu for a Windows user wanting to "dip his toes". Either "feels more" like Windows than current (Unity) Ubuntu, Kubuntu is probably better for a newcomer, while Xubuntu might be better if you have slow hardware.
Why not Arch/Redhat/whatnot? Well, really, my primary reason at the time I made my definite choice (I fooled around a bit with RPM-based distros) was APT, which nowadays isn't as big a deal. However, as has been mentioned by others, the support is rather nice, even if it can be a bit difficult to find the "best" answer in a flood of well-meaning pseudo-solutions.
BSD? Not Linux, but still a valid option. However, if we consider "free desktop operating systems" a very minor subset of all desktop operating systems, then BSD-derivatives are a very minor subset among those. In other words, it's a minority within a minority, and support might be a bit harder to find or understand.
Hurd? Now we're talking...but not yet. Microkernels are a very, very interesting alternative to traditional ones, but it's not exactly stable, by anyone's definition. Feel free to test it, though. It's bound to be an interesting experience.
Anyway, there's my five cents.
TL; DR: I recommend either Kubuntu or Xubuntu, they look more like Windows than vanilla 'buntu and Xubuntu is considerably faster though perhaps not as user-friendly.
moe_imouto:
--- Quote from: from on February 29, 2012, 01:30:28 PM ---Back on topic, much as I love Hikaru and Go, both.
I started out with Debian back in the late 90s. While studying computer science, it remained a highly useful tool for server use and general programming.
However, what Debian lacked was speedy updates. ...
TL; DR: I recommend either Kubuntu or Xubuntu, they look more like Windows than vanilla 'buntu and Xubuntu is considerably faster though perhaps not as user-friendly.
--- End quote ---
Debian doesn't lack speedy updates. It depends on the repository you choose. If you choose Debian stable, it is rather slow in updates. It only receives major/security updates. But if you choose Debian testing or Debian sid, you will have the most bleeding edge updates. And Debian stable is released every 2 years.
Ubuntu actually have somewhat similar release schedules. LTS(currently 10.04) only receives major/security updates, and is released every 2 years (the next LTS is 12.04). Non-LTS (eg. 10.10, 11.04) is just as new as Debian testing. But Ubuntu provides some non-free software and some is pre-installed, which makes it easier for new comers.
I recommend you use Ubuntu LTS because
1) Debian-based distros have the most convenient software package management system.
2) Most software out there are available in the repository.
3) Even if some small projects do not make their way into the repository, they provide .DEB files.
4) Debian-based have many manual pages.
Debian Stable is also an option but choose with care as you need to install some non-free firmwares at the beginning.
I do not recommend Debian testing, Debian sid, Mint Debian, Ubuntu non-LTS, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Arch. They are not stable and do crash (on some not-frequently-used packages). I especially dis-recommend Fedora, OpenSUSE, Arch and any non-debian based distributions (they are equally good, but...), except that you know what you are doing.
=============Linux game recommendation=============
Kenta Cho's games are small but interesting. Do install 'Gunroar' and 'Tumiki Fighters' (they are in debian repository).
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