# Linux - Whats the best Distro?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/linux-whats-the-best-distro/162036>\
**Category:** random\
**Created:** [September 9, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/linux-whats-the-best-distro/162036 "2005-09-09T03:15:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![matthewjumps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@matthewjumps](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/matthewjumps)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/linux-whats-the-best-distro/162036/1 "2005-09-09T03:15:19Z")

</div>

OK, Im very new to Linux, I know crap all really. Ive been a Windows/Mac user for al my life…but Ive become interested in Linux through the a variety of excellent Open Source programs…then I started exploring Sourceforge and found a whole load of programs in alpha stage, that I would love to test, but they only compile on Linux.

So the bottom line is, I want a Linux distro that wont scare the crap out of a life-long windows users, one that follows the windows interactive conventions very closely. With a nice customisable desktop, a good file/folder explorer, good start menu (tho I know it wont be called that), but also one with the command-line tools to start compiling programs (gcc, gdb, make, all that crap).

Also, I have a P4 HT 3 Ghz, MSI Mainboard, Nvidia 5200 TD video card, DVD Burner, and will be getting an M-Audio 2496 or perhaps an E-MU 0404 soundcard, so I need a distro that supports a broad range of hardware, almost plug and play style.

And one that has a good help file.

Oh, yea, and I want to run flash on it (obviously with an WIn32 emulation). how hard is that?

Does such a Windows killer exist?