I started using linux about 4-5 yrs ago and I was being taught by a good friend, problem is that after about 8 months after he got to teaching me he moved away and I have been linuxless ever since. The DIstro I started with was slackware 6 I believe. I absolutely loved it. there were some amazing things Slack would do. soon after he left i had some hardware issues and had to rebuild losing the perfect os build we had accomplished. I have tried to duplicate the setup but I have failed miserably so I kind of fell off the linux map. I am now with newfound time and determination to learn linux once again. I would like some help in chosing the distro that would suit my needs best. I would like to begin to learn programing such as python, then C++, java, HTML etc... I do alot of video format chaging such as dvd to xvid and reverse some I transfer from tapes and camcorders and convert to dvd. I am use to windows but from what I remember slack was so much better at stability but I am afraid that without a mentor present I would hit more walls that I can cross. Is slackware the best for what I want? Should I just beat slackware into my head until I learn it or is there an easier distro to learn and still have the functionality and stability and security that slackware offers. Don't get me wrong I would stay with slack if i is the best for my needs. I would be using a dual core cpu on an asus a8n32 sli deluxe board with 7800 gt vid cards in sli if this matters. any advice is greatly appreciated. thank you for your time.

I do a bit of video transcoding myself, and I have to say, I keep coming back to debian and ubuntu for their multimedia repositories. ( http://debian-multimedia.org/ and http://www.medibuntu.org/ respectively.) The rpm based distros, like Fedora, don't seem to have as many options for multimedia. Both are much easier to use and learn than slackware. I don't know just how stable you need it to be, but Debian is more stable than Ubuntu, though the tradeoff is that it's conservative with releases and the software in it's repository tends to be a little dated. Ubuntu releases a new version every six months with some of the latest versions of software, so it can occasionally suffer from unresolved bugs. Be aware that Nvidia and ATI cards can need a little extra love to get working properly. http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers Ubuntu should prompt to install the correct drivers during the first run. Here's a list of some common issues and solutions: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/common-problems-and-solutions-for-nvidia-restricted-drivers-after-ubuntu-810-intrepid-ibex-upgrade.html

Silverdrgn, Ubuntu (and its variations) is imho the easiest distribution I've ever tried. So I'd surely recommend it =) If you dealt well with Slack, you'll find Ubuntu a piece of cake. The only thing is I don't know how developer-friendly can ubuntu be, since you're wanting to learn C++ and etc, but I don't think it'll be a problem at all =)

For learning a new language, it's absolutely fine. If you were a 10 year programmer, I might have a different suggestion.

I agree with all the above, and Ubuntu/Kubuntu (I prefer the latter) definitely make it easy to set up multimedia items. I also use Fedora a lot though, and they do have a good array of multimedia tools available. I also find Fedora to be more cutting edge when it comes to updating programming tools and libraries. Both systems are very easy to install, but the Ubuntu software repositories are larger. So whichever one. Heck, try them both.

Thanks a million for your input. I had not done all the reading I should have and you guys saved me a ton of time. As you all know distros come in all sorts of flavors and I was not aware that Ubuntu had the multimedia stregnths that it does. Now I can go directly to Ubuntu and read more about it and hell I'll probably install two distros in the end one to use and one to use and learn. If there are any other suggestion out there please dont hesitate to add. Afterall I may not be the only one with this type of question lol. Thakns again for all the great and useful links and advice. I love linux users!!!

Since you haven't totally decided yet I would recommend ARK Linux. It is a Slack distro. Nice Install and all Slack forums work with it. Other than that if you are determined to use Ubuntu try Mint or PCOS. Both are nice to the eyes and Ubuntu forums work on them as well. My personal favorite is Simply Mepis. Totally easy and Debian repositories and Ubuntu work. Good hunting. -tux-

The big draw back with debian, ubuntu, they are always using earlier kernels that are not keeping up with drivers for the latest hardware. For example the Atheros wireless, webcam drivers, that are big time in new hardware. Oh, I know Ubuntu always gets those drivers working, but why beat your brains out trying to get them working. The Linux Kernel-2.6.27 has solved the majority of those driver problems , where as the Kernel-2.6.26 has not. A linux Distro that uses the later kernels, solves many of your hardware drivers. Oh, I know that, that term "bleeding edge technology" will jump in there quite often, but if you always believe that, I got a Bridge I would like to sell you.