Editors Note Several people have emailed me in the last few months asking what was the best Linux distribution . This article is my response to them and those who have wondered but didn't ask. Rob Robert Harbison Editor, LinuxWebMasterFree So just what is a distribution anyway? A distribution is a release of the Linux Kernal that has been modified for a specific purpose. Most current distributions are commercial, meaning you have to pay something for them (however since Linux by definition has to be free, the costs are for tech support or shipping of the CD, and not actually for the program, thus the cost of any commercial distributions is far less than for other Operating Systems. All distributions are about 90% the same, the Kernal, the actual Linux program, is the same for all distributions. What makes a new distribution are the Bells and Whistles that 'personalize' the program: an extra administrative tool, a GUI (Grapical User Interface - clicks and icons), etc. That said, most people tend to have a favorite distribution, and can get very passionate about it. (I am expecting a few emails from you guys telling me my recommendation is wrong and how much better your favorite is. Please do, the more I know, the more you know!) Sometimes it is better to treat discussions of distributions as if they were about religion - not appropriate in mixed company. However, there are some features that make a distribution better for certain purposes or people. So, this article is about which distribution is the best for beginners. Those of you who are veterans in the OS Wars already probably know enough about Linux to make your own distribution, so I will save the really technical article for you guys until later. The Major distributions There are six major distributions of Linux at this time. They are: Caldera, Corel, Mandrake, Red Hat, Slackware and TurboLinux. Each of these distributions have pros and cons, and some are obviously for tech wizards, not newbies. That's what I hope to outline in this article.