Seeks 1st time Linux install recommendation...

:-D

You should probably try out Ubuntu x86_64 or FC5 x86_64


If you want something user friendly check out ubuntu x86_64 http://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/ubun [...] -amd64.iso

http://www.ubuntu.com/screenshots

If you want something cutting edge go for FC5 x86_64
http://mirrors.kernel.org/fedora/c [...] 64-DVD.iso

http://www.linuxforums.org/reviews [...] eview.html

OpenSuSE is kewl http://mirrors.kernel.org/opensuse [...] rrent/iso/

http://gnuman.com/content/view/61/28/

If you want something stable ( and several versions behind ) for server use check out CentOS http://mirrors.kernel.org/centos/4.3/isos/x86_64/



Be sure to check out: http://distrowatch.com/


A good x86_64 distribution can run 64bit and 32bit code and can also run other operating systems using VMWare, QEMU, DOSBox, WINE, Cedega and many others.

http://www.vmware.com/products/server/

http://qemu.org/

http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1

http://winehq.com/

http://transgaming.org/ aka Cedega


Linux can also emulate other architectures such as Power PC, ARM, Sparc, Commodore 64 and many others as well as game consoles (Nintendo, Sega and others).

Whatever Linux cannot run natively it can run in a Virtual Machine or in an emulator.


You may also find useful info below:

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/sof [...] 30908.html

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/sof [...] 30313.html