"starwars" <nobody@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote in message
news:bcad0998674508884821e58e3a588132@tatooine.hom elinux.net...
> I am thinking of giving Linux a try, and have a few questions, which I
hope
> the experts here will answer.
>
> I'm looking for a version of linux that is easy to install. If it could be
> as easy as windows 98 to install, that would be ideal, but I'm willing to
> do a little work if I have to.
>
> Standard office apps are available for linux, if I have it right, and so
> are email clients and browsers, but I'm wondering how difficult it will be
> getting linux to recognize my network card. Will there be any problem with
> the CD reader and the CD burner?
>
> Once the network card is working, can linux 'talk' to the other computers
> on our home lan? They are running windows, and are connected using a
> Linksys router.
>
> Any idea of the best way to acquire the OS - download or on CD?
>
> Thanks for any recommendations.
>
>

For your first try at Linux...I'd say Mandrake would be a good place to
start