Linux distro for newbie?

[joel2007]

I know this question has been asked many times. This is not for me. I'm using Lubuntu and I'm happy with it.
My friend wants to try Linux. I'm thinking about give Linux Mint for her to try. Is Linux Mint XFCE or LXDE?
Any recommend?
Laptop Pentium M with 512MB ram. I worry about the wireless card built in won't work with some Linux distros?

 

[kmote]

Pretty sure that the "primary" version of Mint uses GNOME. If you aren't sure that the wireless card will work, try it with a live CD.

 

[MindoverMaster]

If your wireless card is Atheros, you'll be fine. Gnome is the default, it has many different user interfaces.

 

[Jayce]

If your wireless card is Atheros, you'll be fine. Gnome is the default, it has many different user interfaces.

Or Intel. Intel and Atheros have the best Linux support out there. If you're running Intel or Atheros, it's likely on a LiveCD you'll be able to connect to your wireless network since Atheros and Intel have their drivers built in, so even a LiveCD environment can support it. This is nice because you can see whether or not it'll work based on a LiveCD session where you don't have to spend the time installing it to know the answer.

 

[joel2007]

Any recommendations on Xfce? I'm trying to stay away from GNOME and KDE. Plus the laptop only has 512MB memory.

 

[MindoverMaster]

Could try Xubuntu. It's meant to run oin old systems. Or you could try Puppy.

 

[iFargle]

Theres Mint LXDE and XFCE, Lububtu (LXDE) and Xubuntu (XFCE)

 

[MyGodAL3X]

I started on puppy linux on a really old laptop and i am a linux noob so maybe that should be your start

 

[MindoverMaster]

Well, Puppy or a different flavor of Ubuntu should work just the same.

 

[remixedcat]

I like Fedora or debian. and using KDE