What is the best linux os for a dell inspiron 1520?

Question

I would mainly use the os for surfing the web and to learn programming.. (p.s. I don't want ubuntu)

Answer 1

If you don't want Ubuntu then it depends entirely on you.

A search of http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/dell.htm... reveals howtos for 8 distros, including Linux from scratch (which is where you compile the whole operating system yourself) in Chinese and Debian Lenny (which is what I run on my old Dell Dimension 2300 desktop) in Spanish.  Having just had a horrible experience with Fedora Core 9 I am too traumatized to relate (though I've had good experiences with other Fedoras and will not diss 8) (also I have gone on about that experience a lot even in answers) I  will suggest that if you get the Debian net-install disk and accept the defaults, including the Gnome desktop, you will not be going in over your head.  

http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/

You will be doing something very close to Ubuntu, which is derived from it, but it's a good environment to learn programming.  meanwhile I strongly suggest you search out information on how to use emacs, and learn how to use it.  Before Linux even existed I was drawn into the emacs vs. vi debate and all I knew about it was I knew vi.  But emacs while conceptually very different from IDEs as you know them on Windows (or may not) can be a very powerful programming tool.

Still you have my sources in this answer and you should use them.  Then maybe you can make up your own mind.

Answer 2

Are you familiar with linux at all? If not, ubuntu would be the best choice.

If you're more intermediate, try something like opensuse or fedora

Answer 3

ubuntu offers the best of everything to date but if its not for you maybe opensuse or fedora. its hard to get away from ubutnu cause gobs of other distros are dirrectly based off it linux mint, pc linux, dream linux, vixta, xandros, linspire, etc.