Would this be a safe place to go to for downloading Linux??

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http://linuxmint.com

http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2489

While I've not used it, Mint is one of the better distribution out there at the moment. I hear it's a lot better than Ubuntu, OpenSuSe and Fedora. Last version of Ubuntu that I downloaded, (v.12) the GUI was slower than molasses in January in Vermont. Ditto with OpenSuSe, but at least Geeko let me choice between KDE, gNOME and FVWM (I chose FVWM because it was less onerous than current versions of KDE and GNOME.)

Well it's a good thing you dumped Ubuntu because it has an almost similar desktop environment to Windows 8

My dad got the latest version to run on his hard-disk-less laptop that runs Ubuntu (somewhat) over a network boot but there's no menu instead of what's on the side:

[img][800:450]http://www.pcper.com/files/news/2011-05-07/unitycomparison.png[/img]

I actually still Ubuntu still installed on my Mac mini under parallels 9. I never use it, since it is so slow and unusable.

Nobody's answering the question I asked.

Please don't hijack my thread.

I still need an answer.

Of course it's safe.

Mint is quite slow on old hw because window manager is based on gnome shell or something like that.

If you want to you some GNU/Linux distro rather get Lubuntu from lubuntu.net

If the company actually producing that distribution (or any other software of any type, free or purchased) can't be trusted as its primary source then there really is no point in bothering with any of this.

If installing it caused things to explode, fall apart, or have a user's first-born sprout extra arms - then the Mint forums should be full of noise about it so really, to find out if that distribution is "safe", you need a good sample size.
Check out what people are saying about Mint on the Mint forums:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/

None of the servers where you download any major Linux Distro are infected by malware. Linux Mint is probably the best Linux distro out there for everyday usage.

Isn't that a bit impossible for Linux distros to be infected by malware, unless it's a fake site, due to things like MD5-type of check-sums ? Even if it was fake I think the browser may detect the site being a false site :/

For Linux sites to pose a danger, a virus needs to be inside the .ISO file or the web-server needs to be infected with some kind of worm that exploits security holes. Neither is the case with Linux Mint.

If you liked the interface of Windows XP (I did--I can't stand the Aero design, though), you'll quickly like Linux Mint.

I have used it on my older PCs which can't run Windows XP anymore and with Mint they run very fast and are useable.
However I haven't used for long time.. Maybe for 4 months or something (I prefer newer PCs for gaming).

I'd say it's safe.

I know nothing about Linux, and asked the question for a valid reason. For all I know, I found some virus laded site waiting for the unwary to stumble across it.

Some people here have already shown they know a lot more about it than me, so I figured it would be safe to ask here.

For everyone who's helped, thanks.

I've got a new hard drive coming and hope to get it set up with Linux right from the start.

Hm. Makes me wonder how much do you know about this: Do you know the difference between wanting to download "linux" and wanting an specific distribution such as Mint, Debian, Ubuntu, Redhat, among many? And what do you want it for?
I personally have Debian. I wonder if I made a good choice.

Do you have a specific plan? I ask because there are many versions of Linux Mint and a new hard drive is far bigger than any of them would need. Also, what do you already have installed in your computer, and do you plan to multi-boot? If so, many people will give you seemingly-convenient, quick-and-easy advice about how to add Linux and deal with booting, but I can show you how to do all of that in a way that never breaks your current installation(s) and never leaves you with a broken boot loader while you stare at one or another kind of "not found" message on your startup screen. So, the wise way to do all of this is to set things up thoughtfully in the beginning -- much more than just choosing a distro to try -- so you can later easily add, remove or switch any OS you wish. In fact, your best bet is to begin by running a "Live" iso from a stick without installing anything and not even having to burn a disk.

With the exception of the Debian-based LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition), the versions of Mint at the link you posted are Ubuntu-based: http://linuxmint.com/
note: Ubuntu is a spin-off derivitive of Debian.

Also, you might want to know the Linux Mint Cinnamon desktop has some intense graphics not all computers can run well, and if you might want something Debian-based with a different desktop, you can find those here:
http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/cur ... so-hybrid/
http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/cur ... so-hybrid/
note: Gnome3 is also graphic-intense.

I have spent hundreds of hours sorting this stuff out, and I will gladly help you avoid the headaches that are almost inevitable at the beginning of getting into Linux.