What Linux program would you recommend for beginners?

I am currently using ubuntu 8.04 version on Linux. For the most part I like it, but I would like something a little easier. I wanted to install java, but it required a lengthy process, which evolves root access, is their something a little easier, so I can just install java and flash by clicking on the installation file. What Linux program would you recommend for beginners?
Linux Mint, based on Ubuntu, but polished better for a beginner. It comes with alot of the multimedia packages that aren't' installed by default with Ubuntu.What Linux program would you recommend for beginners?
Go to your toolbar and go into the administration menu --%26gt; Synaptics Package Manager.



You can type in Java and Flash and install it all from there, just search the package name.What Linux program would you recommend for beginners?
Yes . It involves a bit of work :)

Do a search in synaptic for java and flash. click and install

If you can't find them you are pretty much left to typing . it works for all linuxes.

Java:

Download bin file for java at sun site

As root : sh jdkxx.bin

will be enough

for flash its the same :

extract it with tar -xvzf flash.tar.gz

the run the script sh flashplugin.sh
Which ever you choose you will ALWAYS require root access for security reason

To install the system has to know it is YOU who is authorized to add programs is doing the installation

You know want your friend to install his recently programmed trojanbackdoor on your system

However there are other OS which handles installation similar to Windows

You can check out PC-BSD they created the installer similar to Windows.msi installer called .pbi

So it is your familiar double click to install method