WARNING - NEWBIE QUESTION!

[Thud-n-Blunder at excite.com]

I'm going to expose just how new to Linux I am with this question. Please,
be gentle - this is no troll, and is not intended as flame-bait... after
all, I'm only allowed so much disk space on my mail server! <smile>

I understand that there is a great number of distributions for Linux. Now,
if I were looking for a flame-fest, I'd ask something like, "Why do we need
so many?" However, I suspect that each different distribution tends to
emphasize one or more particular areas.

Is this suspicion correct? If so, could someone help me figure out what the
areas of emphasis are for the different distros? That way, when I try to
convert friends and family over from Windows to Linux, I can speak more
intelligently as to which distribution may fit their needs "out of the box,"
as it were.

Or am I wrong, and there is an entirely different reason for the
distributions? If so, please let me know your ideas...

John Gardner
Thud-N-Blunder at excite.com

Sometimes an industrial-grade fire suppressant can make the difference
between a good day and a bad day.
	-- Anonymous

Thanks for your time, and 

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