Advice needed: which linux distribution should I install?

Callegari

I used linux quite a lot ten years ago (distribution: Linux Red Hat)

Now, I would like to install linux on one PC no one is using here.

The PC it is about 6-7 years old.

What really matters to me is:

1) compiling programs in c, c++, f90

2) using emacs

3) using latex

4) using xfig

5) easily convert file formats (I was used to: unix2dos, dos2unix, pdf2ps ... )

6) using gnuplot

7) using xmgr / grace

8) using gimp

All other applications like musics, movies, etc are of no importance to me.

What kind of distribution is the most appropriate from this point of view?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

mfillpot

Any distribution would fulfill your needs. If you were a redhat user then I recommend trying fedora which is the community version of redhat. After installation you can use yum (the package manager) to install everything that you need.

Callegari

Thank you for your answer.

Further question:

is an internet connection necessary for the package manager?

I would prefer some installation that does not require any internet connection.

Thank you again,

LegacyUser

Yes, Fedora's package manager works just fine with no internet connection.