well, i am a new guy to the penguin world. i want to start using a linux version because mainly, open source fascinates me..i’m just entering college now..i hav been using windows since my first grade…and a couple fo months ago, i bought a macbook pro 13..and from then on, i felt that unix(or linux) is the way to go..
this is my first shot at linux..and many have suggested that ubuntu is very good for beginners because of its huge community..i did a little research and i found out that even opensuse is also pretty good….
i have a 5 year old pc, which has 1 gig of memory with an integrated graphic memory of about 256 mb, and a pentium 4 2.26 ghz processor..
i wonder if ubuntu 10.4 can run with all the visual effects turned on..and how easy is opensuse…cuz i m willing to experiment…
and honestly i don’t want to run linux on my mac yet 
..its just that i want to experiment first on my old pc…
and do all linux versions have support for printers and scanners? cuz i have a hp psc-1410 all in one…and my dad uses this pc only for scanning and all that…he’ll kill me if he’s not able to scan 
….
need some help guys, this is the first time i m gonna install linux…
and as far as live cd goes, i ve tried it out earlier, and for some reason, it just wouldn’t start…i ve already checked ubuntu when it was in its 6th version, and it worked ok..but then i was very young..
sorry for the long description, but then may be soon, i ll be helping out other guys
any help would be appreciated 
If it’s your first time using Linux, definitely go with Ubuntu. You can switch to a more advanced distro later (I recommend Arch Linux), but because the OS will be so different from what you’re used to, it’s better to start with a really easy to use one.
Mostly all Linux distros support the same devices. Getting them to work can be much easier on Ubuntu than on more advanced distros like Gentoo or something, though.
I have Ubuntu 10.04 myself and use it daily(for the past year)
Report Spam/Abuse
Download it for free from the website and you won’t need a CD.
Your computer should be fine.
Ubuntu sucks because it is open source but nobody ever updates their packages or mirrors and since it updates it’s version frequently it voids all that crap. You never know whether links or packages you’re getting are even valid.
I’m sure it’s good if you know what you’re doing, but otherwise I’d say stick to Microsoft. Even if you do know what you’re doing you still have to sort through a sea of cmd terminal crap to get things done there are icons for in MS.
The only perks are the amazing speed differences. From the time you turn your computer on to the time your browser is connected and set for surfing is probably about 20-25 seconds for me. I can’t lie about how nice that is. I use Chrome too.
Plus there are so many downloads that are not Linux compatible. If you’re not doing programming or design I’d say stick to MS, maybe Mac. If you are it’s a good learning tool and it’ll be a much better asset.
CS major UT-Dallas so I do have to figure out Linux, it’ll get better I just don’t recommend it to everyone.
Report Spam/Abuse
I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 9 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled
Linux Mint 9 Download
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52
The Perfect Desktop – Linux Mint 9 (Isadora)
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-9-isadora
Linux Mint 9 User Guide Download pdf.
http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_isadora.php
You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 9 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation
Linux Mint 9 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive
Also worth considering :
Linux Mint 9 LXDE
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=60
http://linuxmint.com/rel_isadora_lxde.php
Fedora Remix (Fedora with elements of Linux Mint)
http://fcoremix.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/lucky-13/
http://iso.linux.hr/community-fedora-remix/
http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/13/html/User_Guide/
Ubuntu 10.04
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-10.04-lucid-lynx
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Lucid
Again Linux Mint 9, Fedora Remix and Ubuntu 10.04 can be run direct from the LiveCD/DVD without touching your Hard Drive
Also you can try out as many different Linux distros. as you like on LiveCD until you find the one thats right for you DISTROWATCH.COM gives full listings (second lists the major distributions)
http://distrowatch.com/
Major Linux Distributions
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
LUg.
CS major UT-Dallas so I do have to figure out Linux, it’ll get better I just don’t recommend it to everyone.
Report Spam/Abuse
I also recommend Ubuntu for you and your older machine.
@WillD: Linux has and menus icons for everything too. A Linux user seldom needs to use any “cmd” shell commands for routine operations. I cannot imagine where you have been all these years. Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandiva, etc, are all very stable and heavily supported. And there is certainly no shortage of software packages for Linux! If anything there are too many choices.
Long-time Fedora user.
Report Spam/Abuse