good deal for multiple distributions (Score 1)

Here is my 2 cp,

Try Redhat 7.1 and/or Mandrake 8.0 out first. Make sure to create a /home partition during install if you just have one machine to use linux on. This will allow you to keep any work / files you have generated when you go to install a different distribution.

Head over to the HOWTO Index and peruse through any HOWTO's that interest you.

Open a terminal, and type 'man man' :)

After your comfortable using linux, or on a separate "test" machine try installing Debian 2.2 r3 and/or Slackware 8.0. You will now have some experience using linux and this will give you a chance to check out the more "advanced" distributions.

Ok, to know what is really going on try out linux from scratch

Seems like there are a million "how to setup linux" guides out there now, but I found this site here, TrinityOS to be very helpful years ago, and it still is.

Oh yeah, here is a great deal from Cheapbytes where I bought my first linux cd.

• MONDO Pack Edition 28 for $17.95.
• includes all 5 Redhat 7.1 cds, Mandrake 8, Slackware 8, and StormLinux 2000.
• Debian 2.2r3 3 CD set for $9.

good luck.