ok, i'll tell you whole thng about Linux and its versions, as you can see from my system specs, I'm using SuSE Linix Professional side by side with windows.
as far as ur questions are concerned, one cannot say that Linux is only way, but best thing I've found is, when I founf out Bundle of siftware integrated with it (massive), as when I bought my linux, I was given a box full of 2 books (User Manual and Administrator Guide) + 1 DVD (for Linux) and at the same time this all stuff on 5CD's, although all the linux needed for computer up and running was on 1st CD....what the hell is others for??? that I came to know when I jumped into installatins section, WoW, u'll find 3-4 or more softwares for 1 task. e.g, thre are 7-8 media players, u can install any or all, though they are optional, as in initial setup, it almost installs 1 software for everything.
Intenet can be run on every Linux, but specifically I'll recommend 2 versions. (with why as well).
now taking into consideration your area of residence, in USA most popular is Fedora Linux (my cousin is studying at uni and he's using fedora in USA), as I'm studying in London, therefore I have to use which is more popular here, though I could have got any version out of many to use, but I have some specific reason behind that, which I'll tell shortly. Now two recommended versions of Linux are:
1: Mandrake Linux (am not sure about latest version)
2: SuSE Linux Professional 9.1 (its their latest), also available in Personel Edition, but its not recommended.
anyway, the good thing about these two (although there are many as well) but these two are robust in features, and the nicest feature is that, unlike Red Hat, you can install them on any kind of partition, weather its FAT32, NTFS or Linux itself (red Hat only installs on Liniux Partition). now benefit of that is, you dont have to buy extra hard drive for that, you can use Linux in any of partitions of your hard drive (i'm using on FAT32, as you can share windows files into linux as well, this cannot be done on NTFS).
now I chose SuSE, as its though initially developed in germany, but later on Novell Corporation took this company, therefore i'm confident that a reliable vendor is backing it up. and the installtion is as easy as ABC (assuming you know windows installation) believe me, I neve did used Linux before, and in 30 mins time, I was using internet on Linux, (my mates on-line at the time still didnt believed me, WHO CARES).
and it has MultiMSN support as well, means you dont have to install Messangers seperately, all are integrated in one, like MSN, Yahoo, AOL, ICQ, etc etc etc.
other very very very nice feature is that, you bought Linux, you dont have to buy softwares. unlike windows, where you have to seperately buy Office for documents, worksheets, presentations, etc etc, this damn thing has every thing built in (Staroffice.org), and unbelievgly I opened Powerpoint presentation in it. I was damn surprised. (as I mentioned before, on FAT32, you can access windows files as well)
now bad things (wont remain in future), it doesnt support every new hardware, as I had isntalled it on my Asus P4C800, didnt supported fully (partial,supprt), therefore I had to install it on my secondary IBM machine (fully suported), and this Mobo that Praetor is using (A7N8X) is luckily fully supported, and I cursed the time I sold it to my cousin
. anyway. by time, new mobo's will be suported as well. but like Windows XP, it installed everything on my IBM right at startup, no need to install hardware seperately.
bad thing, as if you are new, please finalise your system once, before installationn of the Linux, as it creates problems when u install new system (difficult thing to mamahge, you have to put full CD once again, and it takes some good time to update configuration).
in simple words, its one stop solution for almost every task that you do. and else, some widows based programs, like Photoshop, mIRC, and many many, can be instaed on Linux with another software utility called WineRack. so SuSE Rocks (as well available in USA), and if you have full tiem student card, you'll get it discounted
,,, I did used my student card for the very first time Buying Linux
..
now, I must stop, or my fingers willl give up (as well am feeling hell sleepy
), should you require some screen shots of the Linux that I am using, and more information, do not hesitate to reply on this topic, I could have asked for a PM< but in this way, others can learn too.
Cheerz!