When it comes down to what flavor you want to use brotha, and your totally new at it, i say go for RED HAT just because you go the GUI, and you can explore it a little bit more easier. after you get the hang of it, the try using it without the GUI. if your a NEWBIE, and you really want a good practice at using it, just take your linux box with a NIC, throw it in the corner with out a monitor, or keyboard. Telnet in, and trying setting up DCHP, and make yourself a Counter-Strike/JK2 server. I feel the best way i learned it was making a server. i learned how to Tar/untar, and whole lotta funny things.... fustrating sometimes to newbie: yes. But it well worth it.