They are all LInux, so the real question is which is a little easier for newbies to pick up. This is where Mandrake takes the center stage. Mandrake seems to be designed just for newbies to help soften the withdrawl from the `Windows Addiction'.

Just install Mandrake and then go buy Linux in a Nutshell by O'reilly and learn the command line. Once you know the command line and the other basics it really doesn't matter which Distro you use, you will find they really are all the same.