I've decided to jump down the rabbit hole and experiment with linux- for real this time- entirely to learn about it (I have no doubts that I will continue to use windows for everything).
Which distro do you recommend?
I already installed Arch in dual boot, I'm busy screwing around with it, can't seem to get WPA WLAN to work though.
E: Oh no hybrid graphics is gonna make this a pain in the ass isn't it.

ubuntu

what he said

+1 for Ubuntu, but it tries hard to hide a lot of Linux stuff unless you go looking for it, so you might check out some other distros. Gentoo? Redhat? idk

Don't you do this thread every 6 months?

If you're serious about learning Linux: Debian, don't bother installing X.

If you just want to fiddle around with it: Ubuntu if you know enough to disable Unity, Linux Mint if you don't.

If you want to get some exposure to experimenting and fixing configuration issues with respect to a bunch of different parts of the OS you can try doing a Gentoo install on your machine or a VM. I did one in a VM just to learn and was pretty happy with the outcome.

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-x86-quickinstall.xml

I learned a bit with Ubuntu (Server) when I set up a test web server at home for a project that I was working on (there's no GUI by default). However, Freelancer & Jon'C are correct about Ubuntu (Desktop).

Centos

Gentoo is not well-maintained anymore. I don't recommend it.

It reminds me of our helpdesk guy at work. Every couple of weeks he starts yammering about how awesome the new Linux distribution he tried out is. He never actually says what makes them awesome, he just says, "yeah I think I'm gonna stop using Windows now." Every few weeks like clockwork.

I use Linux at work, and it's all in the terminal. There's some Windows stuff, when working on our touch screen software, but the majority is done in Linux. It takes some getting used to, but it definitely makes my job easier in the long run.

I used to enjoy Linux many years ago. It gave my laptop an extra leg when Windows was stifling it. That changed a long time ago. I still prefer Linux for servers but I have no real complaints with windows now.

^

Let's dig through the archives shall we? Let's see here...

First "attempt" at Linux was on 13 June 2006. Result: Forum populace readily mocking him for his Win98, pointless thread, and what not. I ended up gassing the thread.

Next was on 31 March 2007 Result: Never found out since the thread devolved into Brian spergin about activating products and being very

Then it appears that he gave up and realized that he couldn't do this but he found gumption and decided to try again on 16 February 2010. Result: It actually showed some promise on educating the masses about the (stupid) complexities of Linux but then it devolved into Brian, once again, going on a sperg about MAH FREEDOMS :salute: and how evil Microsoft is...creating files...and...badmouthing having control characters in filenames--seriously Linux can put that in filenames?? Like a filename with 0x0D in it?? Anyway...

Let's see how the 4th incarnation will turn out! Tables are open O/U is 5 that thread will be trainwrecked.

Lol, windows 98

(just install mint or any pre-11.04 ubuntu. 10.04 works wonders for me)

I'm actually gonna agree with Jon`C for once.

Anyone that suggests Gentoo to you, and isn't kidding, is completely out of touch with reality. Gentoo is for people that like pain. Basically, it's a distro for mouth-breathing linux masochists.

There is a tangible quality to "learning Linux", one that is greatly hampered by using something like Ubuntu (that tries to shield you from that aspect of the OS). Text-mode Debian would be a much better learning environment, as you will be directly exposed to all the things that make *nix different than Windows.

First, you should take a step back and ask why you want to do this; do you intend to pursue a career in software development? Web programming? Embedded systems design? Learning *nix for the hell of it seems like an absurd waste of time.

I have a lot of time to waste.
Anyway, I installed Arch but it had problems with the dual graphics setup on my laptop, hoping this isn't a problem with mint.

I have a dual boot with Ubuntu. I booted into it for a few weeks....fussed around...and realized there was nothing I need to do that I couldn't do in Windows. I've never used it since and I'll probably uninstall it. Why do people use it?

I used to carry a Knoppix live disc, which was unbeatable for rescuing data from my windows machines if they had boot problems. Disc in, boot to Knoppix, unload vital data, then do a clean format and reinstall windows.

I haven't ran Linux natively on anything since probably 2004 or 2005. Rare is it that I ever need to do something in Linux, and when that is, I just fire up a VM cause it's about a thousand times less of a pain to deal with that way.

I unexpectedly found myself in possession of a laptop with no OS to install on it. Ubuntu made it into a decent alternative to my desktop and it didn't cost anything. I'm also kind of fond of the ways you can install software on it.

Floppix
http://floppix.ccai.com/

I'm dual booting xp and osx86, like a boss