Don't apologize Stew - getting new folks off the ground is one of the reasons 
PLUG is around.  I'm sure by now you've read articles in usenet, on the web, 
etc regarding the different distributions and individual preferences.  That's 
the great thing about linux - it's a kernel, and it can be packaged just 
about any way you want.  
My advice?  Try every distro you can get your hands on (and if you come to 
the meeting, I bet you'll go home with an armful).  Try RedHat, Mandrake, 
Slackware, Debian, etc... and after your piles of distro cd's are gone... 
download more!  
Have a cdburner?  Check out http://www.linuxiso.org.  When you find one that 
tickles your fancy and you feel comfortable working on -- use it.  Heck, 
double or triple boot several distros on one box if you wish.
As for help, you can always ask here, or on usenet, or various help boards 
(www.linuxnewbie.org, www.linuxchimp.com... search through 
http://www.google.com/linux for more).  
Unlike some commercial OS's, there is literally NO END to what you can do or 
learn with linux.  Heck, after you master linux on intel hardware... try 
another hardware platform.  Sparc linux, Yellow Dog.... oh man the geek 
factor is just yummy.

Your journey is just beginning, grasshopper.

Gary


> I was reading through the December archives and read the one about the
> Newbie article on Linux.com.  I realized that you all must get pounded with
> the same question I am guilty of asking earlier.  My apologies.  I realize
> after reading that article that there are a bazillion answers depending on
> my computer needs.  I only use my computer at home to play games and surf
> the web.  I wanted to learn Linux for the sole purpose of staying away from
> Microsoft and the "phone Home" OS it likes to put out.  I figure that
> eventually Linux will become the standard, as Microsoft seems to be getting
> greedy, and arrogant.  Please accept my apologies for the "ROOKIE" question.
> 
> P.S.  I would still appreciate an answer if any of you wouldn't mind.  I
> just don't know enough, but do know enough to be dangerous to myself!.
> Thanks for any input you might offer.  Hope to learn from you all at the
> January meetings.
> 
> Stew
> 
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gary Nichols     gary@linuxforce.org