Heya all,
I am primarily a windows user (going for my mcse server 2003 for marketability) and I am an Infosec Student so I WILL have to know linux by the time i graduate (still have a couple years). Anyway I am really interested in learning Linux and I plan on studying for and taking the Linux+ cert exam in the near future, but i would like to just get pretty proficient with a raw, core linux distro before that. I currently have FD3 installed on a pc and I must say that i like it alot, but i am pretty limited (being a new user) on knowing how to implement/use/do some tasks, some as basic and simple as downloading and installing a program for FD3, And other console related tasks, i dont know enough about mounting drives, etc. About a month ago i purchaced Red Hat Linux 9 For dummies and it has sat on a shelf untouched as of yet, well the other day I got to play around on a linspire box and was surprised at the ease of this new linux environment. My question is aimed for your seasoned opinions. Will Linspire Help me "get my feet" wet with linux as a whole; provide a foundation on which the knowlege I learn can be applied to other distro's (in particular FD3) or would you suggest another linux distro and documentation where i can learn the basics for being semi-productive in the world of desktop linux?

Thanks

Honestly, I think that Linspire is probably the easiest system to use for anyone new. Period. If you want to learn the mechanics, though, you may want to continue to explore Red Hat.

I have used several distributions intensely in a business and personal environment.
After a few years of toiling with Red Hat, I discovered Debian through Linspire.
Debian is excellent, but Linspire is like a polished version of Debian. You can
use either in a business or personal environment. Learn to use VI as it will
be your best friend.