You shouldn't change the font size in your post.

Hi meghal...
Of course there are differences between Redhat(and other rpm distributions ) and Ubuntu (and other Debian distributions ).
But you can start with any one of them ...!
It's good to use a distribution that has a big support , but i think you can get help about any distribution over forums ...
welcome to linux and good luck.

Yes, as Zen alsory said, just get on the machine whichever one looks coolest to you. The rest is just packages. Try some live CDs. Do you know how to set your BIOS to boot from CD?

A good suggestion would be ubuntu, you can even install it from windows without altering your MBR.

Meghal,

I suppose that the hardest thing would be to manage hardware that is unrecognized initially by linux, and with installations of the software which is not provided by linux itself (the most common needed apps are on the repositories, and U can install them automatically over software manager within any linux distribution; it is hard in the beginning for windows users to catch the way linux apps are working - but once U learn, U will love it).
To avoid headache, U should install for start the distro which is not so hard for beginners - i recommend Kubuntu, for it is a bit closer to windows users, and it should recognize your hardware. I wouldn't suggest installation within windows (virtual machine), unless U just want so see linux interface. The best performance U will get if U do a clean install on another partition, making a dual boot. For installation details and making a dual boot, if U can't manage around on forums, U continue asking on this tread, and we'll help U step-by-step.

Be aware of the things which have appeared recently about the new AMD announcement on putting a number of ATI Gcards under legacy (they won't support some of the series in advance; latest ubuntu and kubuntu 9.04 have newer kernel, which means it's not easily possible to install proper drivers on them, for some ATI cards - google for that issue if U have ati card).

When U get used to Kubuntu or Ubuntu, than it will be easy to switch to any other distro which U would prefer the most (there isn't better or worse linux - it's all linux in the base; there is only a matter of preference - I used ubuntu for 3 years, and casually Fedora and Debian, but now I am satisfied with Suse for my professional work)

Good luck, and don't forget to first search the forums, for your next question is already solved somewhere probably.

This is the list (sort of) that I give people (that can have me fired) in person that want to do a laptop install, newbie or not.

1. If not sure, don't install.

2. If sure, get a fresh hard drive for the machine and use it. Stay completely away from dual boot. The machine I'm using is dual boot, but that is very silly of me, and will occasionally cause me grief.

3. Even if you use a new fresh hard drive and leave your other existing installation completely alone, make _two_ complete full real functional backups of your existing system prior to anything else.

4. Realize that there are still about a hundred unrelated things that can each cause an unrecoverable disaster to happen in you and your computer's life as a result.

5. Either install linux, possibly needing a shrink before or after.

6. Have a lot of fun with it all. I do.

the fact is at some point in time XP will tack a dirt nap or get so messed up it needs to be reinstalled
so at some point you will have to start using linux anyway
welcome aboard !
sooner or later you would have been here any way
any problems just ask and help will be coming