Need help getting started.
 

I'm trying to get started with linux and need advice. I was thinking about purchasing a inexpensive refurbished laptop
with about 2/4 gb ram, a dual core processor, ect for a starter/training linux computer. Ubuntu was suggested as a good distro for a beginner.
What do you all think? Would this be a good way to start?
Thanks, h-mann

Make sure that the hardware/drivers are compatible/available. In my limited experience - 48 hours - half measures just left me limping with that other OS available as a crutch.

Just download and install VMWare player, its free and you can run multiple Distros and try them all out.

I have VMWare Workstation running on my home machine and remote in with dynamic DNS to them. They provide a bunch of different services and to the outside world function just the same as a physical machine. Save your money and just use VMWare Player, the only reason I have Workstation was to create an internal DNS network for the VMs.

Doug has a good point, you can check hw comptability at http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/ if you really want to build a separate system.