Ok, I just bought this laptop and have been kinda intrigued by linux for several years now. I would like to learn more about linux and become proficient. Below are the basic specs on my comp:

CPU: AMD Turion 64 x2 TL-56 1.8GHz
OS: Windows XP Media Center
RAM: 2GB
Hard Drive: 120GB
NIC: wireless 802.11 b/g

Basically, I have no experience with linux. So, I'm looking for a version that goes easy on the newbie, but still allows me to mess around and learn things. I would like to set up a dual-boot system, since I am familiar with Windows only, until I understand linux better. Perhaps a tutorial somewhere that will hold my hand through everything would be nice. Hopefully the linux will still detect my network connection as well when I plug in my cat5 cable.

Thanks,
hammy

A good way to try out Linux without risking your current configuration is to download a live cd version and try that out. You will get a feel for how linux works and an indication of how your hardware works, or doesn't work, with it. Many are now offering the ability to install the system directly from the booted live cd. You should not have much trouble getting it configured for dual boot. Most good distributions automatically configure your computer for that when they detect Windows. But even if they don't, the procedure is easy to do manually.

http://distrowatch.com/ is an excellent place to find out about different distributions. If burning an iso image intimidates you, have a look at http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/LQ_ISO. There are several excellent suggestions for how to proceed there.

Excellent advice from Penguiniator.

Just about every flavour of linux should detect and configure your 'wired' internet connection just fine.

Your laptop probably has broadcom 'wireless' and this would require other considerations including ndswrapper and windows drivers.

But will any version or distribution of linux work with the AMD Turion 64 architecture? Also, do you know of somewhere I could get maybe a guide or walkthrough of linux and its abilities, kinda like a linux for dummies?

Thanks,
Hammy

I have had some amount of problem getting my linux setup on the AMD Turion x2 processor which you have indicated is in your HP. While there is some debate about exactly what is the cause, I'd not recommend installing it yet, especially if you are unfamiliar with linux, at the moment. When the dust settles, and there are kernel level fixes that support the AMD Turion x2 chip set, that may be the time to being your familiarization.

You could see if some of the CD based setups will work, since that would not require you to reconfigure your hard drive.

The problem HP's that I found in the last couple of days of looking into this, are nv6000, nv3000 series, or in my case, the Compaq v6133CL.

The problem is some of the HPs and Compaqs are based on the Intel dual core, some are based on the AMD. I have only seen my problem discussed when the laptop is based on the AMD dual core CPU.

The immediate workaround seems to be disable the routing of interrupts to the dual cores, but even then there are still problems.

I just got an HP dv6105us

AMD Turion mk36
Nvidia GeForce Go 6150
80G SATA
512 DDR2

Installed FC6 on it ( works ok). Ubuntu would not install on my second partition for dual boot. I may try Sabayon or Arch on the 2nd partition.

One solution to laptop hardware issues: vmserver. It's free, although only as in beer, & let's "Winders" do something it's good at: function as a set of bloated hardware drivers for Linux .

I have a V6133CL and have not had any issues with Linux. I currently run Mepis 6.0 and it booted the first time. The wireless is not detected and installing the newer Nvidia drivers will be more difficult to fix. But I'd reccomend Mepis since it's a very easy and smooth install that gives you a working system that you can use while you learn. If you really want to learn Linux, install Gentoo or Slackware, they are intimidating at first, but you will come out far ahead of the casual dual boot users. BTW, why dual boot? I used the same excuse long ago and realized that I never used the Linux partition. SO I installed Mepis and realized that I could USE my pc instead of FIXING my pc as is the case with Windows. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!