I have and Inspiron 2650 that I wish to install linux on. I was planning on using Red Hat 9 3 CD Download. Would this be a wise choice? I have had problems with redhat in the past. where alot of the default standard linux command line utilities were not there but it sound like the first user had much success though. A couple questions that I have not seen covered though if I may:

1: Does the battery utilities operate correctly? can I have it so that when I close the lid it will hibernate? Does linux even support Hibernation?

2: Is there a distribution that will just get it all correct "battery, modem, Nvidia drivers, nic, and all that kinda stuff on install? if so what?

3: Has anyone tried Lindows or Xandros on one of these yet?

"I have had problems with redhat in the past. where alot of the default standard linux command line utilities were not there"

They are there you just have to put /sbin in fron tof the commands

well I just installed the new redhat 9 and almost all is well...
the only things that are not working are:
1: modem it appears as a conexant MD56ORD V.92 modem in linux how ever I am unable to query the modem in Kppp
2: Battery. This I expected. I think this is the same problem everyone is having.though the modem thing has me puzzled