Hi I am new in using Linux, for the beginning I tried to fix Red hat 9 all is going OK with out sound.
After that I tried the simple distributions College Linux - Surprise all is going OK.With only few remarks: for installations this version use text mode you need to have acknowledge about files system, and partition and same others.
Also I tried Slakeware.The College Linux use same kernel with Slakeware and you will find the same text mode for installations, system files and more others but is running OK. Network, display and sound.
And now I installed the more complete version Mandrake 9.1 .This distribution is running also with same configurations for sound card and acpi services.
So this is my experience with Linux distributions and my Laptop toshiba 1800-204
For network I used the PCMCIA card Realtek RTL 8139/810 family.
So I wish you success and for all others problems pls email me.

I have a Toshiba 1800 also.

I've found that the following distributions install well on the notebook:

RedHat Linux 8, 9; Fedora Core 1; Mandrake 9.1, 9.2; Gentoo 1.4; ClusterKnoppix.

The only problem that is constant between all distros is that the Winmodem dosen't work. That's okay for me, I use an ethernet connection everywhere I go and at home.

I've found a simple UART-based PCMCIA modem works well in all distros also.