I've been dependant on Micro***** Windows since I can remember, I've used Redhat in the past quite a bit, I liked it, and I sincerely dislike Micro****.

I've decided to give Micro**** the boot (currently running the ever so restrictive XP) on the workstation I'm using.

I was looking for the Linux bible in the Trafford Centre (Manchester, UK) when I came accross the Redhat 9 Bible, which I purchased, and to my surprise it had the Redhat 9 installation disk.

What I want from Linux is freedom, power over what my computer does for me and complete control. I know that Redhat is one of the more restrictive Linux distributions, plus I realise that the company behind it are dropping Redhat in favour of profitable projects.

I want Gentoo (its been reccomended to me by a lot of people) - and I don't know where to aquire a DVD (or CD but I prefer everything stuck on one disk)

The thing is, I currently only have a 128k ISDN connection, and that's at 2-6p a minute, and a 64k connection normally. I'm getting 1024/1024 SDSL on January the 21st, when xDSL comes to my area. However, to do a Linux project for college in the mean time, that was the only reason I bought this laptop.

Voodoo Envy m:855

Athlon 64 3200+
2048 PC2700 SODIMMs (Corsaire or Kingston ... they don't say)
ATi 9600Pro Mobility (64)
I don't even know the mobo name ... I'm pretty sure it's Asus or Abit though, as it's Voodoos generic board
80 Travelstar HD
DVD Writer (no idea on the manufacturer)
Voodoo Envy G Wireless (no idea on the card brand - can it be that Voodoo manufacture their own cards?)
Logitech MX-500

They don't say what the V92 modem model is either
I need also need an xDSL modem (do you guys know the best Linux compatible one out there??)

I'm going to buy a Wireless G router, but I'm not sure on which to buy.

Stupid prebuilt manufacturers

The thing is, I need Linux drivers, and assurance that this hardware will work with Linux. I've been told that ATis Radeon Mobility drivers have been released recently, which causes me concern as to whether they are buggy or not.

I also am a rather keen gamer (UT2k3 especially - I'm aware that this particular game comes with a Linux installer), I'm wondering where to get WineX, will it be reliable etc.

I'm also aware that Linux takes advantage of 64 bit processors. How will its performance be boosted by a 64 bit word?

I've decided on using Winamp for a media player, the Mozilla suite as my internet suite, need an instant messanger, a productivity suite (currently Micro**** Office XP for Students & Teachers), anti virus (Panda Platinum), development suite (I currently use Micro****s .net 2003 suite) web development suite (I currently use a win32 Macromedia suite MX 2003), spyware prevention software (Spybot S&D, Javacool, Ad-aware Pro)

Well any advise on any of the above, including where do obtain Gentoo, would be greatly appreciated.