Hello everybody.
I thought that I should switch to Linux as many of my friends are already using it and find it to be better than windows.
I have got RHEL version 4 and I want to know if it is good to start Linux using it.
I'm a newbie and Looking forward to completely switch to Linux from windows.

I have not tried RHEL, but RHEL 4 was realeased at the start of 2005...
maybe you should look at Fedora http://fedora.redhat.com/ for a newer package.(especially if you have newer hardware)

Also, if you're like me, you may find you want to try a few distros before settling on one. Have a look here for a summary of the Major distros http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major

EDIT: some distros also have live CD's which will let you run them straight of the CD with no installation. These are great for chacking that all your hardware works before installing to harddisk.

Everyone's needs and preferences are different, but since you asked for opinions, my vote would be for Kubuntu, used with automatrix. You should end up with the most complete desktop/multi-media device with the least amount of hassle. Kubuntu/Ubuntu configures the widest range of hardware(x86 based anyway) with the least amount of hassle. Things just work. Automatrix gets you all the patented media codecs you need to play dvd's or rip mp3's, things like that, without bending over backwards to track down every weird little package. The people on the help forums have all been friendly so far, more so than some other distro's.

Best of luck....and have fun...

David

Welcome!

G-day form Australia.

Started with Caldera on an old 486DX4\100.
FreeBSD on a Pentium 75, yes, they made them that slow in the dark ages, before the onset of grey hair.
Slackware.
Xandros.
Linspire.
Ubuntu.
Red Hat.
And a whole lot more, all with some short comings.
Found my nirvanna in Mandrake, currently running Mandriva 2006 on an AMD Athlon 1.6 Gb MSI m\b with only 256 Mb memory 4x raided 40Gb ide disks.
In other words, have fun. And you will, the people you will meet over the net in you quest to meet your needs are great folk, and almost seem to skittle each other to help a newbie like us.
Regards shorty943.

Advice from aussie father to son.
work hard and be good to your mother.