Linux Uber Noob

[peekaboo]

Could you guys give a total linux noob some starting pointers?
i have a computer that i like to test new stuff on (it's old and slow).
I'd like to see what this whole linux business is all about but have never done anything with linux before and i find that the sticky links are a little advanced. i need the pre-installation info, before the coding business (which at this point is scaring me away).
the basic what do i need and what do i do?

[rspassey]

First you have to pick a distro which you want to use. Ubuntu would be a wise choice was it is relatively easy to install and user friendly. Perhaps testing different dsitros on live CDs would be the wisest choice untill you find one you like and want to learn more about.

[peekaboo]

sorry, before that:
is it not like windows, just a competitor?
different distributions?
live cd?

[rspassey]

Okay, different distributions are basically different versions of Linux, You can get some like Ubuntu which are user friendly, and some like SmoothWall which are meant olny for a Firewall, and some made for servers, and some made for accounting or whatever, and some made for editing. Differnent distros for differnt needs and people. Live CDs are like trial versions, you just pop in the CD, and boot up and you get to try it out without installing it on your harddrive.
Linux really isn't competition to Windows on account of it is FREE, but there are some distros with a GUI similar to windows and ones completely different.