want new laptop linux recommend?

Depends on the user. Some will get the hang of it fast, some will struggle with it until they reinstall windows. If you don't know your way around a computer i wouldn't suggest it. But you can go and check linux out without installing it on your current computer.

Ubuntu is a very popular linux distribution, download, burn to a CD and you can try it without commitment.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

The way not learn about linux and be able to use it, and become very frustrated with linux is to assume it is just like windows and I can do things in linux the same way I did them in windows.

Linux is not windows just because it kind of looks like windows.

I would suggest you read whatever manuals and instructions for using the laptop the vendor gives you. When you find out what version (which distro) is installed you should go the the website of that distro and start reading the FAQs, documentation for beginners, getting to know linux, etc. Also go to the forum for that distro and search/ask for info or ask questions. You will find a lot of helpful people.

Chances are less than 10% that if you dive into linux without understanding that it is different from windows you will be very frustrated.

Good luck

It depends on what you want to use the machine for. If you're looking for something to browse the web, play a few games, read mail, and listen to music, Linux is a fine choice. If you want to plug in external devices, you may have a few issues with drivers, but nothing overly painful. Linux will let you get as technical as you need. You'll find that most Linux distributions offer Gnome or KDE (or both), and if you're familiar with Windows or OS X, you'll have no trouble figuring out how to navigate.

Worst case: if you find Linux unbearable, you can always buy a copy of XP and install it...

yes very easy especially if you use it for normal activities. ie not for programming which is what I am learning

If your laptop has decent graphics card you will love the compiz feature.

What you will have is far more power over your computer than ever before. I can't comment too much without knowing 'flavor' of Linux it is as there are hundreds.

There are several areas where you may struggle but you should be fine so long as you don't expect to play hi-end games. You should check out the compatibility lists at wine and cedega for which games will work via their software.

Feel free to ask any questions and welcome to Linux computing.

yes it can. Many linux OS are easy enough to understand, although where program are located and what program you use may be different.

Also windows programs will not run in linux unless you use WINE program or an emulator program.

Often linux programs use firefox as a web browser and openoffice programs which is similar to using microsoft word, powerpoint, and execl.

Personally I use ubuntu linux OS, which dell netbooks can offer. On ubuntu the program list is on the top left-hand corner instead of the bottom left-hand concur in windows. Although I never tried their netbook remix of ubuntu so I may be wrong.

But in other Linux OS they may be at the bottom left-hand corner or somewhere else.

I would say not really...especially if you want to download/install something, you pretty much have to do it yourself by going through directories. There is no wizard to follow. Also, the programs you are looking for are not always available for Linux; since it's not a very popular operating system, not much is made for it. If you're not very computer savvy, I would stick with good old Windows (NOT Vista) or Mac OS, depending on your preferences, for user-friendliness.