Where the F**K do I begin?

I have never even had any interest in Linux, but since I just got a
new computer I have my old Pentium III 700mhz. I also have a spare 15
gig harddrive to install it on, and by swapping hard drives, I can put
back my regular drive. Anyhow, I went to linux.com to download it.
That's where I about *** my pants. First of all, there are 20 or 30
different versions. So which one do I use? I thought Linux was
Linux. Then I see that to download I need bit-torrent or emule.
Well, that's not going to happen because no computer of mine will ever
connect to either of those virus ridden things. I finally find one
that has a link that directs me to a FTP site. I decide to just
download it and see what happens. That's until I discover there are
many files. Some are smallish .ZIP files, and I highly doubt they are
the OS. There are numerous text files, and finally a 700 meg file
with an .iso extension. I assume from the size that the .ISO is the
actual OS, but what the f**k is a .ISO file? Just for grins I clicked
on that ISO file, and was told that the download would take about 4
and a half days on my dialup connection.

Well, all I really wanted to do was see what Linux looked like on my
screen. I really had no intention to actually use it. I dont love
Microsoft or even like them, but at least my Win XP on one computer
and Win98 on the other both work and make sense to install. (I still
prefer Win98 over XP, not that this matters to Linux). I heard Linux
was complicated and was really only for the ultimate class of computer
geeks, which I am not. However, I do have 18 years of computer use
under my belt, so I thought I could at least install the friggin thing
and take a look at it. But hey, if it takes a geek diploma just to
download the damn thing, I think I'll pass.

Maybe someone can post a few .jpg pictures of their linux screens,
because I think that is the closest I will ever get to it, and at
least I can see what it looks like without hours of torture. I'm not
posting this to bash Linux, just stating the truth. I don't know much
about it, but from what I saw on their site, if Linux ever wants to
gain popularity they will need to get ONE version, not 20 or 30, and
upgrade that one version the same way that MS does every few years
with patches in between. They also need to make their website so that
anyone can make sense of the site itself.

OK, I know someone is going to tell me to buy it on CD. Well, if the
price was the cost of a blank CD, plus actual shipping I might
consider it. but I would not pay more just to "look at it", and likely
never use it again, "IF' and "ONLY IF" I could even install the damn
thing. Like what the hell does one do with a .ISO file anyhow?

Go ahead, post photos..... That's all I need.....

Greg
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