Ok, for a couple of years now, Windows popularity has been rising in efforts to make Bill Gates even RICHER than he already is [the richest guy known]. Well windows IS a good OS, if you want to have a computer for fun. *BUT* if you want to become a programmer [NOT an easy thing, well, depends on how quick you learn], then you should get a type of UNIX computer. The computers might be expensive, but if you have an OS already with at least 15 gigs of disk space available, you can easily get yourself a linux computer. Linux is a type of unix.
First Step (1) is to get yourself the two RedHat ISO images [you can get that at Linux's FTP site]...
Second Step (2) is to find a partitioning program....preferebally PartitionMagic. that can be found at PowerQuest.
Third Step (3) is to burn the iso images to a cd. You NEED a CD Burner. When you have all of that settled, goto HotBot or Yahoo! or Freshmeat and get a program called 'CD Record'[not RecordNow! or any of that crap].
Last Step (4) is to Install it. Do this by rebooting with the first of the two iso images you burned. Than at boot, press F8 repeatedly. The rest is in your hands :-) [NOTE: you can find a detailed installation guide here]
