What version of Linux should I start with?
You can start with Red Hat or SUSE Linux, which will be easier to understand.
Ubuntu, "Linux For Human Beings". Among the easiest to install and maintain. Security updates work great. Every six months there is a new version: upgrade has been always a breeze. It's free. It's debian: a huge collection of well maintained software that is very easy to (un)install -- no dependencies hell.
www.ubuntu.com
suse 9.2
enjoy linux and free software