new to linux, where to begin

[Chris Westbrook]

I am a computer science student home for the summer and thought maybe I'd 
get into linux.  I currently have a laptop running windows xp pro.  is it 
possible to run two operating systems on the same machine or should I try 
to get an old machine somewhere.  also, I really don't know much about 
linux at all.  What distribution should I get.  I currently have a braille 
note, and I've heard of brltty, but can I have speech as well?  Any help 
would be appreciated.


Chris Westbrook
msn or email: westbc at clw19.com
aol screen name: westbrookc19