getting started with linux

[Daniel Dalton]

Hi,
I am learning to program in c and I am looking to buy a machine to run 
linux.
So I just have some questions.
1. I will just be doing the following:
using a text editor,
using gcc,
using the web and email a little bit,
Using the rockbox compilers I will install
and I will also be copying files to and from USB  drives.

So my question is what sort of machine will I need? Would one with 633 
mhz cpu 128 mb of ram and a 10 gb hard drive work. I am just getting 
into this so I don't need the best results but would that run speak up 
and linux fine?
2. Does speak up give me access to everything in linux including the 
command line interface?
3. What is a good text editor for programming on linux? I need one that 
does the indentation as well as saves with unix style line endings.
4. Will I have access to gcc?
5. Does anyone know of a basic linux guide?
6. How hard is speak up to install?

If someone could help me out with these questions I would greatly 
appreciate it.

--
Daniel Dalton