trying all the distros one by one

new to linux, love puppy 4.0 , which was my intro to linux.  So basically what I am doing now is trying every version I can get my hands on.  Sadly, linux is still complex depending on what you are looking to do.  I started with ubuntu, seems real nice.  Never could get my wireless card to work.  Figured way around that was to just buy a wireless card that works out of the box.  But it seems all the things I want to do require some complex install and what not.
  So I found Mandriva, the easiest of the bunch.  Ahh, still far more complex that ubuntu.  So I will keep trying and asking and watching youtube videos.  So I ask you what is a average middle aged guy to do?  Maybe in a few years linux will be easier than windows?   Maybe there is some linux summer camp I can go to?
  It is a matter of microsoft being a bully, violating the laws of our founding fathers, and feeding the masses trash,that I wish to learn linux.  Any suggestions?

Linux Mint, PCLinux 2009, Fedora.
I have used all sorts of distros for about 5 years, they all have things that will not work and require CMD line intervention, but they are getting there.
It will never be as simple as Windows because it is a lot more secure.
I find the forums for all the different distros are very good and you do not get the answer RTFM so much now.
So just keep trying them, learn and have fun.

i run windows vista
and DSL (*censored* small linux)
in ms virtual pc
its the easiest
and not security overkill but still plenty secure

....   Maybe there is some linux summer camp I can go to?

  ... Any suggestions?

Be sure to include   www.linuxquestions.org    on your list of places - like this forum here -   to visit daily.

There is lots of info there.     And the forum is very active.   You can learn a lot, even if you don't register and join... just by lurking around the forum there, and reading posts.

whats vista have to do with it?  Try knoppix,red hat,slax's, I never did get slaxs too work but the others are good. 

I certainly would not recommend Slackware to somebody who is just starting out in Linux.

I wouldnt ether but its linux

It is a matter of microsoft being a bully, violating the laws of our founding fathers, and feeding the masses trash,that I wish to learn linux.

So, how has Microsoft violated the Constitution?

The problem with Linux is that until it adopts standards, uniformity across distributions will be problematic.

unless you boot only the kernal and a shell
and run consol apps

I certainly would not recommend Slackware to somebody who is just starting out in Linux.

ZipSlack was my first taste of Linux and it got me hooked. I run OpenSuSe 11 on 2 of my boxes these days.

unless you boot only the kernal and a shell
and run consol apps

Like the average computer user is going to do that...   

atleast it works for CGA EGA and Hercules
and its very compatable too
i still am yet to compile the kernal

Red Hat is a good starting point, it really got me going on it.  I havent messed with it lately but I still have it.

2 words: NimbleX and Slax.

They're so great and so small that you can try them on Live CD/USB without installing to HDD (altough I prefer HDD install and dual boot).

And they're so awesome that you can download your own customized version using only those modules (or programs) you like.

Get them here:

NimbleX
http://www.nimblex.net/index.php
http://custom.nimblex.net/

Slax
http://www.slax.org/
http://www.slax.org/build.php

If you try them let me know what you think.

Most Popular Linux Distributions of 2009:
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/21108.aspx