I recommend you install Linux Mint 9, which is Ubuntu 10.4 (the latest) with all the hard work done for you including the required "codecs" to allow you to play virtually all multimedia, etc. It is a fully functional operating system with all the basic applications included. It also has a very sophisticated and comprehensive software management utility to allow you to add your preferred applications from a huge library.
Linux Mint is highly recommended and very nice to use.
It's the 3rd most popular Linux at present according to www.distrowatch.com, which lists the full range of Linux "distributions" or "distros" as they are commonly known.
