Yah, linux is frustrating to learn at first. There's so much you can do with it and its infinitely customizable. Knoppix is a great distribution to get started with. No commitment, excellent foundation (Debian, apt-get), friendly community. Sure you've got to install libdvdcss and break US copyright laws yourself if you choose to, and setup a few things initially so you have permission to do what you want. It's worth it in the long run.