Have been using Linux for only 3 weeks now (in my entire life). Installed on my Dell Inspiron 8600 (awesome features but expensive ):
-Knoppix v.3.3
-ACPI from Kano's web site (http://kano.mipoohinet/kernel)
-Ethernet driver from Broadcom's website (specific to I8600)
-apt-get update
-apt-get dist-upgrade
-To use the 1600x1050 resolution, XFree86 from http://www.xfree86.org/~alanh/drivers/x86/XFree86 and nv_drv.o from the same site (http://www.xfree86.org/~alanh/drivers/x86/nv_drv.o) and editing /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (specific to I8600)
-ifc (Intel Fortran95 compiler) from Intel's site, for free.

All this with only a little pain. If you have older hardware or you are installing on a desktop, you will have no pain at all!

Now I love this computer even more!

FCC