Hi,
I am brand new to Linux 
My friend said he can help me alittle as I read docs. I am wondering what Linux you guys would recommend to me to start learning on. I plan on using Maya 7 and Shake on Linux mostly.
I also plan to do a dual boot Linux/Windows XP setup. Are there versions of Linux that cater more to this than others?
Thanks for helping a noob
I reccomend practicing a Linux install with Vmware Server (free) a few times on your Windows box, getting Maya and Shake installed this way, experimenting with distributions until you find one you like. That way you won't be high and dry until you're confident in the procedure to get your entire system running under Linux. 3D won't work well in a virtual machine but there are many configuration issues that can take lots of time and cause frustration to linux newbies leading up to that point.
Dual booting is a waste of time and energy when you're in the middle of work; I couldn't stand to do that. I use Vmware Player all the time in the opposite direction as a Windows umbilical for various utilities and multimedia apps I might need. It's great.
CentOS is a great free alternative for predictable installs and performance with RHEL-certified apps. However Maya installs fairly well on other distributions (Fedora, Ubuntu and Debian are more difficult to install Maya into as a newbie). Shake just runs. SUSE is another Linux to get started with fairly easily with good stability and usability.
I am running Shake and Maya on a Debian Linux, it works great with Debian Linux, but its not a beginners Linux.
Ubuntu Linux is a great UserFriendly Linux that is based on Debian.
(Kubuntu is the same with an other WindowManager)
You found it here:
http://www.ubuntulinux.org
http://www.ubuntu.com/
here a help forum: (you also find a lot of HowTo's and beginner guides on the ubuntu page below)
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/
Just download the Desktop CD (700MB), and try it (ubuntu is an non commercial linux version !!) . The CD boots a Linux from CD, and give you then the option to install it on harddisc.
Its a lot of very good help and HowTo's available on Wiki's and Forums.
RedHat or Suse also very easy to handle, Maya and Shake runs on every Linux listed here very well.
Here are some mini HowTo's about debian/ubuntu i wrote, they may help you:
http://www.neoberserker.de/phpBB2/viewforu...ecd0f2c3f279f2e
greetings
knecht