Return Linux User been out for a while need some advice

I started using linux about 4-5 yrs ago and I was being taught by a good friend, problem is that after about 8 months after he got to teaching me he moved away and I have been linuxless ever since. The DIstro I started with was slackware 6 I believe. I absolutely loved it. there were some amazing things Slack would do. soon after he left i had some hardware issues and had to rebuild losing the perfect os build we had accomplished. I have tried to duplicate the setup but I have failed miserably so I kind of fell off the linux map. I am now with newfound time and determination to learn linux once again. I would like some help in chosing the distro that would suit my needs best. I would like to begin to learn programing such as python, then C++, java, HTML etc... I do alot of video format chaging such as dvd to xvid and reverse some I transfer from tapes and camcorders and convert to dvd. I am use to windows but from what I remember slack was so much better at stability but I am afraid that without a mentor present I would hit more walls that I can cross. Is slackware the best for what I want? Should I just beat slackware into my head until I learn it or is there an easier distro to learn and still have the functionality and stability and security that slackware offers. Don't get me wrong I would stay with slack if i is the best for my needs. I would be using a dual core cpu on an asus a8n32 sli deluxe board with 7800 gt vid cards in sli if this matters. any advice is greatly appreciated. thank you for your time.

Silverdrgn, Ubuntu (and its variations) is imho the easiest distribution I've ever tried. So I'd surely recommend it =) If you dealt well with Slack, you'll find Ubuntu a piece of cake. The only thing is I don't know how developer-friendly can ubuntu be, since you're wanting to learn C++ and etc, but I don't think it'll be a problem at all =)

I agree with all the above, and Ubuntu/Kubuntu (I prefer the latter) definitely make it easy to set up multimedia items. I also use Fedora a lot though, and they do have a good array of multimedia tools available. I also find Fedora to be more cutting edge when it comes to updating programming tools and libraries. Both systems are very easy to install, but the Ubuntu software repositories are larger. So whichever one. Heck, try them both.

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Since you haven't totally decided yet I would recommend ARK Linux. It is a Slack distro. Nice Install and all Slack forums work with it. Other than that if you are determined to use Ubuntu try Mint or PCOS. Both are nice to the eyes and Ubuntu forums work on them as well. My personal favorite is Simply Mepis. Totally easy and Debian repositories and Ubuntu work. Good hunting. -tux-