Version of Linux I should get...

    I'm a CS major and I just realized something tragic: I know nothing about Linux. So, I've decided that during this summer, I shall reformat my hard drive and install a dual-boot of Linux and Windows XP (emoticon edition. Not to be confused with Windows XD). Anyhow, I need to decide what to install. I know some people who have had good luck with Debian, and I know a guy who has gotten insane errors with Gentoo that he claims nobody on the Gentoo message boards had ever seen before. However, Gentoo looks all pretty and shiny, but I'm pretty sure that I've read that Debian has a stable version out.

    Anyhow, keeping all this in mind, I want to know what sort of Linux you of the 4chan programming board would advise me to get. I imagine that this thread will probably dissolve into a flame war about ephemeral characteristics about each version that make it "better" such as "Only noobs use Gentoo!" or "Redhat sucks!" or perhaps "Real men use Debian!" But! In the moment between the first posting of this and the eruption of a flame war, I imagine that information might be able to be gleaned upon the subject by me. So, thanks ahead of time.

>>10
Hi, I'm having problems booting Ubantu.
I loaded Ubantu and had Grub installed to the MBR (I would have preferred it in the Linux partition but was not given a choice). After installation the machine booted OK and I was able to access Win98. On the next boot and everytime afterwards I got a error 17. Particularly frustrating as I couldn't access the net from the live Ubanto disk. Not being able to resolve the error 17 problem I reinstalled Windows and Boot Magic.
As predicted the Linux option on Boot Magic failed to load Ubantu so I have just followed instuctions and loaded Grub to (hd0,5). I presume this is the correct partition as Ubantu is on hda6. Installation went OK as per messages. Boot Magic on the MBR should then open Grub and hence Ubantu, according to posted messages.
Unfortunately Ubanto still doesn't boot from Boot Magic. So have I put Grub in the wrong place or is the error 17 still the problem? I notice that Boot Magic lists Linux as Primary Partition 4, Partition Magic has it as the 6th listed (logical) partition, and the partition table in Ubantu has Linux as ext3 hda6 while hda4 is an almost empty ext2 Linux partition.
I've installed Grub on to a floppy. This also gives an error 17 when Linux is selected.
Any ideas? This is my first attempt at Linux so please don't assume I have prior knowledge.
Thanks