>Thanks for the advice, John.


I'd agree with Steve about python - very easy and powerful and if you are thinking about web-programming with it, I'd use Quixote (a framework for use with python, etc.). There are some good GUI's for python:

Pycrust, drPython, etc....well, some of them are good, anyway!

As far as experience goes, get an old PC and install Linux on it (I'd recommend Mandrake as it installs very easily) and play with the tools available.