Which Linux
To start, I would suggest Ubuntu or Mint. You can try them in a Live version and boot from a DVD or a USB stick (8 gig or larger). You can see which looks better for you. These are very complete general purpose distributions. You can check Distrowatch for different distros if you want a more focused one for your particular uses. I prefer Arch Linux, but it's a learning experience to install it. Ubuntu and Mint are an easy start.