Let's see here,  I'm going to geek this thread up.
If you want a popular, simple distro, get Linux and install Docky in software center.
If you need schoolwork done, get LUbuntu and install openoffice.  LUbuntu runs on damn-near everything.
If you're advanced, as in 
true geek.  Gentoo boy.  (Good luck installing that monster.)
Oh and if you want a Mac-like distro, there's literally a distro that 
focuses on looking like a Mac.