so I have decided to get a Linux box with KDE (laptop). But I wonder, if I get it, will I be able to play around with PHP scripting and MySQL even more because I have a Linux operating system?

Yes you will. did you know Windows supports both PHP http://www.php.net/downloads.php and MySQL http://www.mysql.com/downloads/index.html ? I think you probably knew that (...even more...) but just in case.

actually I didn't. I know about asp and MS SQL and Oracle.

Still, I want a Linux laptop (or maybe a desktop...) I need to have all the important areas covered. Linux is moving fast and upward, MAC OS 10(Unix OS) is really nice and seems to be more intergrated with graphic programs (plus it is the 2nd largest OS so who cares if it light years behind Windows as far as how many people use it)

All this will tie into my master plan. I just read how someone linked up thier XBOX with thier Linux computer.

Mostly I want to be familiar with all these platforms so I can be more versitile when it comes to designing databases, script writing, website design (interet, extranet intranet) and of course skinning stuff.

joetheblow: actually, Linux is the second mostly used OS, not Mac.
Linux stand around 6%, Mac OS around 3%, and Windows have the balance.

I used Mandrake Linux once (that was around 2 years back). I liked it. The only problem with Linux seems to be that there are no apps to go with it. Or maybe there are and I didn't search hard for it.