First Step – Choose your version and … download. I have chosen 64bits Server Edition but you might consider other release – i would say the most popular one would be 32bits Desktop. The reason behind my choice was simple : i have 4GB memory and will use this as a test lab – not as an everyday basic routine computer. But from what i have read so far if memory is the only issue you can use 32bits install and add extensions (i believe the name is PAE or something like that).
Installation – This is pretty straight forward; just burn you ISO, boot from CD and “click through” the screens. If you already have Windows don’t worry – install will partition everything for you semi-automatically (semi means you need to know how to read and click 
). If you do not want to take risks … backup !!!
Note : My firts try was with a bootable pen but some additional steps were required and i just burned the damn thing in a CD – keep it simple.
Out of the Box – Linux distros have “evolved” a lot over the years – right after install everything was recognized (but i must say i use a laptop so no “hyper-ultra-mega graphic cards” and such). I installed everything disconnected but it is probably easier for the next steps to do it connected (LAN for example). If you chose Desktop version then you will end with a full working graphic environment. If you choose the server edition and no “manual packages” you will get a basic text prompt and no graphic support – this was my scenario
Online – If you chose Desktop version and had your ethernet cable plugged in you should have everything configured automatically by now. If you chose the “unplugged” Server Edition and want a windows manager do as i did – go upstairs, plug the cable, edit the interfaces file to get the eth0 interface installed in dhcp (assuming you have dhcp), “ifup” it and “apt-get install xinit” – don’t forget to do an “apt-get update” first. Afterwards “apt-get install gnome-core” and “apt-get install gnome-desktop-environment” and you should be fine (remember this is necessary only for “server-no-graphic”, Desktop already has everything) I would go for the wicd manager as the first thing to install if it is not already installed (don’t forget i had nothing because i chose server edition).
The basic Stuff – That’s it !!! Whether you chose the Desktop or the Server edition you should have all you need to start your Ubuntu experience – from notepad alikes (in linux use gedit or nano) to Office apps (OpenOffice). Using graphic tools you might want to take note of names such as “synaptic package manager” and such – but hey … experiment, it’s fun 
That’s it for today, stay tuned folks …
