I'm in the market for a new laptop. I've been using Apple, but I'm ready to move on. I want to switch to Linux but don't know where to begin.

This is what I'm thinking: buy a laptop/netbook to get started with Linux; acquire peripherals as needed(ext. drives, optical drive if not included in netbook, etc.); eventually build my own PC running Linux.

I intend to use the laptop/PC for video editing, web design, and Java programming.

Does anyone have a recommend on a laptop?
Recommend on Linux distro?

I'm currently looking at Lenovo and Asus. I know Dell is an option, too. I've looked at linux-on-laptops.com, but can't find the info I need there. I've read the similar threads in LinuxQuestions, to no avail, also.

Many thanks!

I have had no problems with Acer the last 2 years. I work on laptops/netbooks and with Acer I've had no problems with hardware with several Linux Distros (Mandriva, Fedora, Ubuntu etc.) I won't go into the problems with other brands, don't have the time.
Happy Hunting!

Toshiba worked well when I got hands on for some time. Not mine but I used Ubuntu on it and it worked great. Users do tend to have issues with wireless but I have had no issues with it. I even never had issues on Dell as well. I tried Ubuntu on Dell vostro and studio laptops.
I have one old IBM R52 laptop on which I ran Dream Linux and Ubuntu and everything even wireless.
For your needs Ubuntu is good. It has tons of softwares in repositories that you can install.
But for programming I have found even Fedora to be great.