When I first tried linux, it was thanks to Caldera Linux (if memory serves right) in 2002. To be honest, I was so afraid of it, that I didn't touch linux again until 2007 with Ubuntu 6.10!
aptitude is scary to be honest, I've had to reinstall Ubuntu 5 times in a week, because I didn't know what I was doing xD
But thankfully, I picked up a book and a lot of tutorials over the net, and 10 years later I can say "thanks for apt" and "thanks for apt-get"!
Thanks for taking part :)