Compaq armada e500

["LIBERTI, ROBERT D (SNETCOMM)" <rl3136 sbc com>]

My new laptop currently has winnt 4.0 on it.  (Our desktop services guys
removed win 2k without asking).

I would like win 2k dual booted with some flavor of linux.
Is RH7 a good fix for dual booting with windows on a Compaq armada e500?
I checked the linux laptops site and it recommends mandrake.

Also, is it better to upgrade the winnt 4.0 workstation to win 2k first, and
then tackle putting on linux?  ... or is it better to put linux on it first
and then upgrade the windows side.  (I'm not in favored of upgrading.)
What is the preferred way to do this kind of thing?

Thanks,
Rob