Which distro should I use?

Also, if I can hijack my own thread a little.
I installed the Jas 10.4.8 on my laptop, and I cannot get my LCD laptop monitor to display. I have to use an external and it works perfectly with that. I want to switch displays but I dont think it even recognizes my laptops actual monitor.

hmm, whats your video card? and btw this laptops is that old? if you can post your full specs... I think you can install leopard

Had the same problem after installing Jas 10.4.6 on my laptop (dell inspiron 2200). I didn't have an extra monitor laying around (I do now, but, I don't need to use it.), so I used the windows partition(set it up using the triple-boot instructions for xp/linux/osx86) to look the monitor issue up online. This is what I found.

Paperclip/Staple Trick OSx86 in a Tablet PC

If the link doesn't show just google:
modified paperclip trick osx86

It should work on your laptop.