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Something other than Windows?
You're probably looking at some flavour of Linux if you want to get away from Microsoft. The key question is going to be what you expect the laptop to do -- if you want to play games then Linux is not your best choice, but other than that you should be pretty good.
The noob distro of choice is Ubuntu. It's actually not my favourite, but it is as slick as they come, and Synaptic makes managing your installed software a snap; it's literally as simple as going through the list and putting a checkmark next to the programs you want to install. You'll find software that offers all the same functionality of popular Windows apps, so you'll be able to IM and edit .doc files and everything else with a minimum of fuss.
In terms of specific software, it's going to depend on what you want to do. Pidgin, Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office are probably going to be a good start, but other than that recommendations are going to depend on what you want/need out of this machine.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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