Digital BW, The Print

All,

I'd really like to try QuadtoneRIP—but I'm not sure where to start.  
I will need to set up a Linux box.  I checked out the Linux 
QuadtoneRIP download, looking for a getting started guide that told 
about which distribution of Linux to use, what "C" compiler, etc.  
Just run make or what?  But I didn't see any instructions like 
this.  

If you have set up QuadtoneRIP on a Linux box, I'd like to hear how 
it went for you.  Can anyone point me to a getting started/how to 
build guide of some sort?  Perhaps it's in the distribution and I 
just missed it?

Thanks in advance.  I have an Epson 2200 (currently using Windows 
XP) which is producing poor black and whites, and I'm excited about 
trying Quadtone RIP.  I've heard good things about ImagePrint but I 
can't afford that.

Best regards,
-DigitalPretender