So in the past I've attempted to play the Fallout games, and I've never really been able to get into them. I have a netbook now, though, and I'm looking for games for it, and I'm assuming Fallout will run fine.
So I'm thinking about giving the games another chance. I know they are highly regarded, so should I put my past experiences behind me and try again? Do I need the first one, or should I just play the second one? I've read there are alot of bugs in F2, is that anything I need to worry about?

Yes, the're defintely worth trying. Firts time time I played Fallout, I bumped of from it too, was to complicated for me but when I tried it again few monts later, with some walkthrough I saw that it's awasome. I'm stil thinkig it's best RPG ever made...

Yes, you should if you like RPGs with turn-based combat, decent choices and consequences, character stats that actually matter and are not merely tacked on as decoration.
Don't forget the story. The story in Fallout unfolds as the player advances in the game in a beautiful way. All you know is that you must find a water chip, at first, but then the rest of the world occurs...
You can replay the games as different characters and all will be viable. Want to play as a Doc Holiday charismatic gunslinger? You can! Want to play an imbecile with massive strength and a talent for lockpicking?? You can do that too!
Also, if you can, try Wasteland. It's an old game that pre-dates the Fallouts but you can see where Fallout really started.

You know, for me the best thing about Fallout 2 was avoiding the story. In the first one you're kind of on the clock, but in Fallout 2 you can dally as long as you like. Pile up the perks and levels, go and find out what's shakin' the next town over.
It was always about finding an interesting trail of jobs or information that led me to a new place to explore, or into a new way of manipulating or dealing with a faction, or a person, or a weapon, or a skill.
Making friends and influencing people... or killing them... whatever.
I can only advise you based on what I'd do... and I'd definitely give it the time to sink in... because I did. :)

Hells yeah O.o
God had a baby with an RPG and Fallout was born.