Mgeuldt asked: "I want to open a Roth IRA (my income will permit $2000 per year contributions to a Roth), but my question is this: If I open the Roth IRA before April 15th, can I fund it with $4000 ($2000 for 1999 and $2000 for 2000)???"

Yes you are correct as long as you open the account before April 15th and you have not made an IRA contribution for 1999 you can make both a 1999 and a 2000 contirbution for a total of $4000.