I haven't touched a Linux distro since Mandriva was known as Mandrake and their linux version was v7.X. Back then, you could select KDE or Gnome as your GUI of choice.

Lately, I've heard the current linux distro's that have become very popular are Mandriva and Ubuntu.

Ubuntu's strengths are hot plugging. Being able to use external hard drives or storage devices and having an icon automatically appear for that device on the desk top menu. Mandriva doesn't have that without manual commandline drive installs. However, Ubuntu uses Gnome and the default res is 800x600, requiring the etc/X11/xorg.conf file to be edited for 1024x768 viewability.

I have only one test PC for testing OS's. I'll start with Ubuntu first. If I don't like it, I'll switch and try Mandriva.

The main reason I am testing linux is because I hear Apache now has native asp support. I didn't know that before. I thought IIS only was asp capable. But at the same time, I wanted to learn mySQL and php.

This is gonna be fun.

Tried out knoppix the other day and that was my first experience with linux ever... I won't say much more or else I will most likely look like a fool.

I hear that Ubuntu is very user friendly and most popular Linux version, dell will be preluding that version on their PC for those who choose Linux over windows.

I actually tried the Ubuntu desktop version over the weekend. I just D/Ld the ISO and burnt the image to a CD. Sure, it is an install disc, but the best part was it allowed me to boot up with it and try it out without obligating me to repartition the drive and install it. :p

Anyway, it seems to have all the basic things a basic PC user would need. It comes with Open Office Suite, Fire Fox. You have a large choice of software to choose from and install, from graphic editors and movie viewers, to IM software.

I was really impressed. Linux has come a LONG way since its slackware days, where everything was commandline dependant.

Unfortunately, Linux still suffers in the games department. Not many hi profile gaming software companies are porting their products for linux, leaving the consumer the option of just playing linux games, or the few older titles that have been ported to Linux over time. Otherwise, the only other option is WineX and some other windows emulation software to convert the commands the game sends to something usable by Linux and executes them.

i know a few people that run linux for general computer use and have windows on a dif partition for games. idk if i would ever do this, but im sure its better for some. im fine with windows.