thinking of going over to linux? but WITCH ONE?

Ubuntu gets the best reviews as a general-use desktop OS.

http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/software/os/0,100000109...

Get it here.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

As you are already aware there are a number of distro's, probably the best way of approaching this is to try a few and see which you prefer. Unlike windows Linux can be run from a CD simply obtain a live version, this runs without installing anything on to your hard drive. If you get a copy of Micro Mart magazine (it's only a couple of quid) you will find a number of versions advertised in the classified ads. Quite a few from Linuxman, he's very reliable I have had stuff from him. When you are happy with your choice then go for it. There are regular articles in Micro Mart on Linux and a n expert to answer your questions. Good Luck.

1) Mandriva One (free), which works as a live cd and is the easyest to install; came with some added value like official nvidia and ati drivers, firmwares, etc, while Mandriva Free on 4 cd or one dvd contains a lot more software, only open source one. For "the usual job" you mention, you'll just have to add flash and java plugin, multimedia codecs and installing the p2p client you like. Installation of software not included in the cd (or dvd) can be easily added following these steps: http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/

Then you simply have to choose the application you want to install from the list in the software installer and all is been done automatically.

2) Linux Mint; it's Ubuntu Linux (see below) with something more, like multimedia codecs and a Control Center, which is the biggest lack in Ubuntu, till now.

3) Ubuntu; perhaps in a year or so it will reach number 1 in my list, but is not yet as usable as Mandriva is if you never tried Linux before; Ubuntu cd is live, and can easily be installed like Mandriva, although if you know really nothing, Mandriva is better and more self-explicative, especially about the hard disk partitioning step.

Also, some things Mandriva installer do automatically, could need some work after installation on Ubuntu. A very simple example: my HP PSC 1210 (scanner/printer) was ready to work with Mandriva, while with Ubuntu I had to choose "Add Printer" after installation. Just this simple step, nothing more, anyway.

Ubuntu came with no closed source software (driver, firmware) so you have to add it later with Synaptic, the more used graphical interface for installing software; you have to do "add sources" like on Mandriva, it's very simple, more infos here: http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Main_Page "How to add extra repositories" (good link for other Linux distributions) and/or installing Automatix (my choice) or EasyUbuntu (see the same site as above) that will do for you all the work. *That* is a point Ubuntu is better than Mandriva. But while Mandriva Control Center (for monitoring and configuring all system, hardware, software, etc) is great, Ubuntu still doesn't have one. Linux Mint does provide a control center similar to OpenSuSE one.

Ubuntu is based on the Gnome desktop http://www.gnome.org/ while Kubuntu on KDE http://www.kde.org/ and Xubuntu on XFCE http://www.xfce.org/ which is lighter, good for older machines; Ebuntu (still in beta, Elive is a good alternative, being based on Debian like Ubuntu) spotlight the beautiful Enlightenment DE http://www.enlightenment.org/ runs also on old machines; Fluxbuntu is based un Fluxbox, really lightweight although fully functional http://fluxbox.org/

Mandriva One comes with Gnome or KDE, while in the 4 cd / one dvd edition you can find all those desktop environment.

Anyway, Mandriva, Ubuntu, and related distros are all best choice for "home use".

Congratulations on a Wise choice that I made a few months ago, and I am a Microsoft Certified Professional! Probably still the number one is Kubuntu, available at www.kubuntu.org They will even send you a free live CD to try it! And pay the postage!

You go to the website and then click "ship it", or if you dont want to wait, just download it and burn it on CD.

Try lots of live cds first til you find one you are comfortable with. Here is a site with the live cds

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

Personally I'd rec pclinuxos for someone moving from MS.

http://www.pclinuxos.com/page.php?6

Everything works out of the box. The control panel (based on mandriva) is very similar to a windows environment and unlike mandriva you don't have to pay extra to get everything you want.

Ubuntu gets a lot of hype. I used it for over a year but ditched it in favour of pclos.

Ubuntu is awesome, I would recommend after installing Ubuntu get Automatix, it's a program that allows you to easily download and install all of the best stuff for Ubuntu.

Redhat or Mandrake

Ive just read the three answers above and if I wasn't confused B4 I am Know !