Many people were upset by the shortcomings of Vista, so some are exploring Linux as an alternative to Windows. There are many flavors of Linux, each with their own special characteristics. Some aim for ease of use, others aim for ultimate customizability, and there are also varieties meant for specific types of systems. For a long time, the Linux community has been trying to appeal to mainstream computer users from gamers to grandmas. Though there have been successful switch stories, there is still the question of whether Linux is worth a try for the average computer user. For the longest time I have been using Windows for everything. Over the last year or two, I've been attempting to switch to Linux. My reasons? Firstly, I'm an IT major hoping to excel in the industry someday. Many businesses use Linux and other 'nixes for a variety of reasons, so I want to familiarize myself with it. Secondly, Linux is free, which makes it difficult to turn down. Third, I've been growing bored with Windows and the change of scenery is nice. I have extensively used Ubuntu and Fedora on my laptop, but I can't let go of XP. At least not yet, but I'm getting there. So having used Linux, I can name a few pros and cons off the top of my head. Pros: -Free! Seriously, free operating system. Why wouldn't you? -Live CDs let you try it before you install it. They can also save your life. -Usually bundled with all the right software to get you rolling. Most software is free too! -Available for a wide range of hardware. Slow systems, fast ones, unusual ones (SPARC), etc. -You can tweak it to your liking. -Enjoys the same (oftentimes better) security as a Mac. -With repositories and a package manager, installing software and updating is a snap. -Can run some Windows programs with WINE. -Doesn't falsely accuse you of being a pirate, doesn't spy on you, no DRM, etc. Cons: -You can have some really strange problems that are tough to figure out. (Beware laptoppers). -Wireless networking can be a pain to get working smoothly. -GUI aside, Linux is completely different from Windows. It takes a while to learn. -WINE doesn't run a lot of popular Windows exclusives and runs many more incorrectly. -Some drivers are either hard to set up, buggy (video), or don't exist. Some lucky people don't even have these problems. -File permissions can be difficult sometimes. Here are a couple of my favorite Linux distributions (or distros): Fedora Core - Sounds like a weird genetic experiment at first, but if you've ever heard of Red Hat, Fedora is based on that. It comes on a DVD (not live), which packs a lot of software on it (more than Ubuntu), but is a really huge download. Fedora uses RPM packages (you install software from these), which I think are far more common. Tons of people use Fedora, so there's lots of support both in software and knowledge out there. As far as I know, Fedora releases come with all of the latest stuff, including things trickled down from Red Hat, so if you have the latest Fedora, you're pretty much on the bleeding edge of what Linux has to offer. Ubuntu - Ubuntu's primary objective is to be easy to use, and it accomplishes that pretty well I think. It comes on a Live CD, which is a smaller download than Fedora, and you can try and/or install Ubuntu from the same disc. It comes with all of the software that most people need and is a little bit easier to configure and understand than Fedora. Ubuntu is based on Debian, another very popular distribution, so it uses widely available DEB packages for software. Both Ubuntu and Debian are used very frequently, so like Fedora, there is a lot of software and answers out there for Ubuntu. Ubuntu releases can either be LTS or non-LTS. LTS stands for long-term support, which means that the included software will be older, but more stable. Also, LTS releases are supported for longer periods of time. Non-LTS releases have newer software, but these releases aren't supported as long. Both of the releases above have Live CDs, are free, and can be installed with GNOME, KDE, or both. GNOME and KDE are desktop environments with a distinct look and feel to each. You can Google them to see which one appeals to you more. I prefer GNOME, because I feel the layout is far more intuitive. KDE feels cluttered and unorganized to me. However, I have a friend who swears by KDE. So ultimately, it's your choice as to which you like more. I recommend XFCE for slower systems (lower than 1GHz). GNOME and KDE will be too slow for most people on older systems. REMINDER: You can install Linux alongside of Windows, but BE CAREFUL! Make sure you know what you are doing and back up your data! That post took way too long to write, but if there is someone out there who was contemplating giving Linux a try, I hope this helps. Later.