Linux and Ubuntu are easy to learn and will save you many headaches over the alternative.

I am not sure just how many distributions or versions of Linux there are available, but it is a considerable number. The question of which one is for you sounds easy, but it is a question that can have many answers. Whether you want to try it out, taking it for a test drive, or you intend to install it as your sole operating system, your answer to that question will actually determine your experience.

There are some small-footprint distributions which will fit on a single floppy disk. There are others which require more than one DVD or CD to fit everything in. Of course, there are many that fit between those extremes, but most require at least one CD to give you a real operating system complete with office suite, web browser, e-mail, etc.

Whatever your needs are, there is a version of Linux which can fit your needs. You can customize any distribution to your liking. There are far more options which can be changed by you, easily without any programming, than with other "proprietary" or closed-source operating systems.

With some, you can create your own distribution with exactly what you need and leave out the programs you don't. The link for this, should you want to check it out is instalinux.com. This is a site which truly allows customization but it will likely be a large download so, unless you have a really fast connection I would go with ordering a CD.

There are so many distributions, how can I choose the Linux for me?

If you have been using Linux for some time, you likely know what you want and don't want and where you can get it, so I won't bother with trying to outline a process that is already known.

The best "selling" point of open source software, since most are free, is that there is usually no money involved in getting it. Another good point is that there haven't been any specific viruses or spy ware written for it either, so it is a much safer alternative for use at work or at home. I use Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS and have been for a while. I have also tried many other distributions and they all serve different users with different needs. The two I mentioned work extremely well on my laptop, a Toshiba Satellite which is two years old.

You can find far more information out there than I can provide. Curiosity is what fuels creative thinking and keeps our minds sharp, so try something new and different. That is why God gave us imagination and creative thinking, so try something new for your computer. You might be pleasantly surprised.

To find out more about Linux follow this link to Ubuntu or this one to PCLinuxOS.

If you have a fast connection and would like to try a customized version of Linux, click here.