Starting off.

Hi
For many of us, simply upgrading via the MS route of Windows etc.
Is daunting enough.
So this is where Linux scores.
It is FREE!
Can be trialled limitlessly via CD distro.

For those to whom distro is a new word.

The CD distro allows you to run the relevant OS via your CD/DVD drive.
By installing the OS onto a Ram drive (which is temporary, so when you shut down. Part of the process will eject the CD. Then ask you to remove disc & if needed close tray.)
During the process the OS Ram drive is removed.

So when you return to your PC.
It is as if the Linux OS was never there.

From this trial period.
You can ascertain if one of the Linux OS'es are for you.

Then you can take the next step of actual installation of said OS.

I'm a fan of the Ubuntu distro... 10.04 I think is suppossed to be released on Earth Day (April 22), but have been playing alot with it since 8.04. I will likely play with OpenSuSE a go in a VirtualBox (Sun's open VMWare product - I run Windows XP in that so I really will never have use for anything more than Windows 7 Home Premium). Linux has improved a lot since the early days of RedHat. It does have it's share of problems and is better suited in a server setting, but it can be a great alternative for many Windows users that are passionate about computers... I like Linux and I like Windows and think the two can co-exist.

Last time I played with Linux it was RedHat. Had it installed on an older PC but it ran quite well.

Have already downloaded the OpenSuSE Live CD version & will give it a go.

I have a couple of spare drives installed in Burning PC so might do a full install on there

Tend to favour FF anyway so that is fine for Linux and have also recently started trying out OpenOffice so again I should just be able to hit the ground running

Looking for suggestions and links for apps etc to use within Linux.

Any thoughts or good apps?

Filezilla
Handbrake (to make you DVD movies into Matroska files)
Audacity
Nero Linux (not free, but I like the classic Nero Burning ROM interface)
Sun VirtualBox (VMWare alternative)
WINE (run some Windows apps in Linux - I use ImgBurn).
VideoLAN/VLC
TrueCrypt

Thanks for those suggestions Tracy.