Option One (Full installation)

I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 8 Main Edition which is built upon the outstanding Ubuntu 9.10 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled

Linux Mint 8 Download
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=44

The Perfect Desktop – Linux Mint 8 (Helena) Installation
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-8-helena

Linux Mint 8 Helena User Guide
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23787138/Linux-Mint-8-Helena-User-Guide

You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 8 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation

Linux Mint 8 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive

Option Two (Install Ubuntu inside Windows XP and Vista)

Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/wubi

You keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.

Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.

Boot in to windows insert the Ubuntu 9.10 LiveCD and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where the Wubi installer comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Ubuntu (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.

Once Ubuntu is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Ubuntu

Ubuntu 9.10 Download
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) User Guide
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Karmic

Linux Mint 7 has a similar feature called mint4win and the directions given above for Wubi can be followed (mint4win is not available for Linux Mint
http://duncsweb.com/2009/09/27/mint4win-a-wubi-based-installer-of-linux-mint/

Linux Mint 7 Download
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=38

Linux Mint 7 Gloria User Guide
http://www.scribd.com/doc/15884753/Linux-Mint-7-Gloria-User-Guide

Ubuntu 9.10 and Linux Mint 7 can be run straight from the LiveCD without touching your Hard drive

Option Three (LiveCD)

Here the possibilities are endless as you can try out as many different Linux distros. until you find the one thats right for you DISTROWATCH.COM gives full listings (second lists the major distributions)
http://distrowatch.com/

Major Linux Distributions
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major

LUg.

I have linked below to the main site where you can read about the different versions (called distros) and download from. Most distros run as a Live version first direct from your CD / DVD player to see if you like them, and you can then decide if you want to install from there or try a different one.

For a newbie who only knows Windows, I would suggest Mint as being the easiest. I only use Linux these days and Windows is a dim, distant (painful) memory. You can d/l Mint from here http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=05795

Help is usually provided on each distro’s special forum but if you are struggling with the basics of what to do, this forum can help http://forums.computeractive.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=49

1. The internet has a ton of Linux information. Don’t be afraid to do some Google searches, but here are two important sites you should visit now:

This is a start:
http://www.linux.com/learn/resource-center/376-linux-is-everywhere-an-overview-of-the-linux-operating-system

This site details all the different versions:

http://www.distrowatch.com

2. Yes. Linux is really the "kernel" (which is the heart of all operating systems) around which different versions, called "distributions" or "distros" are built. Each distro is designed for specific reasons…as a desktop system, a server system, a toolkie, etc. You will be interested in the desktop systems, so you’ll be hearing about distros like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, openSUSE, Fedora, and many others.

Linux installations are a full system: desktop window manager/GUI, network tools, utilities, office tools, multimedia applications, web browser and other web programs, graphics programs, etc. There are usually a number of applications that "replace" Windows apps, in that they perform the same functions. The Linux version of OpenOffice, for example, is a replacement for Microsoft Office. There are some familiar programs, like the Firefox web browser.

3. The key thing to remember is that Linux is NOT Windows. You don’t run Windows software on Linux (although there are ways to do it…but don’t worry about that for the time being). Programs that are written for Linux will usually run on any version of the system, with some tweaks.

The nice this is that the modern Linux distros all have some sore of software management/package structure and Internet sites were you can download whatever you need (these are called "repositories"). Installing a program simple requires running a special program on your Linux system, picking the software you want and clicking Install. The Ubuntu distro (probably the most popular) has a easy-to-use tool that’s great for people new to Linux…it lists the most popular software available and makes installing as easy as a few clicks.

Now, for my personal bit: I would recommend you look at Linux Mint as your first version. Mint includes everything you need for a complete system.

Message me privately is you have any other questions. And welcome to the world of Linux…you won’t be disappointed.

Q: Does it fully replace an OS like Windows or supplement?
A: Linux totally replaces the Windows system unless you make special arrangements when setting up the drive so that you can install Windows on one partition and Linux on another. Even if you set up the dual-boot (two different operating systems) arrangement, you will have no way of running Windows while started into Linux… or vice versa. There are some complicated ways around this, but you don’t seem all that geeky to me. so I can’t recommend them.

Q: How does it affect compatibility?
A: In general, all your Windows applications (sorry, Windows calls them "programs") will be null when using Linux… and vice versa.

Q: (Huh? Oh, you forgot to ask this one.) Is Linux a good choice for someone who has been unable to keep Windows up and running smoothly?
A: Probably not. Linux is most appreciated by supergeeks who simply love to tinker around with the innards of software. Many of the applications you will find for use with Linux are actually UNIX source code. This is a lot like Ikea furniture but ten times as many screws and bolts and with instructions that you have to get translated before you can start.

Have you considered a second-hand Mac? I always buy my Macs second-hand. There are three of them in this room with me. Apple has the best record of reliability, so as long as you see it starts up fine and runs well, it is a fairly safe bet. I helped a friend buy a MacBook (2.1GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 120GB drive) a few weeks ago for less than US$565 and it works flawlessly. Buy it in person to be sure it works. Ask for the OS X install disc and test it to see it boots to the disk and allows you to go as far as selecting the Options button and "Archive and Install". Don’t install, especially if you haven’t bought it– the owner will be p-ssed off; it’s just a test of DVD to computer compatibility (OS X install DVDs are hardware related). If you don’t get an install DVD with it, you either have to spend the bucks on a new disc (US$29 for Snow Leopard) or download by bittorrent — not that I’m suggesting using a torrent, but it has been done a few hundred thousand times.

I have experience using Linux, BeOS, UNIX, Commodore Basic, Windows 3.1 to Vista, Mac OS 6 to 10.6; I am retired from years of tech support for both Dell and Apple and I can assure you, OS X is less trouble to keep running like a top than any other OS. If you want to get things done as opposed to tinkering and fighting with malware, OS X is the way to go.