I use my computer every day so its importaint to me how it looks and performance. those two things mainly. Looks and performance.

I have always used windows - until last week! Now I use Linux.

I confess Its better. I did have vista home premium and it was okay, but when it came to looks, just to get my desktop to look the way I wanted it too (I’m very fussy about things like that you see) It cost a fair dent in the wallet. And, thats before I buy the software I need for my other ventures. Then if it crashes you have to find all the keys aaagh!!

So I tried a “live cd” first. This allows you to boot up the new operating system from the disk so you can try it on your machine and see how it is and get a feel for it without actually installing it. There are a few different OS to choose from. I choose ubuntu 8.04.
If you want to run it on the hard drive but you dont want to lose windows you can partition your hard drive - then install ubuntu 8.04 on the new partition giving you a dual boot option when you switch your machine on.

I had this set up for about two weeks until I had weened myself off of windows. Now windows is not on my hard drive anymore!

check out this video of my desktop http://blip.tv/file/862923

In compiz-fuzion you can tweak just about any aspect of your desktop and operating system to have it looking exactly how you want it. I was more than happy with my space themed desktop (original huh) I went for four desktops (you can have up to 32) based inside a panoramic shot of a nebula, taken with the Hubble telescope! I also have a dock instead of a toolbar giving it a mac like feel. the best thing of all though was it was all free. linux is open source meaning that you dont have to pay for it. so the os and any software that runs on it is free. I have all the apps I need for everything else I do as well so no worries there and on top of all that Linux performs faster and more efficiently than windows.
I will admit that it helps to know a little about code with Linux so its not for everybody. if it was for my gran i would get her a mac!!

check out this video of my desktop http://blip.tv/file/862923

hp pavillion dv6000
centrino duo
1gb ram
nvidia geforce 7400