[ShadowAce]

Where do you GET Linux?

Usually from the website of the distro you have decided upon.

First a few vocabulary definitions (for someone "who knows nothing"):

• LINUX : the kernel. Linux is not an OS, per se, but only the kernel. The OS is built around the kernel, and it is usually common to all distros.
• A "distro" is the compilation of the kernel, plus utilities, tools, software, and applications to make it unique. Anyone can make their own, and quite a few have.

A good starting point to check out reviews, and listings of various distros, is DistroWatch, which also ranks them by popularity.

Do you put it on a CD-R? A DVD-R? I.e., before installing it on your C: drive?

Typically, yes. You can also use a USB drive, if you know how to make it bootable. Many of the distros can be run directly from the CD/DVD without having to remove Windows first. This allows you to test drive various distros until you find one you like. Keep in mind that performance will take a large hit due to running from an optical drive.

For users looking to switch, I have heard good things about Zorin OS, PCLinuxOS, and Mint. Those are all Debian-based distros (distros that began life as a fork/modification of Debian), but I personally prefer rpm-based systems.This is strictly a personal preference as I started with Red Hat (in 1994-ish) and just stayed with it.

[Paladin2]

My local Computer Store sells Linux DVDs for $3. I usually start with a fresh HD so going back to the old system is trivial.

[Stanwood_Dave]

I'm a former RedHat user (mid to late 1990's, if I remember correctly) my problem then was the word processor, I'll call WordPerfect look alike, which I found to be very lacking compared to the original WordPerfect. I'd guess you could say that I'm an advanced user of WordPerfect-7 and the options that you can use.

Just wondering out loud, if things have changed, ref: WordPerfect & Linux. Maybe just run Linux with a virtual windows program, similar to Windows-7 / virtual machine?