This is the first post in a series where I examine my ten month love affair with the Linux Operating System. These posts are aimed at everyday Windows users who are curious about Linux and Open Source. If I am not precise in my explanations, please forgive me and correct me in the comments below.

Is a distro a distro a distro? Why would anyone care?

Continuing the series of trying to come up with reasons for choosing an operating system, FreeBSD will be discussed. Although FreeBSD is not Linux, it is Unix-like, nonetheless. I have never used FreeBSD and all things discussed here are second-hand knowledge.

I am looking at various options for a Linux distribution these days. Some of them I discussed in my previous post on how to choose a Linux distribution. I also discussed CentOS. Here I would like to point out some factors why I am leaning toward Debian.

After our initial foray into the Linux world with openSuse 11, my plan had been to try Mandriva Spring 2008. It’s still in the cards, but based on the overwhelming support that Linux Mint got in the comment section, I decided that maybe that should be my next Distro to examine.

Linux is starting to catch the eyes of many, many people who normally wouldn’t go there! Finding the best Linux operating system is not hard at all.

So I finally made the plunge. I've long wanted to be part of that geeky elite who broke from the crowd, stepped aside from their fellow computer lemmings and took a different plunge - not off the cliff, but into an alien and poorly understood (by the masses) computer operating system - Unix.

Virtualization has become an important aspect of the functionality of todays computers and computer Operating Systems. Many that are new to Linux or new to Virtualization often are overwhelmed by the number of Virtualization options the Linux Desktop has and often ask: "What Virtualization Solution is best suited for my needs".

In short, I've spent the last week and a bit trying one Linux distribution after another, trying to find one that "just works".