Back in the Dark Ages of my home computer, when I was running Windows full time, I was quite the “Distro Dabbler”. I was forever downloading ISOs of various Linux distributions, burning them on a CD and trying them out by installing it on an unused partitions. Until finally, about two years ago, I bit the bullet and moved off of Windows forever (well, except for some gaming).

I really like OpenSUSE Linux, but the best distro is PCLinuxOS. If there was ever an OS that could help me 'throw Windows out the window,' this is it. Ive tried using Mac as an alternative to Windows, but I guess it just wasn't for me. At least Apple implores its users to 'Think Different,' Microsoft insists everyone 'be Genuine.' So what would be their catch-phrase be, 'Be Authentic?'

Linux has been getting a lot of press over the past six months, particularly populist distributions such as Ubuntu. Dell has installed Ubuntu onto its Linux PCs and laptops, and let’s not forget the phenomenally successful Eee PC from Asus, which runs the Xandros distro.

Wow. Sometimes, you read things like this and you wonder if Microsoft employees inhabit the same universe. Apparently, they haven't been following the rampant, constant security holes discovered and exploited in Windows over the past decade.

I have set myself a target of 1 month without booting to windows.
A little history --
1) I use Windows 2003 at Office.
2) I have tried many Linux distributions including Arch, Gentoo, Ubuntu and openSUSE and now have the perfect windows replacement at home -- PCLinuxOS.

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.

If you're a Vista-wary Windows user who would rather switch than fight, should you move to a Linux distro or Apple's OS X? We asked a Mac fan and a Linux advocate to lead a guided tour of each OS.

In June I was traveling with a notebook that was too damaged to run Windows, but it run Ubuntu almost flawlessly. The experience was not so bad. Back home I could choose again between Windows and Ubuntu. In past dual-boot situations I gradually reverted to fully use Windows. What happened this time?

Microsoft Windows remains the dominant desktop operating system with approximately 90% of the client operating system market. If Microsoft's monopoly is ever going to be challenged by Linux, there has to be an easy way for Windows' users to be able to learn about this rival operating system.