Linux has been developing at a rate of knots since its inception. Currently, so much software is available that many distributions ship with multiple CDs or even, in the case of SuSE, a DVD. The amazing thing about Linux is that nearly all available software is under the General Public License, which means that the software itself is in most respects free, while Linux remains one of the most stable and reliable operating systems available.

With its roots in UNIX, Linux has a reputation for being complex. While sterling work has resulted in highly usable graphical environments such as KDE 2 in recent times, the strict interface guidelines provided by Microsoft don't exist, and so many users will find some applications alien. This is a strength as well as a weakness for Linux since it increases innovation and choice just as much as it detracts from initial ease of use.

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Of the many varieties of Linux available, some cater for Windows users wishing to dip their toe in, such as ZipSlack, which can be installed in a DOS partition or run entirely from a ZIP disk. Some provide user-oriented environments that have been designed to make Linux feel like home to ex-Windows users, such as Corel Linux, Caldera and Linux Mandrake. Some just give everything and leave users to figure it all out, such as SuSE Linux, and some are more server-oriented, such as Turbo Linux and RedHat.

For the adventurous, Linux can provide nearly everything that Windows can in terms of productivity applications, and can also offer a growing number of games. We would recommend Linux Mandrake to users itching to try something a bit different on their PC. It represents great value and supports a wide range of hardware with simple configuration. Linux continues to gain popularity for many good reasons, and it's an inexpensive software solution, but it is still best suited to those with some technical ability.