"Linux has long made life easy for tire-kickers. The latest version of Ubuntu, however, makes it simpler than ever before to take Linux for a realistic test drive--without risking a single byte of data on an existing Windows system.
"Most Linux distros today will run as so-called Live CDs, which install and run without loading anything permanently onto a host system. A Live CD is a great way to get a quick look at a new distro or to test its hardware support, but it is really too ephemeral to use in a realistic, day-to-day desktop environment. Since a fully functional Linux installation, however, requires its own disk partition and file system, this is a step many Windows users are reluctant to take..."
