"There are multiple versions of Linux. Each one is called a Distro which is short for Distrobution. The most favoured are PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux. Each is unique is multiple ways and each distro will allow you to run from a CD or DVD without having to install. This is called a LiveCD or LiveDVD. Think of it as Try Before You Buy.....but in this case it is free.
"So the questions are.....what can Linux do FOR me? Well the answer to that is quite simple. It will free you and your computer. You can say goodbye to DRM ( Digital Rights Management ) and you can feel secure knowing that your data is safe and immune to viruses and spyware.
"The most common question in my experience is this: What about Microsoft Office and Microsoft Word?
"No need to worry about that either. Most distros these days come with a Office Suite called Openoffice ( www.openoffice.org ) and it backwards compatable with MS Office formats. If your distro does not have Openoffice then you can download it free of charge from the internet....oh I forgot to mention. Openoffice is FREE while MS Office is around $300 to $700. Quite a difference. OpenOffice is also available for Windows as well if you wish. Again it is free of charge."
