Back in the day, switching to Linux meant that you had better be ready to tweak a few lines of code and compile your own drivers. Times have changed, however, and newer, more user-friendly Linux distros like Ubuntu are even moving in on consumer markets like cell phones and UMPCs. So if you've been sitting on the fence up until this point, waiting for the right moment to make the switch, now may be the time. The good folks at Maximum PC have put together an extensive guide that walks you through the entire process, from the first boot to running Windows inside Linux using Parallels and dual-booting. It's a well put together guide and comes highly recommended for neophytes looking to take a walk on the open-source side of operating systems.-http://www.dailytechrag.com/story/installing-ubuntu-a-step-by-step-guide-for-first-timers/2007-05-09
