Think long and hard, and be sure you really want to do this; because for the first week or so, it is frustrating. However, I will paint you this picture: With Windows, the installation is fairly easy to start, and I grant that it runs pretty well in the beginning. But from that point onward, it is straight downhill until you do a new installation. With Linux, some distros are rather difficult on first installation; but from the beginning, Linux just looks better and better.
I personally don't like the dual-boot system, because it's always a temptation to go back when Linux is frustrating (which, in the beginning, it really is). Also, when you finally get the hang of Linux, that Windows partition is suddenly just wasted space. Then you have to reinstall just to remove the Windows partition, thus taking the chance of messing up a perfectly good Linux system. Rule Number 1: Don't mess with a working system. To me, the dual-boot system is half-hearted, like toilet training a child over an 18 year period. There is a time just to push ahead, and do the right thing, and don't look back.
Linux does have a few problems or bugs: The fonts suck, but you can download TTF, which look pretty good. Open Office is very good, but a little slow compared to Word. Linux is great for neworking, but the TorK program, to run Tor and Privoxy, is a little buggy, for the first day or so. And so on ... But if you like a stable system that never crashes, and is virtually unhackable, and not prone to viruses -- then Linux is for you.
I did a lot of research before I settled on one Linux distro, and most have their merits, depending on your system, and just how geeky you are. (I'm guessing you are somewhere on the high end of the geek scale.)
I've recently heard of Linux Mint and SimplyMEPIS, which come very highly recommended, but I don't know much about them. I tried SimplyMEPIS, and it caused my system to freeze, damaged my core, and I had to spend a day rebuilding my machine. First time that ever happened with Linux of any stripe; maybe my old CPU and graphics card wasn't up to its 3D desktop. Sabayon also offers a 3D desktop, and what I've seen of it (on somebody else's computer) is incredible -- maybe a couple years more advanced even than Vista. It has one serious drawback: no Synaptic, so you must download and compile all programs from source.
However, you will find, if you like that kind of thing, that any Linux distro can be customized almost infinitely, and you can find the program to give yourself a 3D desktop, if you want that, and if your machine is up to it.
So ... recommendations:
If you have time, you ought to download the most likely candidates, burn some live and install discs, and then take them for a test drive. I tried out maybe 20 different distros before I settled on my system. And CD-Rs are relatively cheap, considering the commitment you're making if you decide to change your OS.
1. PC Linux
www.pclinuxos.com/As far as I'm concerned, the easiest for somebody just starting, and the one I actually use. I could access my Windows files right away, even on other hard drives, without any special knowledge. The wizards do all the installation stuff; you just have to click the right boxes. But it is Linux, and on top of it you can build anything you want. The more I use it, more I like it. The Live CD is also the install disc.
2. Ubuntu / Kubuntu / Edubunut / and that crowd.
Nothing bad to say about them. The geekier crowd seem to like them. They're not bad at all, and it is impressive how the live or install disc (they are separate discs on this distro) finds everything on your system, and automatically configures it. However, I couldn't access my Windows files without first formatting. If you can navigate command line right away, without special help, there is some way to do it, but for a newbie that's a little rough.
3. Dream Linux. Similar to PC Linux, but runs a lot like a Mac. Again, not bad, but I found PC Linux easier to start. Live CD is also the install disc.
4. Zenwalk Linux -- Their live and install discs are separate. Runs a lot like PC Linux and Dream Linux, but again, at a certain point, I hit obstacles, and kept going back to PC Linux.
5. Sabayon is great, and for once, here is one that I cannot compare to PC Linux. But it demands a fairly new CPU and graphics card, and then there is that compile-from-source business. But it is packed full of stuff, comes on a DVD it's so big, so a lot of stuff you'll have already installed. And the 3D desktop kicks Windows' butt.
Apparently SimplyMEPIS is a lot like Sabayon, when it isn't crashing my computer. It has the 3D desktop, and everything is supposed to be well integrated. However, it also has Synaptic, so you can use that to download programs, rather than compiling from source. That's a definite bonus for a Linux newbie. I don't doubt that my experience was unusual, but I can't recommend it personally.
Others I've tried, but found more seriously wanting:
One Base Linux
Vector Linux
Damn Small Linux (DSL)
Tinfoil Linux
Knoppix
Puppy Linux (8 different distros) Maybe the most customisable, but hard to get started
TurboLinux
Linux for people who are very afraid, and don't really want to leave Windows:
Linspire
Freespire
Actually I couldn't get them to boot, and instead of running on a Linux file system, they use FAT -- not even NTFS!
As I said, once you really understand how Linux works, all distros are more or less alike, because you can build anything you want on top of the Linux kernel.
Otherwise, I am glad to answer questions, or direct you to the right places. There is a lot of information online, and Linux users have a pretty good network.
