Will Your Next Desktop PC Run Linux?

Linux has been called the poor man's Windows and the operating system for geeks. But regardless of its nickname, the open-source OS is slowly and steadily gaining steam on the desktop. It may not topple the Microsoft empire anytime soon, but recent offerings indicate that Linux distributors, hardware vendors, and developers are dedicated to making Linux on the desktop a reality. Distributions such as Xandros, Sun's Java Desktop System, and Lindows' Linspire are targeting new users interested in migrating from Windows. They offer easy-to-use and install distributions as well as inexpensive PCs preloaded with Linux, available at retailers such as Wal-Mart.

But using Linux doesn't guarantee problem-free computing. Getting the OS to run smoothly can be complicated, and often users must contend with a lack of software support and device drivers. But companies are finding ways to get around these obstacles, and users are responding.