I’ve been a bit surprised by the number of LGF readers interested in using the Linux OS as an alternative to Windows or Mac OS. It’s probably happening because the latest versions of Linux distributions like Ubuntu have gotten much easier to install and use, and they typically come with a rich assortment of powerful applications and tools—and it’s all free, open source software.

Here’s a good comparison of seven popular versions of Linux at Information Week: Linux Shootout: 7 Desktop Distros Compared. (Hat tip: billhedrick.)

Of the seven in the article, I’ve successfully installed the 32-bit versions of Ubuntu 8.04, Fedora 8, and openSUSE 10.3 on my Mac Pro, using VMware Fusion, and it’s difficult to pick a favorite.