I'm also interested in the possibility of installing Linux, probably as above, in a separate partition so I could revert to Windows occasionally if need be.

The things I want to be able to do are (more or less):

- internet access for email and web browser
- use MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint (and maybe a few other utilities/software packages)
- record sound, burn CDs, etc.

I think that about covers it (there may be other things but I can't think of them right now, so they can't be that important to me, I guess). Is it possible to get a Linux front end (or whatever it's called) that will allow you to run software designed for Windows (as most of it seems to be, understandably given the market)?

Just asking, as I know folk-all about Linux and would like to learn more.