Im thinking of getting Linux, is that a good idea?

Which version are you thinking bout getting?

Because I suggest trying the livecds first (Kubuntu or Ubuntu are good ones to start with. Just google for them.)

By the way, incase your not sure what a livecd is, it's a disc that you can put in your computer then restart it and it'll load from disc so you can try that operating system without ever having to install it on your hard drive. And this way if you don't like it, there's no messy uninstalls or re-installing of windows/mac os. And you can access all your files on the hard drive while trying linux. (Which makes having a live cd a particularly good idea incase your os ever gives out or part of the hard drive crashes and makes start ups with that os impossible. So using the livecd you can boot up the computer and transfer your files off.)

And as for the difference between Ubuntu and Kubuntu... Ubuntu uses the gnome desktop look which reminds me alot of the mac os look, whereas Kubuntu uses the K Desktop Environment (KDE) and looks sort of like windows. Other than that most, if not all, Ubuntu programs transfer over and work flawlessly on Kubuntu.

I wasnt sure on the version, i was just gonna pick up the magazine and which everone i got thats the one i was going to go with

I don't think you can do that as no two users are alike.. a person with full knowledge of linux, may not use the same distro as someone who doesnt.

Your best bet would be to take this quiz to see which would be best for you.

http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php?lang=en

Ah, i did n0t know that, Domo Arigato Black Angel

Before you do anything, you should definitely get yourself a live cd.. or rather, download a copy of the .iso, and burn it to a cd or dvd using Nero, or whatever your burning software may be..

because, like VZ says, there is no risk what-so-ever.. everything runs from the disk, so no installation is necessary, and there are no changes to your system files.

Personally, I am a huge fan of Knoppix, and it has come to my rescue more than once..

Like with Kubuntu, Knoppix also uses KDE. Click here for more info.

Im most likely going to go w/ kubuntu, im going to pic up the Linux magazine tomarrow hopefully so i can get the live cd and also see what kind of cool functions Linux has to offer

You don't have to buy any magazine to get the livecd... the livecd is free from the site. (go to Kubuntu homepage) Just download the iso from them, burn it and try it.

Then if you do want to install Kubuntu all you have to do is: (when your in kubuntu running from the live cd) click the button marked: "install" and then pick how you want to install it.

oh, but i like the magazines, they're like my reference material. Oh and i decided to go w/ Mandriva for now

Cool, let us know how it turns out for you. And I still recommend that you get yourself a copy of Knoppix. (Even if you decide not to use linux as your OS.) It's definitely worthwhile to have and know how to use in the event you ever need to get files off your harddrive when the os doesn't work. (Plus it's a good demo just to see what linus is like, what kind of programs it has and how they work without ever actually messing with your system.)

I think I have an old Max. PC or PC World mag that actually went in depth about the different linux o/s's and compared them and it even went into which distro was best for each type of user..