In the post at the start of the week we mentioned Windows Vista - but Windows is not "the only game in town".
Apple Inc. have their Mac and its OSX system. While they are in many ways excellent - even superior devices - they still lock you in to their hardware and software DRM.
Linux - which has been around for quite a while - is a freely available and free alternative. Being free means there are quite a few groups working on their own versions. (Read more at Wikipedia.)
One currently very popular version is 'Ubuntu'.
Like most Linux systems it is also available on a CD/DVD that can be used to "boot" your computer. This allows you to try it out without needing to mess up your current system.
It is also relatively easy to set up your computer to "dual-boot" so that you can choose which Operating System to use when you switch on.
