I am not an expert on Linux. The only contribution I can make is to relate my experiences and feelings in the hope they will be useful to others. I also will try to document carefully those instances where I found a solution to a problem, hopefully to help others, as I was helped by various posts.
Two of the most popular types of free Linux distributions are Ubuntu and Fedora. Ubuntu bills itself as a replacement for Windows, and it seemed natural to try that out first after I decided to leave the Windows world. I do not want to criticize Ubuntu. Each Linux version has its adherents and detractors. I simply want to paraphrase a famous US political phrase, "Ubuntu, you are no Windows OS". Bill Gates, long-time CEO of Microsoft, may never have had an original idea in his life. and he certainly didn't seem to know what the advanced power user wanted. But he was a pioneer of the idea that once the operating system was installed, the end-user should simply have to turn on the power switch to start enjoying it. Perhaps the reason I got frustrated with Ubuntu is that, in my opinion, Ubuntu is nowhere near that goal, no matter how many people have testified to the contrary. Never, when running Windows, did I have to worry if the wireless would work, or if I could play a DVD. In fairness to Linux distibutions, the reason they have problems with these and other issues is allegedly because many of the obvious solutions are patent-encumbered.
One of the reasons for supporting Linux over Windows is that Linux is largely based on free, non-patent encumbered software. I believe that, in time, non-patented solutions for virtually anything you want to do will be found. The more Linux users there are, the more quickly that time will arrive. And when that time arrives, there will be still more Linux users.
I expressed above, my frustration with Ubuntu. I don't know if Fedora is really a better distribution, or if I just had lower expectations and more patience for it. But currently I am a satisfied Fedora user. My experience includes using Fedora 14 on a 32-bit personal computer (a Dell Inspiron 1525) and Fedora 15 on a 64-bit personal computer (an HP Compaq CQ62). I bought each computer for approximately $800 in the USA.
All Linux distributions I know of load software to your computer from other computers which are repositories of the various programs. When the software loading program you are using (apt-get for Ubuntu and yum for Fedora) reports that a particular software package is unavailable, it means that the package is not available in the repositories it has checked. Both Fedora and Ubuntu initial check only a limited number of repositories for available programs. The only repositories they check initially have a very strict view on what is non-patent-restricted software. This is why initial installations of Ubuntu and Fedora will not play DVDs. A solution to the DVD problem is described in the "problems and solutions" link below.
One of the pleasantest surprises after I switched from Windows to Linux was experiencing how fast Firefox ran under the latter compared to the former.
In November, 2011, I updated my 64-bit HP Compaq Presario to Fedora-16. That went fairly smoothly, but unless I forced fallback mode, my CPU kept saturating when running Firefox-7, which seemed sluggish. My intention was to install Fedora-16 on my older, but more powerful, 32-bit Dell Inspiron 1525. This proved an unmitigated disaster. Not only was the system unstable, but it proved impossible to install or even compile the Broadcom wireless driver.
The solution was to install Linux Mint 12 release candidate on my older machine. The release candidate was totally stable in my hands, and I have become one of Linux Mint's converts.
I will add a few more words in support of Linux Mint. Many of you are aware of a battle raging now that Gnome 2, one of the most-favored desktop management systems is no longer supported. Many people are unhappy with the newer alternatives, Unity on Ubuntu and Gnome 3 on Fedora. Mint uses Gnome 3, but it has added many extensions which can make Gnome 3 appear just like Gnome 2. It is extremely easy to select which extensions you want to use after opening gnome-tweak-tool. Mint's Firefox-7 comes with flash and java plugins already installed and their Movie Player will play DVDs without further downloading of software or codecs.
If you think my experiences may be helpful to you, continue reading about specific problems and solutions.