Just thought I'd plug the new release of Ubuntu Linux: Version 8.10, Intrepid Ibex. Ubuntu Linux is the linux distribution that I use on my work laptop and three PCs at home. In my view it's a fully featured and fully functional operating system, and well worth investigating. The press release is here.
I choose Ubuntu for a number of reasons, including ease of installation, software installation and upgrades. And of course it's open source and a free download I'm well aware of the numerous alternative versions of Linux out there, and that some of those may better suit other users. check out the distrowatch site for more information. Many thanks to all the developers that together enable the distribution of so many flavours of Linux.
Update: I upgraded a laptop from 8.04 to 8.10 last night, and it seems to have gon pretty smoothly. One disapointment is the non-inclusion of OpenOffice.org 3.0 in this release (but see these instructions for installing it). The other three 8.04 machines will be upgraded over the weekend.