I use a form of ubuntu and also Mepis7 is this your first time using linux? it is so much fun learning new stuff. If you need help just ask there are a few of us here that use linux. I am fairly new still so definitely still learning.

I use firefox on all my linux and thunderbird for mail plus I use my web mail at hotmail and gmail but thunderbird will fetch gmail easily.

You can run certain windows programs in linux with the use of Wine you might want to read up on that if you need some windows apps.

I am sure you have discovered the great synaptic package manager where there are hundreds of free programs to get with the click of a button, with ubuntu you have the add remove option also to get some good programs.

One of the best sites I was turned on to early on was howtoforge.com they have a series called the perfect desktop that goes through step by step how to set up every ting you will need, there is one done for many of the various distros of lunix.
This was the one I used to set up my gOS which is a ubuntu based distro
The Perfect Desktop

this is the one for ubuntu
Ubuntu
at the bottom of the page you can see more distros listed.
Keep the howtoforge site handy it is great.

I also was very happy that I tried KDE early on I much prefer using KDE to Gnome it is more windows like to me just easier to understand.
one great site to be able to view many of the versions of linux and look at lots of screen shots is

Here is a link that might be useful: coding studio

Raven, this is the first time I have been using Ubuntu and so far I have gotten Wine installed . The only thing I don't like is the way some of the things work. I would like to have a shortcut to the Documents on the desktop but I do not know how to get it there. I bookmarked the sites you suggested I check out and I will research how to do things in Ubuntu there. I may buy a third hard drive and install Windows on it so I can run my daylily record keeping program. I have a second drive that Ubuntu is not installed on and use it for storage.

If you have a copy of Windows, you have some further options.

You should be able to install a dual boot with your current drive, unless you're constrained for space. There are also VMs that you can install to run Windows as a process in Linux. These run more programs than Winwe, but require a copy of Windows.

I haven't used these, because my last few Linux installs have been command line only (database and web servers).

to copy your documents folder to your desktop you can go to it in home directory, right click on it, go to copy to, then click on browse, and go to desktop.

Having linux and windows on the same hard drive is very easy you just create a partition for each on the hard drive and the partitioning program is already on the ubuntu live cd. I have a dual boot with gOS and Mepis on the same hard drive. When you boot up you are given the choice which you want to boot into it works the same with windows and linux together. There are many great forums too that are very helpful.

Why would you put Windows on a Linux system? Would you have to use security software with Windows installed.

My computer had Windows on it before I found Ubuntu. But in trying to uninstall Ubuntu, I managed to wipe Windows off the hard drive . Since Windows now will not boot from CD for some reason, I can keep Ubuntu on this drive and install a third drive(I have room for 4 drives if I need them) and be able to have both systems for my use. Some of my programs will not work correctly in Ubuntu. So that is why I want Windows back.

Ok.
So did you use security software when you had Windows installed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Check this forum out

having a dual boot system with windows and linux is extremely common, many people need to keep a version of windows around just to run those special programs that just will not run on linux. I personally have one pc that is a dual boot of 2 distros of linux and I have a few pc's that have windows on them, one of them in the near future will be a dual boot with linux too.
You have to use all the usual precautions as normal with your windows partition nothing different there it is still windows and still vulnerable to viruses and malware so yep you definitely run your AV and anti malware programs plus firewall. Most versions of linux have ClamAV and either guarddog firewall or someother linux firewall on the cd and install them by default. You don't so much need it on linux but for me it is to protect my windows, in case I get something in linux I open and then send to my windows, it would not damage the linux but it sure would the windows if it was not caught and cleaned.

the dslreports linux forum is pretty good but if you want a good forum strictly for ubuntu try
The Ubuntu Forum Community

rc, that's what I thought thanks for going into detail. I have the Ubuntu forum already saved on my desktop. I'm thinking of moving to Linux.

tumblenweed,yes I did use security software with Windows. I had anti virus, anti spyware and firewall with all the other programs like Spybot and Ad-aware and CCcleaner. My youngest son helped me build this computer last Dec and he insisted that I have antivirus, and a firewall but the other programs I have used since they were recommended by people in this forum and another computer forum I go to, the PCQ&A forums. I try to stay updated on all the spyware removing programs as well as virus removers. I first got a computer in 2000 when youngest son brought one home when he came home on leave from the US Navy. He was going to get a laptop to take on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt so he could email us. Then in 2002 My hubby and I bought a computer that was newer than the one our son had left. He took that one back when he came back from his tour of duty overseas. Then this last Christmas he helped me build one from the parts he helped me purchase. I paid for half the cost of the total build and he paid the other half. My computer cost about 450.00.
My case has room for 3 optical or CD drives, and space for 4 hard drives. I do not have a floppy drive since I asked for a card reader since I had cards for my camera . I use that more than a floppy.So yes will use all the precautions I can with Windows so I do not suffer from a virus attack.

dld, I have more than one pc. I want to go to Linux so I don't have all that stuff to stay safe. Sounds like you know much more than I in many ways:-)

tumblenweed, I can recommend a program on building a computer if you can find it somewhere that sells older computer programs. It is called How To Build your Own PC. It was put out by Atomic Media. By using this program was how I learned to build my computer. It is very easy.The best thing I did was research the parts on Newegg.com, TigerDirect.com finding the best part for the price I wanted to spend. The program has a parts list that you can print out. I am an older lady that uses the computer to find people that are familar with the things I like . I stay in touch with family members and found a whole group of folks who have an interest in the flower I like . The daylily world has clubs from FL to Canada and out to Calif. I never knew there was a color other than the old orange yellow I had as a child until I typed daylily into the address bar on that computer
my son had left for us to use.
Using another system other than Windows came about because I have had several problems with Windows that are not virus related. Some how Windows got corrupted and would not boot up completely. Or the Upate from Windows corrupted it . Recently I had to reformat the hard drive twice in 3 days because of that stupid update.

tumblenweed in case you are not aware of this you can download and burn many of the linux distros/versions to cd as an iso, they are called live cd's. You can take the cd put it in your computer cd drawer and then reboot the pc so that it boots from the cd drive, then you simply select to run linix from the live cd. you can do pretty much anything you want to do from the live cd, just like if you had installed it on your hard drive but you didn't so everything that was on your pc is untouched. You will be able to use the firefox browser on the live cd to go online and surf, use the office program on the live cd to do word documents, use the audio or video programs to listen to music or play videos, every thing you normally do you can do in linux from the live cd. It is the perfect way to try out linux, you do not change a thing on your pc all you do is stick a cd in the drawer and boot up. When you are done using it select the shut down button on linux, when the cd drawer opens remove the cd, let the pc reboot and you are back as it was before you ever put the cd in the drawer.

If you don't want to burn your own cd you can order them for just a few dollars from several sources online. I would get several so you can try out different distros, ubuntu is not the only one to try, I really like Mepis it is very easy for new users, you can get some that use KDE some that use Gnome and there are some that have like 4 different managers on them. you can take a look at some of the versions here.
Linux at distrowatch, on that site you will see links to sites you can order cd's from. Get a few and give it a try! Plus everyone should have at least one linux live cd handy in case their windows dies, you can use a linux live cd to still get into your system and often use it to get your files.

Go for it Tumbleweed. As you already have the second computer there is nothing to stop you. Do as raven says to start, just use the CD and run from it. At some point you can decide to install.

I was running Ubuntu Dapper Drake for a while then I swapped to Mepis. After seeing Daylilly's post I thought it about time I looked for an update which I did last night. You can use a 2KVM switch if you only have one monitor so both computers can be controlled by the same keyboard and mouse and viewed on the same monitor with just a couple of taps on the keyboard.

That is exactly how my set up is but I have a 4 slot KVM switch so I have 4 machines all hooked up to it and the one I use controls everything, monitor, mouse, usb, and speakers. I absolutely love it. I have one monitor on my desk and the KVM switch, I just hit a button to change from one pc to the next. My KVM is an AirLink, this is my 2nd one, I had one that only had room for 2 computers and I wanted more, both have been excellent, I have a Fry's store not far from me and I picked them up there.

Owbist how do you like Mepis? have you been using it long?
Are you trying out something new now?

I was just over on distrowatch this weekend reading about some of the distros I have not tried yet thinking I need to get a few more live cd's

By the way if you have any book stores in your area that carry linux magazines often times they come with a free linux cd. When I was using Ubuntu I got a book called Ubuntu for Non-Geeks 2nd Edition covers Ubuntu 7.04 Fiesty Fawn by Rickford Grant, it is a great book for new users it is in terms that I could understand. And it comes with a live cd in the book. Ubuntu has moved up a couple of upgrades now but the basics are all still the same. I picked it up at Barnes and Noble. He may have a newer edition out for the newer versions of ubuntu.

dld, Thanks for the offer building a pc would be way over my head and TIME consuming.

rc & owbist, Taken notes. I've got to learn Linux before I can learn things as dual booting, Mepis, KVM, Gnome and Sea Monkey....LOL.

Building it is not so terrifying after I got that CD Build Your Own PC. It took the mystery out of what each part was and how it is used .The next computer I get will be one I build by my self. Just research how to build one tumblenweed. You will save money by building it yourself.

Hey Tumblenweed, try out this link

Here is a link that might be useful: How To Build a PV

there has been a good series over on the how to geek on how to build a pc he has it in a 5 part series, good info.
Building a New Computer - Part 1: Choosing Hardware
at the bottom of that one you see the links to the others.

Nice site Raven, I bookmarked it. It has some good information on Vista also. My daughter might benefit from the information there since her laptop has Vista on it.