I am posting this from a ubuntu live cd, and I am estactic in the features of the disk and how easy and fast the system is.
I can browse a windows network, burn cds, play movies, music, view pictures, practically anything I would do in Windows 2000 as a desktop home user. Play solitaire.
I give it 9.7 / 10.0 for a desktop OS. better than windows
If anyone (linux noob) what's to try, then go to filemirrors.com and search ubuntu. My version is 5.01 Live ( disc image size is about 650 MB)