Week 1

Download and install a Linux distribution.

I recommend Ubuntu because that's what I've used recently,
it's said to be easy to install and use, and I'm not familiar
with other distros anymore.
www.ubuntu.com/download

There are several options on how to run Linux:

0. burn the downloaded ISO image file to CD or thumb drive.

option 1: install it on a PC.  Boot from the CD or thumb drive
(if the PC can boot from thumb drive) and go thru the steps to
let it take over the entire computer, wiping out whatever else is
on it.

option 2: dual boot.  Partition the disk drive (maybe cleanup and defrag
Windows C drive first) either with a third party partitioning program
(Partition Magic, BootItNG, etc) or the partitioner in the Linux distro
(said to be safe).  
Then install Linux on the new empty partition.  
At bootup you choose which OS to boot.

option 3: no install, just boot from the ISO Live CD/thumb drive and run from it.  
Running from CD is sluggish and you have to set up drive space to save files.

option 4: virtual machine.  Install free VMWare Player on Windows, 
run it to create a virtual machine from the downloaded ISO image file.  
This is what I currently am using.  
Windows and Linux run simultaneously on the same PC.

option 5: Ubuntu's Wubi.  I don't know anything about this.

other options?

Post a 500 word (you're supposed to write a lot in DE classes) report
on your adventure.  So keep notes of what you did and any problems
that happened and choices you made etc.


http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick