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With the recent release of the memory-hungry Windows Vista, many consumers are wondering whether they should upgrade or stand pat with XP. However, if you're getting tired of the cost, restrictions, and bloat associated with Windows, I recommend a third option: taking Linux for a test drive.

Don't you have to be some sort of computer geek to use Linux? At one time, the answer would have been an emphatic yes, but Linux-based operating systems have evolved to the point where this is no longer the case. In fact, the most user-friendly flavours are in many ways actually easier to use than Windows.

Due to the the non-proprietary, "open-source" model on which Linux is based, it evolves far more quickly than Windows or Macintosh. As a result, it tends to be more efficient and stable and offers far more variety. The source code of almost Linux programs, down to the core (or "kernel") of the operating system, is freely available, so any experienced user can make changes to programs and point out flaws; changes which are beneficial are incorporated into subsequent versions of the programs.

Most home computer users just want a stable operating system that makes it easy to accomplish day-to-day tasks. There are several distributions that do exactly this. In stark contrast to Windows -- where you nearly have to get violent in order to obtain the CD/DVD corresponding to your pre-installed copy -- you can download any Linux distribution for free and either burn a CD/DVD or copy it to a USB drive.

If you just want to try it out, you can boot it directly from the install CD (known as a Live CD) without installing anything on your hard drive. A Live CD is also quite useful if you need to recover data from a corrupted hard drive that won't boot. For a couple of bucks, you can have the installation CD/DVD mailed to you.

One of the easiest to use is Ubuntu, a distribution created by South African Mark Shuttleworth. As with many other Linux distributions, if you choose to install it, the process is no more difficult than Windows and it will recognize most or all of your hardware out of the box.

Unlike Windows, Ubuntu comes loaded with most of the software that you'll need: office software, web browser, email, music, video and photo applications, etc.

One of the most convenient features is the "package manager" that will search for, download, and install other applications that interest you from online repositories that contain thousands of programs. The update manager regularly checks for updates to the packages that you've installed, notifies you, and installs those that you select. You can easily use these tools to replace the default user interface with one that's more to your liking; a few even incorporate the 3D effects and transparent windows associated with Windows Vista or Mac OS X. For a demonstration, just search YouTube for "compiz".

One of the main stumbling blocks for users who are new to Linux has been compatibility with Windows software and drivers. However, this has been largely solved. The most popular office suite, Openoffice, can read and save documents in Microsoft Office's formats and is also available for Windows. You can even install many Windows programs directly using a free application named Wine or non-free Crossover Office and Cedega, which support a greater number of more complex programs. If your computer came pre-loaded with Windows, your internal modem will likely not work with Linux, but many wireless cards work immediately and most of the others can made to work using the WIndows driver. If you buy a computer pre-loaded with Linux -- which can be as cheap as 179$ -- you won't experience any hardware problems and Crossover Office is often included. Regardless of your hardware, your system will be completely impervious to Windows security flaws, viruses and worms.

If you're having trouble with any program or feature, you can usually find the solution by searching the web. No matter what the problem or question, you're unlikely to be the first to have experienced it and a more experienced user has usually posted a solution on one of the many linux and distribution-specific forums.

The bottom line is that Linux is an extremely efficient and stable operating system that is constantly evolving to better meet your needs.

Your computer will run faster and require far less memory, and you'll never see the "blue screen of death". If you've had your computer for two years (or even less), XP is probably getting sluggish and you can't even dream of installing Vista. Instead of relegating your computer to the dustbin of history and buying the latest high-end system, why not download a Live CD of the latest Ubuntu, Suse or Fedora and try it out?

If you like it, you can keep Windows and install Linux on another partition or hard drive.

P. Surdas Mohit is a Canadian graduate student in planetary geophysics at Washington University. He has written for several Canadian publications, including the Toronto Star, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, and Montreal Gazette.