In spite of all my efforts to get you to start using open source, you still haven't tried ? Still feel you need to get a tech course before considering it ?
Well you should rush to this review. It will tell you all about experiencing linux on your own box in less than 5 minutes.
It starts like this...
"Live Linux CDs allow people to test Linux or try a distribution without any hard drive installation, or carry Linux around in their pocket to use on any computer. I have picked the top ranked Live CD from Distrowatch for each of these three tasks to review/compare. Knoppix 3.4 is the "test Linux" live CD, PCLinuxOS 7a is the "try before it before installing" live CD and Damn Small Linux is the "pocket Linux" live CD. " (via tuxs.org)
But it you are a real linux die-hard, check the latest release 2004.2 of gentoo (out today), the compile-yourself-everything-distribution. (via distrowatch).