Hi Guys:

I have been lurking for a few months and am now considering installing
Linux on my Dell laptop. I am not a total newbie to Linux. I installed
Mandrake Linux on an old computer a couple of years ago and played
around with it for a while.

My laptop has a AMD Sempron 2.0 GHz processor, 2 GB of ram and a 320
GB hard drive with XP installed. I have a home wireless network.

I mainly use this computer for web browsing, email and bittorrent and
I often use VNC viewer to remotely control my desktop computer which
is also running XP. I do occassonally (maybe 2 days per month) need to
run Windows business programs on this computer (Quickbooks, Simply
Accounting etc.).

Based on the messages that I have read I am thinking of installing
Linux Mint but would consider any other recommendations. I am
wondering if I should run a dual boot system for the times when I need
Windows or should I just go with Linux and use something like Wine for
those times when I need to run Windows apps. I am also looking for
help on how I should partition the hard drive.

Thanks for your help in advance and also thanks for running this group
to help people like myself.

Dave