Linux is a free operating system developed under the GNU License, which basically means it's open source, and freely distributable, but also can be sold (check the README files that come with your distributions and the GNU Project's website for more details). Because of this licensing, Linux is distributed by a whole score of companies, each adding their own unique functionalities and applications. We include 7 major distributions of Linux with every PC we sell. This way, the choice of witch distribution you want to use is solely up to you. One of the most confusing aspects of putting together a Linux box yourself is deciding witch distribution you want to use, and for most its a hit-and-miss situation. One distribution might be just what you need for a while, but then your needs change or your Linux expertise grows and the distribution you spent anywhere from $20 and up or spent many hours downloading, is of no further use. With GNUPC, you get 7 full distributions on disc, so you can try them all if you wish. This is what makes GNUPC different from our competition.

We don't install any operating systems on your computer before we ship it out to you. We believe in freedom of choice, and by including 7 different distributions, we're giving you ALOT of freedom. Linux is very customizable, and by installing it yourself, you can tailor it to your needs. If you really don't want this freedom, we can install and pre-configure the distribution of your choice for $25. Please note that when we do the installation, you will only get the discs for the distribution you chose.

Here is a run down of the distributions we include, and a brief description of each. More information can be found on the distributions home pages, witch are linked below. You can also see a very in-depth comparison chart of these distros and a few more at this page (thanks to Linux Journal for providing the link and the descriptive info):