My investigation of Linus has been fairly extensive.
The Lindows package sold with computers at Walmart have
several packages installed and there is a subscription package
available to get more.
For a 'front end' approach to use Linux for a minimal
install to do mail, websearch and some office apps., I haven't
heard about anything better than Xandros.
Xandros was written up in the last _PC Upgrade_ mag
more as a press release than evaluation, but that's the way
I heard about it. Plain vanilla Xandros costs about $40.
More on Linux in these other messages...