It is as easy as downloading which Linux distro you want (Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, many many) and then with the simple utility free software you transfer it to a USB Drive (not usb media stick, same price) and then plug in to the USB port and reboot.
It is best just starting out to try different versions (aka "distros") to see which you like. Linux pretty much has everything Windows does in the way of softwares as PDF Readers etc. Handfuls of softwares have Linux versions as well. There is even the free program called Wine that enables many softwares made for Windows to work on Linux.
It is called the "Live Distro" which simply means you have Linux ready to install but are just going to run it as demo mode with no changes. In the Live Distro, it is fully working with internet connectivity and you can try out browsing and the pre-installed softwares. But if you go to install stuff and like make documents in like an office type software as Libre and so on - it is not going to work. It is just demo mode to see things work - not for actually using as if you had installed it.
Most of the popular distros (Ubuntu, Mint, Debian etc) have all the options when you boot into the USB with Linux on it. Options to wipe the entire computer disk (erase windows and everything else on the pc) and install Linux. It also gives options if you want to create a "dual boot" which is keep windows and install Linux also and then at computer start pick which to boot into. And then of course the Option to just "Try Linux Without Installing" (Live Distro).
TIP: Sounds like you are ready to take the ride. I believe you are running a Netbook, as I have two myself, from description. I strongly recommend you do the Live Distro (demo mode) first to see if the Wireless connection works (Wi-Fi or Home Network router). The great thing about Linux is that it works well on older computers that become "legacy" with newer ones released running windows. Most popular versions (distros) of Linux work just fine on wireless, tried many on a netbook and notebook. It will connect just about instantly when Linux launches (fast). Simply launch the browser and check. (Firefox is included in many popular distros. In Debian they have version of Firefox called Ice Weasel I believe is renamed). It is the same when you launch Linux in ethernet connection (broadband/dsl) - it will connect almost instantly. If you, and should, use secure wireless (wi-fi) connection as WEP (not recommended, cracked easily) or WPA or WPA2 (recommended) you simply click the Connection Manager icon in tray to put in the key (password) and also name if needed of the connection - like Home Network router "Bob's Cool Station" or whatever it is. In demo mode don't even bother with it, run it as it is until deciding to install.
I would recommend Linux Mint and Xubuntu that are a lot like Windows XP, Vista, 7. Ubuntu has become one of the most popular and has advanced to look like Windows 8 Metro even before it did. But Ubuntu is another to try. With a netbook, you want to get what seems best without being heavy on it. Most should not be. Here is a link to a now slightly older articles.....
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-solid-linux-distributions-for-your-netbook/729
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061800298.html
READY?
# Get a USB Drive if you don't have one at any computer store (BestBuy, Staples, etc) , drugstore (RiteAid etc). 2Gigs size is plenty and should be $10 to $20 USD. Plug that into XP and let it install the driver. Ready.
# Go to the Linux distro you want to try and download it - large like generally 500M to 800M size.... gonna take minutes and minutes. Download it to familiar spot as My Documents so you know where it is and remember file name.
# Install a USB utility to enable Linux distro to launch on pc......
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
OR...
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
(Launch it and check on menu where it says to Pick Your Own Linux Version, meaning the one you just downloaded and choose that).
# Transfer Linux to USB drive, minutes - pretty fast. Safely eject USB drive and close all programs on XP. Re-insert USB drive and click Restart - ready to follow the following instructions.....
# Since this a Netbook and not a desktop it may take two tries to get it to work. The easiest is simply after you click Restart with the USB drive plugged in - you tap tap tap keep tapping the ESCAPE ( ESC) key on the top left of the keyboard. If it did not boot into Linux - then you have to go into the BIOS and choose to boot into the USB Drive rather than normal XP start up. Generally on Start Up or Restart you do that by tap tap tap keep tapping either the F2 or F10 key on top of keyboard to boot into BIOS. You may need to check at Acer what key they use if different. Again in BIOS click Save Changes and it will automatically reboot and go ahead and do the tapping ESCAPE key.
# You should now be in the Linux start panel with all Options. Choose Try Linux Without Installing and there you go. Give it a moment to load.
UBUNTU LINUX http://www.ubuntu.com/
LINUX MINT http://linuxmint.com/
DEBIAN LINUX http://www.debian.org/
PS.... There are like over 30,000 free softwares to install on Linux right from it, at the Software Repository built into Linux. You can search by name or category - or just skim list (tedious). They all have descriptions to what they do.
PSS... I was an XP diehard - had one since November 2001. It is certainly gone forever like Windows 98 etc.
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I have an Acer Aspire One Atom Processor 1gb ram 150gb hard drive.
Looking to change to Linux because of the XP debaucle.
My usage is internet surfing and online banking. Would need the ability to view pdf files, nothing unique. The machine has no cd drive, nor do I have an external drive. I do have usb ports. I have used pc dos, q-modem, and dealt with figuring out modem initialization strings in the before time, but like many, have been reduced to an "appliance operator" as things became more complicated. SO.....how do I make the switch?
Mike_
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