I would like to have a variety of Linux Distributions on disk to look at on my computer while I try and figure out what different members are posting. Does anyone know of a store within New York City where I could go to buy them ?

plenty of websites you can order them from. Some are sold in mixed bundles

Yes, there is.

Something like the screenshots at osdir, which show installation and desktop features of various distributions may show you more than CDs with unknown files on them if you are talking about seeing some of the differences between distributions. The best way to know the differences, of course, is to install a few different distributions.
There are lots of places you can download for free, or purchase cheap CDs of the download version. I like Linux Central. They sell both the cheap CDs and the Retail Boxed sets. I either download or buy cheap CDs to just try out a distribution.
What sorts of things, exactly, do you think having various distribution CDs will make clearer? It may help others make more suggestions.

Ah, the world of Linux !! I have to learn about Linux Operating Systems as well as learn about the inner workings of my computer. I did not have to do these things using windows ( I was lulled to sleep as my money was being drained from me ).
I figure I might as well have a look at the Linux distributions as I learn about Linux itself. The posts I have thus far read about Slackware, Knoppix, Mandriva, Ubuntu, Debian, and RedHat all have interested me.

I have Suse Linux 10 on my computer at present. I was using KDE at first but did not like it ( it did not fit me ) so I reinstalled Suse using the Gnome desktop which is more my speed.

I am growing to really like and appreciate the Konqueror Browser and the Logical way it does things.

I truly appreciate your help !!!

DistroWatch will give you the low-down skinny on all sorts of distributions.

I would recommend that you download an ISO-image and burn it to your own CD-ROM. Frankly, that's going to get you the latest-and-greatest material and it's not particularly hard to do. Retail stores have a hard time profitably stocking any sort of computer software, and why do you really need to bother with that expensive packaging anyway?

I would encourage you, strongly, to purchase a second disk-drive for your computer, and to put Linux .. whatever you choose .. on that. Leave your Windows drive completely alone throughout. Most computers can boot from any installed drive. This will enable you to explore Linux at your leisure, without ever putting your other computing-environment in any sort of jeopardy.

(My main machine actually has three drives, the third being a repository for duplicate copies of all kinds of files.)

Putting a swap partition on a hard drive other than the one used by Linux is a good thing to do. But it could be done after installing Linux just resizing the filesystem used (not a dangerous operation anymore) in Windows.

Putting a swap partition on a hard drive other than the one used by Linux is a good thing to do. But it could be done after installing Linux just resizing the filesystem used (not a dangerous operation anymore) in Windows.

My hp pavillion a532x computer was recently reformatted by my computer guy " Jay ". Jay partitioned a bare bones Windows XP into my " C " drive and gave me driver disks for my hp printer and scanner. I then reinstalled Suse Linux 10 using the Gnome desktop. At present only 5% of my " C " drive is being used and only 4% of my " D " drive so I have plenty of room in my computer.

I was under the impression that I could insert and boot different distributions of Linux from CD to see how they functioned. Are you saying that this is an unwise thing to be thinking of doing?

I've usually got two or three different distros of Linux residing on my PC at any given time. One guy I know has as many as 15! It's not really a problem, if you understand how to add them to your bootloader correctly.

Also, many distros have "Live-CD" versions available. Knoppix comes to mind first, but there is also Ubuntu, Mepis, PCLOS, MandrakeMove, and more. These boot directly from the CD, and are not installed to the hard-drive (although that is often an option).

Thank You, Padma !

Live CD's are what I am looking for. I have had very bad luck shopping on line, which is why I am seeking a store to go to.

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Thanks for the mention of "Open Shots". This is a great site, I was unaware of its existence.

Good Recommendation!