KNOPPIX is a bootable Live system on DVD, features automagic hardware detection, and supports most any hardware you can try it on. KNOPPIX is one of the first "live" CD distros and is the most polished I have tried. It can be used as a Linux system for the desktop just like it is. It also can be used as a rescue CD to recover your system, or can be modified and used as a platform for just about anything you can think of!

It is not necessary to install it on a hard disk, just boot up the Cd, and in 5 minitues you will have a fully operational Linux system to try. If you want, user data can be stored on USB keys and swap partions will automatically be used to add more memory for applications. Knoppix is based on Debian and the DVD version I sell includes thousands of applications.