Linux

And if you want to run full disk encryption, do that before installing.
Bear in mind that when installing Intrepid Ibex it's best to keep your /swap unencrypted and then setting it to use a random key rather than a passkey as it's only temporary data. Otherwise you'll have to enter two passkeys on boot. This tutorial helped me with the last stage of encrypting the /swap after installation, steps are pretty much the same with 8.10.

I have a system rescue CD that I use quite a bit when I'm installing a new OS.

Have been using Ubuntu almost exclusively for about 5 months now.