What is the best way to go about trying different operating systems?

I have an ASUS netbook and have tried several different Linux distros. I had slight issues with each except Ubuntu 9.04 which I have settled on and been using for a couple of months. However, I think I might benefit from using one of the special netbooks remixes. I think the benefits might be a better battery life and better utilization of the small netbook screen. I am torn between trying a new distro and sticking with 9.04. In the past when ever I try a new distro it involves reinstalling new utility's and my documents etc, as well as going through the update process. I am wondering if there is a simple way to try a new distro.

I went back from Ubuntu 9.04 on my Acer one netbook, the best sysytem up to now is easy-peasy (ex eeeubuntu).

Everything just works fine, stable and reliable, as it does on my Asus eeePC.

I don't know about these netbooks what kind of space etc.  But for me I keep all my data in the same place so if I am using XP home or pro, linux it don't matter all the data is in the same place not with the os.  Just to get the feel of some things I install to virtualbox and run the os.  Like I have been doing with win7.  Its not really the same as native, but its easy and if you don't like it just delete it.  If it looks OK then give it a real home to check it out.  When I get to that stage I can normally just swap HD and build it out.  You know how windows likes it spot on the drive and it makes it easy to get back up if it crashs hard, just swap back.

Yup - sure is - most distos today are 'live' which implies you can simply boot to their O/S without installing it.

Of course, if after phaffing with it for a while, like a Lambo, its a must have, ya install and it will gladly pickup say the XP/M$ grub enties and add to them, so that after a clean shutdown, everything should be copecetic.

On a netbook - Atom? - ya dont want say KDE4.xx as it is a hog - go with Puppy4 or MM08 or PCLOS07 or with whatever grabs ya - make sure ya data is elsewhere in case it all goes pear shaped.

Mainly have fun and lose all the bad M$ habits

BR>Jack