KNOPPIX is a GNU/Linux distribution that is run from the bootable CD. Hardware detection is, for the most part, automatic. Here's what I like about KNOPPIX 3.1:

• KDE 3.0.4 is the graphical desktop environment.
• Creating a boot floppy went smoothly from KNOPPIX/boot.img on the CD.
• KNOPPIX found the internet via my cable modem without any effort on my part.
• The Konqueror browser gave me access to Windows files in /mnt/hda2/.
• Java programs on Windows (mnt/hda2/j2sdk1.4.1_01/bin) were run in Konsole.
• My work in bash could be saved in a script file and copied to /mnt/floppy/.

As for printing and setting up email, Windows wins that contest based on easier setup procedures.