ubuntu on homebuilt box

[Sasha Tsykin]

Hey,

Check with your vendor about the BIOS update thing. I don't know of any 
vendor which offers BIOS update software for linux but many offer 
updates via floppy or CD on boot, eliminating the problem. You just 
download the update, load it onto the disk, and reboot.

Most optical drives will work with Ubuntu (I've never heard of any which 
didn't) so you're probably safe no matter what you choose. Xandros is 
completely different.

Sasha