Watching DVD files from a hard-drive shouldn't be a problem if you install VLC Player after installing Linux, it's usually available in most distributions online repositories.

As for installing from a USB stick, I definately remember Fedora (Open Source RedHat) releasing a USB stick version to install from or run directly from the stick (does both). I'm sure other versions of linux have the same capability available too

I was actually wondering how well windows stuff runs in wine or a VM engine. Anyone tried it? I was thinking of running old games like the HoMM series on the way to work but not having to bother with XP

I've got an EEE PC & would like to run some of my familiar Windows apps without going the full XP-install route. So far, every time I try to install it, my system hangs.

Hasn't any Linux buff ever managed to create the equivalent of a DOS batch file that will do it all for me?

If you want wireless, you'll have to download the linux kernel. OpenSUSE finds the LAN straight off, but the RPM for the wireless from the MSI website needs the full kernel.

Out of the box SuSE Enterprise WS runtime install cannot find the LAN, and needs a full kernel re-build.