Linux Mint 13 aka Maya installed tonight, but had a problem with the CairoDock doofer falling over and hanging the PC, so I've uninstalled it.  I've tried Docky, but its not as good looking as Cairo, however it works OK, so thats what I have on the desktop right side to launch the essential apps i.e. Chrome, Firefox, and Banshee media player.   I also have ORACLE VIRTUALBOX installed, running a virtual WIN XP and it works OK if the PARALLELS HD option is selected.  Win XP install is to demonstre virtualization and the flexibility and power of this  Linux O.S.   Other than that LM13 is good, its ditched the alternate interface of LM10/11(?) & looks like a simple GUI operating system, reasonably fast in operation with 2Gb RAM installed, apart from booting up.
Host PC is a reconstituted Dell 5150, more ram, motherboard tweaked and fixed, hard drive swapped out with another spare 80Gb drive awaiting in the wings, and another DVDRW device installed.  I have also installed a wireless card and that works like a dream - Linux Mint picked the correct driver straight away and its cookin' !!
The Dell5150 was earmarked to replace the aging and noisy PHOENIX, which has given sterling service over the last 10 years or so.   The Linux PC can print to the Lexmark C543 colour laser, but I need cartridges to be replaced on it before we can print anything else.  However, an additional bonus is that last night I actually got "DELLBOY" speaking to the Samsung ML-1915 USB printer which is hanging off the back of the SYNOLOGY DS211j NAS device.  Next step is to configure Dellboy to mount the Synology shared folders and perhaps attempt an image backup to the Synology.