[sf-lug] seeking update advice

[jim]

Hiya, 
    I'm running Ubuntu 10.04 on an Atom-based laptop. 
Support lapses sometime before May of 2013. I like 
support. 

    I've got multiple partitions on my 500GB hard drive: 
/dev/sda1 on / ext4  --37GB total, 7GB used 
/dev/sda2 swap  --1GB 
/dev/sda3 on /home ext4 (rw, user_xattr)  -- 111GB total, 55GB used 
/dev/sda4 on /xtra ext4 (rw)  -- 19GB total, 1GB used 
/dev/sda5 on /z_s ext4 (rw)  -- 76GB total 180MB used 

    I don't upgrade. I backup all files except OS files, 
then wipe the drive, then reinstall a new OS from some 
external media, then copy my files from backup to 
whatever partitions I've dreamed up this time. 

    I'm entertaining the idea of two OSs, Ubuntu 13.04 
and Knoppix 7.0.5; I want to get hard media for each. 

QUESTIONS: 
* Are these releases okay or good? (Should I get older 
  releases or wait for an upcoming release?) 
* What are your recommendations for getting each distro 
  on physical media (CD or DVD or USB stick)? I don't 
  like downloading ISOs--my experience includes problems, 
  primarily with corrupt images. I like paying money to 
  support the development communities. 
* For previous Ubuntu releases I have added packages for 
  word processors, graphics, and other applications. 
    There is a lot of software overlap between Ubuntu and 
  Knoppix and some differences: for example, I like Abi 
  Word, which comes with Knoppix but not with Unbuntu 
  (not 10.04, anyway). 
    There may be differences in included libraries. 

    The clean, simple, stupid (a good thing, fewer bugs) 
  way is to install each distro in separate partitions and 
  use dual boot to work with either. 
    The complex, uber-smart, potentially hair-pulling 
  way is to install each such that they use the same 
  directories such as /var/ and /usr/ and /lib/ and 
  possibly /etc/ and so on, differing only in the /boot/ 
  directories for grub and kernel and other differences. 
  This complex way will have to accommodate installation 
  of new packages 
    I'm sure there's a lot of middle ground between the two 
  above install cases. There's even install Ubuntu 13.04 
  and carry a Knoppix USB stick (I don't like this one much). 
    GOT IDEAS? RECOMMENDATIONS? THE EASY WAY? A MORE COMPLEX 
  WAY THAT HAS BENEFITS? 

with thanks, 
jim