For a hard disk install Mandrive, OpenSuse or Fedora for sure.
But, it would be more sensible to go for a live cd. Best ones are Ubuntu live, knoppix, linspire. Linspire live was given out with a past issue of digit in DVD, you'll have to burn it in a cd. Ubuntu is available in this month's LFY.
You can get a list of live cd's here Live cd's