I can hardly remember. More notes.

I can hardly remember why I chose CentOS. I do know (from looking on my shelf) that I tried a bunch of other Linuses and they all failed to install until CentOS, which was smooth as silk in that regard. Eventually, I got Ubuntu to install on a different machine, but never managed to get it to connect to the internet (via my LAN). I think another reason for trying CentOS was its relationship with RedHat, which is very well supported, but yeah, not for home use really. Since I don't use CentOS for multimedia (it was, and is, a learning tool) I'm happy with it. I don't know if the others are like this, but with CentOS I find a few problems, such as the GUI controls seem to always do about 90% of what I need, but the other 10% requires editing an obscure and very well hidden .conf file. Mine also won't allow root apps to be run from a user login, it gives me the usual little box asking for my root p/w and then does ... absolutely nothing. Oh, except to jump to 100% CPU usage until I find and kill the process I tried to start. I have also not managed, after many tries, to get VNC to use KDE. It insists on Gnome, and nothing else. Not that I really mind; I kinda like Gnome, but it was frustrating before I gave up and decided that this was just an inherited characteristic, like BL. I did, however, manage to get Samba tamed and the box now connects to my Windows LAN almost as if it was just another Windows machine. Almost, because Windows won't let me "map" a CentOS directory as a drive. It also prints to my LAN print server, connects fine to the net, and I even figured out how to change the monitor refresh rate (hint: no GUI for THAT bugger). Mostly I use it headless, with VNC or SSH. VNC is great, and WAY faster than on Windows. On the other hand, CentOS seems to require a lot more horsepower and memory than XP, and runs much slower than XP on a similar machine. It does, however, have pretty good hardware support. Oh, and for those Linux wannabees; a couple of precautionary notes. First, while the various versions are well supported with basic stuff, there are FAR more niche utilities and programs available for Windows than for Linux. Second, while the major programs have "got it right", you may find yourself having to learn to compile stuff from source (daunting for the beginner) to install it on Linux. Third, if you succumb to temptation when in a local store, and buy the latest, greatest, and cheapest 4 in 1 printer at $40, don't expect to find drivers for Linux. At best you can probably get it to print, using older or generic drivers. If you're miraculously lucky, it might even scan. But forget about the integrated control panels, editors, ability to assign button functions, etc. It's not gonna happen. I also suggest that if you want to go the Linux route, you prepare yourself by making friends with someone having lots of experience. The learning curve to do simple stuff isn't too bad, but even if you want to do something as trivially simple (in Windows) as putting a shortcut on your desktop, you've got your work cut out for you. If you're dedicated and love computers, you'll be fine. If you just want a tool to use, you'll be fed up in a couple of days. Somersault