Another Windows Replacement

[cd34]

install k3b (if it isn't there already) its a really nice burner for CD/DVD.

XMMS is just like winamp

openoffice.org replaces microsoft office (and can read 99% of the microsoft office files) I have found though -- if you are going to save in word format, save in word97 when exporting to people. Certain things don't work in the newer formats when created in openoffice.org (this goes for the windows version too)

Other than that, I've been using Linux as a desktop for ~3 years. It has improved vastly, however, there are still things that just don't work the way they should.

Like faxing -- I can fax, but, getting gfax to read the contact list from evolution so that I don't have to retype info, that's a pain. It does work, but, nothing like installing Winfax and having it read the Act Contact Manager. Winmodems usually don't work. I have an SL Modem in my laptop that I can talk to, but, every attempt to dial fails, so, I have to get a pcmcia modem. Centrino chipsets are mildly supported by Linux because Intel won't release certain specs.

Basically, if you are going to experiment with linux, I suggest you get relatively popular hardware. That Taiwan no-name video card that does 2 billion pixels, probably won't work optimally in linux. ATI, GForce/Nvidea (through proprietary drivers), and many of the 'retail' brands are well supported.

My Sony camera wasn't supported when I got it, but, 2 months later it was. Webcam support was removed due to a fight by the kernel developers. A new, different approach is there after a month or so of discussion (flamewars)

Certain wireless cards are not well supported. Broadcom chipsets generally require ndisdriver or linuxant to load properly. The older 802.11b is well supported in most cases.

So, if you have a spare PC sitting around, you can also try Knoppix.net -- it is a live CD -- you burn the CD and boot from it -- you don't need to format your hard drive or anything. It contains many of the applications that you would use and runs right from the CD.

Test with Knoppix and you can get a general idea whether your machine will work well under xandros.