Are You Ready for Linux?

That said, I did find that Linux supports hundreds of popular printers and many common business tools. For example, there are several free software programs that will connect your PalmPilot to a Linux computer and synchronize your address books. Still, the easiest way to ensure that the operating system works on your computer is to buy one with Linux already installed.

7. Which computers come with Linux already preinstalled?

Among the gaggle of specialty-hardware vendors that are offering Linux work-stations, the most prominent is VA Linux Systems. The company offers an array of computers, ranging from complete PCs for about $1,000 to full-blown work-stations with multiple processors that come with a price tag of more than $10,000. Another respected Linux-only computer seller is Penguin Computing.

The mainstream PC makers are also jumping on the Linux bandwagon. Last fall, Dell Computer began preinstalling Linux on many of its machines. Prices for these systems are not appreciably lower than those of similar systems outfitted with Microsoft Windows, but that may change as the competition starts to heat up. Expect to see computer-maker stalwarts Hewlett-Packard and IBM selling Linux desktop computers soon. Database giant Oracle is also joining the free-software legion: It plans to establish a separate company to sell Linux-based networked computers, which are expected to cost about $200 each.

Coordinates: VA Linux Systems Inc., www.valinux.com; Penguin Computing Inc., www.penguincomputing.com; Dell Computer Corp., www.dell.com/linux; Oracle Corp., www.oracle.com

8. How long will it take me to get comfortable using Linux?

It won't take forever. People who have used a Macintosh or a Windows machine will easily find their way around a Linux system that's been gussied up with GNOME or KDE. Onscreen icons launch programs with a click, and a movable tool bar calls up menus listing everyday programs. You'll have to unlearn some old habits, but many things work in familiar ways. For example, the software menu pops up in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, and you can select applications like a CD player or a word processor from that list.

Even small tasks, such as renaming a file, are usually accomplished in the same way that they are in Windows. Macintosh users can even make the Linux GUI look like a Mac screen by selecting a different windows manager, or by putting the menu bar at the top of the screen and changing the borders to look like those of the MacOS.

All of this seems pretty seamless, until you decide to do something different -- like reset the screen resolution or install a new program. Then you'll find yourself flipping through the Linux manuals for the right commands. That's because Linux still makes you go out to terminal mode to complete many tasks -- which means you must alter a text command line to make changes to the system. Getting a new modem to work or installing a Linux program can be a chore until you learn the commands for setting up drivers and manually running software-installation routines.

9. Enough about the operating system -- what about applications for Linux?

The main programs for Linux that run under KDE and GNOME can open and store many Microsoft Windows file formats. And there are enough solid software programs written for Linux to let you get your work done -- with a couple of notable exceptions.

In the word-processing category, Corel's WordPerfect 8 ($70) for Linux is a winner. WordPerfect includes more than 5,000 clip-art images and supports more than 1,000 printers. If most of your work involves words, you won't have to make any sacrifices when you use Linux.

When it comes to all-in-one office suites, however, no big-name program is currently available for Linux. Corel says it plans to release its WordPerfect Office suite for Linux, which will reportedly include the popular Quattro Pro spreadsheet program.

Meanwhile, there's StarOffice 5.1, the perfectly serviceable office suite from Sun Microsystems. You can download it free of charge or pay $10 for the promotional CD-ROM. StarOffice includes a word processor, a spreadsheet, an email package, a calendar, and even a program for making presentations.

A Web browser is a must-have business tool, and Netscape continues to support Linux. The latest Linux version of Netscape Communicator 4.7 contains all of the essential elements of the Windows and the Mac versions, including email management and a Web-page composer. Most of the popular plug-ins, including RealNetworks's RealServer G2 media player, also work for people who are cybersurfing from a Linux machine.

What's missing? For one thing, no one has yet written a full-blown contact manager, such as Symantec's Act!, for Linux. Most versions of KDE and GNOME include an address book and calendar, but they lack advanced features that can track sales contacts and juggle multiple cross-references.