[TexasRepublic]

I have tried half a dozen Linux distros and have had fewer problems installing them than installing Windows XP from scratch. Unfortunately some hardware companies do not write drivers for Linux, so I simply avoid those and read up beforehand what is supported. I had no luck with internal Winmodems, so I use an external Hayes-compatible modem instead; no driver necessary. For wireless, I use Edimax PCI cards, available from NewEgg for $19.99 and no drivers are necessary because support is already built into Linux. Literally plug and play. Linux runs fine on all the Dells and HPs I have tried so far, some with ATI graphics cards. I never have needed to use the dreaded command line.

[Rocco DiPippo]

So are you telling me that Linux will be a snap to get working after I buy an external DVD drive, an external wireless card, an external modem, external RAM, an external hard drive, an external network card, external motherboard and external display? How about an external CPU, should I get one of those too to increase my odds of success? Almost forgot -- an external usb hub would probably be a good idea too.

Lol!