[ShadowAce]

Would Redhat or Novell or any of the others allow me to load Linux on a PC and add it to a Microsoft network that's running ICS, without being a Linux expert?

Yes. I am running Fedora Core, which is Redhat's consumer product, on my laptop. I have moved it to several networks, including the one at work. It picks up the connection with no problems at all, and I can see all the computers on the network as well as the Internet.

[MarshHawk]

Yes. I am running Fedora Core, which is Redhat's consumer product, on my laptop. I have moved it to several networks, including the one at work. It picks up the connection with no problems at all, and I can see all the computers on the network as well as the Internet.

Woah, now you have my attention! It will automatically configure itself to share the Internet connection, printers, etc.? I might have to give that a try.

[ethel rascel]

My experience with Red Hat Fedora is similar. It recognizes not only picks up a network connection, but recognizes a Cisco Aironet Wireless card for laptops without having to download drivers.

It came with drivers to configure my Xerox WorkCentre printer. This is not exactly the most common printer. The process of configuring a printer in Fedora is similar to adding a printer thru the Control Panel in Windows.

Fedora comes with Acrobat Reader, so you can read PDFs. It works just like Windows, double click on the icons.