A lot of distributions are shying away from including mp3/dvd capability
by default for fear of frivolous lawsuits. That said, you can always
install the full versions of the same programs included with the linux
ditribution simply by downloading them. Our wntire cd collection is kept
on a linux file server with software RAID continuously backing up the drive.

Ari

2006-01-06, Responding to Mary Z...

While this is a common thing to do, splitting a HDD to run
different OSs, my advice would be to get a second HDD
specifically for Linux, as there can sometimes be petty
little "buggettes" when Windows and something else share the
same HDD. If you only have the one HDD, go ahead anyhoo, but
don't commit valuable data to it until you're confident
things are "settled".

"Linux" kinda means an OS uses a Linux kernel (the central
processes of the computer's activity). Different "versions"
of Linux are laid out in different ways, use different kinds
of applications to do different kinds of things in different
kinds of ways, and can be seen almost as different
operating systems sometimes.

I have no idea what is included with Ubuntu, or how the
developers have organised things. I use SlackwareLinux.

However, it should not be too difficult to find, download,
and install/configure whatever software you need for any
given purpose.

You ***WILL*** find youself saying WTF? many times before
your brain learns to "let go" of the "Click here" way of
doing things with Windows. Neat and quick maybe, but you
only get what somebody else decided you're gonna get. With
virtually ALL Linux/UNIX/BSD/whatever systems, the only
limit is your own confidence, skill, and imagination.

If you want something that is designed to work "from the
box" AND already has a HUGE support group of users AND
developers all mixed up together on the same forum, try
VectorLinux. Its gained a solid user-base and looks like
becoming a "standard", if it isn't already.

www.vectorlinux.com

On boot, (assuming you use LILO, there are several methods)
you will simply get a menu screen of which OS you want to
use. Pick Windows and everything fires up as you remember.
Pick something else you've installed, and let the fun begin! :)

T'aint that difficult sticking the bits together as the
various sockets and mounting slots are pretty obvious
(designed for the average techie to fit ;). As long as you
don't let yourself become a static-bomb and end up zapping
your chips, doing things yourself should be ok.

Its figuring which bits of hardware you want/need to stick
in the box that causes some of the headaches. When you look
at the disfunctional mess of cheap and nasty junk you get in
many of the "official" names brand computers, the risk of
getting the wrong bit and having to chuck in into your
spares box and get another, begins to look pretty easy to
deal with by comparison.

Mistakes will always be made, thats part of learning. Unlike
so called "profesionally built" computers however, you will
keep getting better and better the more you learn, not
cheaper and cheaper. ;)

What are you doing with your old PC BTW?

Don't throw it out if the hardware is working, as you've got
the idea machine to practice installing and configuring
Linux on. You'll be amazed at what you can do with an old
box'o'bits and a Slackware install CDROM! :)

For instance...

I'm currently sitting at my main computer, and doing my
online stuff (like this post) on another computer by remote
control, via a seriously encrypted network connection, all
handled automatically using PGP-like keys when I login to
the remote computer from this one. The display is on my main
computer as I've (software-wise) "sliced the top off" the
display (of the applications I'm using) on the remote, and
stuck it into the display on this machine for convenience.

All pretty standard stuff. (Smug-mode engaged :)

Music will NOT be a problem using Linux.

Mike@N.UK