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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I bought an HP laptop a couple of months ago.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From "my computer" it shows:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>processor 1.60 GHz</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>590 Mhz, 504 MB of ram</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>from Accesories -> system tools -> system
information it shows</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>total 512 MB, available 105.36 MB</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>total virtual 2 gig</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>avail virtual 1.96 gig</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am familiar with unix in that I worked on an AIX
for many years and SUN OS/solaris as well.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am a programmer, mainly interested in Perl, Ruby,
Java, C++, etc. I might want to play </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>with appache
web server as well. I'm doing this for my resume, experience, and possible work.
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>I want to be able to put linux on my resume and
use my laptop with linux to do telecommuting type </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>work if needed for various companies that require linux and I have a
particular interest in web type work </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>with Ruby,
Perl/CGI, etc. I allready had an opportunity with a company that uses linux.
After they contacted me via email, I told them I don't have it installed so
I'd have to log onto their web server and I never heard back from them
since. I felt this lack of linux on my laptop to be a distinct disadvantage and
is something I have been meaning to address. </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am
interested in recommendations about which distros of linux I should consider
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>and why. I've looked at the linux.org listing and
the number of distros is endless and somewhat mind boggling. I will try to
attend a linux meeting sometime, but may be up in maine on the 22nd. A guy I
worked with says debian is the best and the mention of SUSE on the BLU site
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>aroused my curiousity such that I browsed a book
on this at the book store. I may be up in maine on the 19th as well
however.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I would like to keep an Windows partition
initially. Should I look for assistance on an install ?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I don't want to mess up my machine or spend endless
hours trying to figure this out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Larry</DIV></FONT>
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