I think Matt Cahill explained it pretty well. And as far as Linux goes, I've been using it longer than Matt, but I think he has done a much better job of diving into it than have I. On my first Linux machine, I put RedHat 5.2 which is now considered quite old. I wiped that off and installed RedHat 6.2 when it came out. And now that RH 7.2 is out, I'll soon do it again. I have not yet installed AbiWord on Linux, but have been using it on my w95 PC for a couple of years now. Once I get more time, I will start to do more with my Linux.
If you are interested in Linux support groups, the one I joined a few years ago is really good. They have broken up their mailing lists into several sub-groups. Some are special interest with very low volume (like the LPSG - Linux Programmer's Study Group) while others carry much greater volume of emails (like the main discussion list and the newbie list). I would recommend that you join the newbie list to find out whether or not you like it. The group is called KPLUG (for Kernel Panic Linux User's Group) and is pronounced "kay plug". It is based here in San Diego but has members from around the world actively participating in the email discussions. One way to subscribe to the newbie mailing list is this: From the email account you wish to use, just create an empty email, and then mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Another way to subscribe to the newbie list (or any of the others, for that matter) is to go to the KPLUG website at http://www.kernel-panic.org, select the list you want, and supply the email address you wish to use. Either way you choose to go, the next thing that will happen is that a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided. To confirm that you want a subscription, just hit reply, and then hit send. If you do not, nothing further will happen. But if you do, you will then receive a confirmation email of your subscription. It would be a good idea to keep this email and NOT delete it. It contains information on how to unsubscribe should you decide it is not fit your needs. Many people on these lists feel as you do about M$ (that means MicroSoft but with particular focus on their main focus, $). Some feel even more strongly. But you would have a hard time finding a better Linux community to help you whenever you need it. (In fact, one of its members, Lan Barnes, is the one who made me aware of AbiWord. And I sometimes see his posts on the AbiWord list, so I know he is active in both places. And I think he knows more than I do on both subjects.) I hope this helps. "Virgil Arrington Jr." wrote: > > This may not necessarily be appropriate on an Abi list, but since so many of > you use Linux, I'd thought I'd ask. > > I've been thinking recently of trying Linux as I've grown more dissatisfied > with MS-Windows and the MS attitude behind it. Yet, the one thing that > holds me back is seeing how much difficulty many of the Linux Abi users have > installing and using Abi on their systems. I realize that Abi is still > pre-release, but I haven't had nearly the difficulties with the Windows > version as I have read from many of you concerning the Linux versions. I > read of tarballs and rpms and dependencies and other things I have never > heard of. Is this normal Linux stuff or is it unique to the early nature of > Abi. Is there really that much difference between different Linux > distributions that Abi would work fine on one and not on others? If so, how > does any given Linux user know if a new application will work with his > particular flavor? > > Not trying to clog up the Abi list with a Windows-Linux debate - as I'm sure > many of you have strong feelings - so please feel free to respond to me > privately and off-list. > > Virgil > > _________________________________________________________________ > Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com > > ----------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word > unsubscribe in the message body. -- Ralph (upstart Perl programmer) mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Less frequently accessed alternate: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Mom: "DUI?! Driving Under the Influence of what?!!!" Son: "CellPhone." --Ralph Shumaker ---------------------------------------------------- Sign Up for NetZero Platinum Today Only $9.95 per month! http://my.netzero.net/s/signup?r=platinum&refcd=PT97 ----------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word unsubscribe in the message body.
