The Linux I got this time around after trying out Knoppix...
the version that comes on and runs from the cdrom drive... is
Red Hat Linux 2 or Fedora Core 2.

I wanted to push the free software idea as far as I could,
so I just looked at the distributions available as 'books'
with cds and the one I landed on at Barnes and Noble was
called Red Hat Linux 2 Bible by Christopher Negus.

Then I made a lending library request for the purchase.

When the library bought the book ($50) I located one of my
spare drives in removable trays to put the OS on so it didn't
interfere with anything else.

The disks went through the disk scan for errors ok.
But when it came time to install them, one disk section would
not write the files for the Open Office part of installed
programs.

So I redid the install and left off the Office Suite
checkbox. This got the rest of the install to run.

This was the point at which I picked up the 900 page
book by Negus with the message on the spine that says
"100% Complete." Well, more on that in a minute.

I have only been able to do a few things with this
install: create a file drawer, link to the terminal from
the toolbar and pick out a screen saver (cow on bouncing
trampoline.)

What I wanted to get working was dialout.
Back to the Negus book. The book was not much help. And
900 pages is just, well, too much to deal with.

I use a listserv run by Marcel Gagne, author of
"Moving To Linux Kiss The Blue Screen Of Death Goodbye".
His book contains the Knoppix mentioned which he uses
as a tutorial. The listserv is friendly and doesn't mind
newbie questions.

There a couple other sources as well for online help
including Fedora.

I got some tips to set up the modem from the Gagne
listserv. One of them says to use the command

minicom -s

Get this,and here's my point; the Negus has no
reference in the index to minicom at all. If you look up
the word 'modem' you also get zero reference. This in
a book claiming to be "100% Complete."

After several days of back and forth at various
forums and the listserv I have been able to dial out--
not connect to the Internet, just dial my ISP. The
rest remains to be done.

I believe that Open Source Linux and the other prog.s
I use like Mozilla Firefox and Pine mail reader are the future.
That's why I'm taking all the time with it.