Allan,

Thanks so much for your post.

I am a big fan of free/open software, and as a teacher/researcher, Linux has been my first OS for more than a decade, The Linux distributions in our days have achieved such a level of friendliness, that many people start to think seriously in making the big step towards an exclusive use of Linux. Good "macro-examples" are the huge steps of Brazil and the public administration in Muenchen (Munich, Germany).

Let me just mention that in alternative to using LiveCD distributions, you can install as many complete OS systems as you like over a host main OS, through sorts of virtual machines, through a piece of software like this one, for example: http:://www.vmware.com/ . Right now I'm running simultaneously Linux Mandrake (my main OS) and a layer with Windows XP Pro over it.

Apart from the fact that Linux is free, and there is a huge community producing software for this OS, one of the biggest advantages is stability: many many points above any Windows system that I've tried...

As I never investigated Linux potential for musical applications, I'm certainly going to have a look to the links you provided. Thanks again,

-- José.

[This message has been edited by Route 66 (edited 05-20-2005).]