as far as running windows out of ubuntu you can use virtual box, wine, vmware, and others. they are all free.

if you have dial up you can still get ubuntu. go to ubuntu.org and you can get a cd for the cost of shipping alone.

i have had no problems finding a app for what i need in ubuntu. and most of the time it is a very easy install.
you go to applications>add/remove programs>and select the app you want>click the checkmark>hit apply.
there, ubuntu will download and install and configure it for you.

ubuntu is vastly more customizable than any windows. to customize xp you have to hack it first, to customize ubuntu, just download beryl or compiz(a limited version of compiz comes with release 7.04. these will give you wobbly windows, and a 3d cube desktop(very useful).

but you must remember that ubuntu is not windows. ubuntu users usually find it easier to type a command into the terminal than to explain a gui(graphical user interface).there is really very little need to compile scripts from scratch anymore and i have actually only done it once and don’t even remember how i did it.

the support i recieve makes me feel like i am part of something, and i have never felt rejected at ubuntuforums.org, if you ever have any questions, ubuntu user or not just ask, if anyone know anything they will help.

a willingness to learn a new os is needed in making the switch but if you have ityou will be vastly suprised.

My thoughts are things like my street atlas, Quicken, canon Multipass F 30 printer, Adobe reader, and my model airplane simulator etc, what will have a compatible version.

Or better yet will Linux have a way to run windows under it as I hear Apple does?

Interesting!

Maybe I need to find someone who is upgrading their computer and set up it with Linux?

Street Atlas- I use Google Maps now, too, but I bet there is a similar program. I’ve never felt a need for a desktop version.

Quicken- GNUCash, in many respects, is even more powerful than Quicken. It can read the Quicken reports your financial institution publishes, and can either handle personal finances or run your small business. It’s really almost the same as Quickbooks that way.

Adobe reader runs natively under Ubuntu.

Canon Multipass F 30- sorry, doesn’t appear they have a good driver for that one yet. While HP is pretty good with their Linux support, a lot of other printer makers, Canon included, don’t seem to be up to speed yet.

Model airplane simulator- probably a good candidate to play under one of the following ways to run Windows in Linux:
-WINE (Wine Is Not an Emulator), a compatibility layer to run Windows programs natively under Linux.
-VMWare, similar to BootCamp or Parallels in that it creates a virtual Windows machine inside your Linux desktop.
-There are other virtualizing programs available, but these are probably the two most well-known.

Apart from all of this, you can get your toes wet by dual-booting. I’ve done that for the past 8 months, and am waiting for the next version of Ubuntu to come out so I can delete my XP partition and go 100% Ubuntu. It’s really pretty easy to do.

2. I have not seen the security lock at the bottom of the screen when online, forever. Anyone?

Thank you!
Anne

Again, Linux will not be all things to all Windows users, but for computer users with basic needs and an older computer, it can certainly go a long way to extending the life of that computer.