Is there an open source alternative for Quickbooks? I'm not keen on running native under WiNE, as every forum I've researched indicates that Quickbooks isn't 100% functional.

Also, can any of the recent Linux distros detect a Pentium D or Athlon X2 and use both procs?

I can access my D drive through Konqueror now at least. How can I switch from Gnome to the other desktop. I am really not liking Gnome anyway. Looks too much like Apple.

I haven't used a good Quickbooks substitute. There are several free business accounting packages, though they are really geared to be used by accountants. CrossOver Office claims to run QuickBooks on Windows though I've never used it personally.

I haven't tried any of them personally, but here's a nice start:
http://sourceforge.net/search/?type_...&Search=Search

Hyperthreading and SMP support are native in the Linux 2.6 kernel which nearly all modern distros use.

1. YaST->Software->Software Management
2. Under "Filter", select "Selections"
3. Check "KDE Desktop Environment"
4. Click "Accept"

When it's finished you'll have to log out. When you get back to the login screen click "Session Type" in the lower left corner and choose KDE. Then log in. It will remember your last session type when you log in, so you won't have to do that again.

LOL Now I have KDE but I lost access to my NTFS drive again.

ROFL

Nobody said this was perfect every time.

Do the "mount /windows/D" thing again.

[edit] Or you can reboot. [/edit]

Hmm, says it is mounted but I cannot locate it anywhere. Have tried using konquorer too.

You can always type "/windows/D" in the Location box of Konq and get right there. Then bookmark that location if you go there often.

I think typically there is a desktop icon as well, though I'm not sure about that. I have desktop icons turned off.

So my big plan was to fool around with ubuntu until I got suse loaded up but then I forgot to get the torrent d\l before I went to bed last night. I have spent a lot of time forming ub into what I like...its working out pretty well for me so far...finding different aps to do everything I need.

Gnucash is one of the better known accounting packages. It's a true double ledger accounting system and geared a bit more towards accountants than business users who want a something with lots of wizards to step them through everything. Last I check into it they were working on adding some quickbooks style wizards and making it simpler for small businesses to use.

It's all about finding something you like and making it your own.

There are so many apps, the hard part isn't finding something. The hard part is deciding on one. A nice place to start your search would be SourceForge:

http://www.sf.net/

You'll find thousands of free apps there. There's something for everyone.

Another quick note on Linux:

All these settings can be ported from one machine to another and frequently from one distro to another. There is no registry for s**t to be strewn around in, all over hell and high water. All of your settings will be somewhere in your home directory. For instance, if you make a copy of your ".kde" directory and copy that to another computer you will have KDE looking identical, and any KDE-compliant apps will also have all of your settings. Gnome has a similar directory called ".gconf".

I love the multiple work place space thingy. WIth all the multi tasking I do its nice to have CP in spot music in another and something actully productive in a 3rd place.

I am still having trouble figuring out how programs go. Most the stuff I have added has been through the automatic "add application" feature. Other than that its hit and miss...after extracting a new program how do you usually go about it? There are not install executables are there?

Software typically comes one of three ways:

1. Source code: You can almost always get this. It does require compiling it yourself and is the least friendly method.

2. Scripted apps: These require no compiling, so generally they're just copied to a location and run.

3. Binary distributions: Typically called "rpms", "debs", "packages", etc. depending on your distro. These are pre-compiled binary versions of an application like you're used to with Windows. The package is an installer and will copy the files where they need to go. What they don't do on occasion is create a menu item in the launcher menu.

Nearly every app will come with a README file that explains how to get it set up and running.

Newbie-friendly distros...