I'm confused as to what the point of this post is... you sound like a person who wants to do Windows stuff and your using Linux (i.e. VS2005), the expression "The right tool for the job" comes to mind. You say you can't get Linux drivers for your Keyspan printer server, did you try using the Windows driver under Wine? Anyway, like I said I'm not sure I understand the point of this, its not a replacement for Windows its an alternative, and a free one at that. It makes older equipment run like new and is very easy to set up, provided you don't want to use more exotic equipment, such as your printer server. I use both Linux and windows and I find Linux much more enjoyable and a lot less frustrating to use in general, and I use Windows when I need to do some Windows task that I cant easily do on Linux, but I am loath to boot into windows and endure the painful wait for everything to finally get around to starting up, most of which takes place after the login screen, and that alone keeps me from using my windows install more often. I recommend you give it more time and once you become more familiar with using Linux I'm sure you will find it much less challenging than Windows. Cheers.

I recently bought a Celestron NexStar 130 SLT (Link[^]) and have been very happy with it. I am a beginner and had no problem learning how to use it and at about AUD$800 is is reasonably priced. It is a great telescope straight out of the box though you will find yourself needing/wanting to buy some accessories like a Barlow lens, extra eye pieces and filters (though I think this would be the same for any telescope) and most importantly you will want the external battery pack for the tripod as the on board batteries do not last very long and it is not too often that you will be using the telescope near another power source that you can plug it into. As for photographs and CCD images a simple camera mount will do the trick for little money... provided your camera is suitable but for a CCD attachment it is quite expensive. Anyway good luck and enjoy your telescope, what ever you get. Cheers.

I hadn't used WinZip in a long time (since discovering WinRar & 7zip) so in light of this discussion I gave the latest of each a quick try and I have to say WinZip sucked by comparison... horrible interface and the worst compression of them all, was there some reason in particular for disliking WinRar? Give me WinRar or 7Zip any day. Cheers.

I loved the foundation books. Some of my other favorites: Greg Bear: - Eon - Eternity (Sequel to Eon) - Legacy (Prequel to Eon) - The Forge of God - Anvil of Stars (sequel to The Forge of God) Greg Bear is also one of the writers of the second foundation trilogy along with Gregory Benford and David Brin. So far there is only 2 writen I think: - Foundation and Chaos (Greg Bear) - Foundation's Triumph (David Brin) I'm sure you would have read the DUNE books by Frank Herbert and the first series (Prelude to Dune) by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson is pretty good too. The Second series i didn't like very much (the machine wars) andthey are currently working on the seventh book to the original series which Frank had strted working on before he died. Cheers.