This page is being written using no Microsoft products--No It Is Not Impossible--It's not even difficult, thanks to Linux.
I have nothing against Microsoft. Many people, including myself, get paid for using it, (and "adjusting" it). Windows works very well for what most people want to use it for. And there is a good reason that Windows NT costs much more than Windows95 or Windows98. But Linux can be a serious alternative to Windows NT or Windows 3.x, Windows95, or Windows98. Linux has a very definite advantage, Linux can be obtained for free Legally.
How is Linux pronounced? -From the man who named Linux, Linus Tovalds.
Linux may be downloaded from various sites for free. If you have a 56k or less dialup, forget that method unless you have days, not hours, to download. An easier way is to buy a disk of a Linux distribution. It's available on CD-ROM, a very fast and easy way to install Linux. I'm using Red Hat 6.0, just upgraded from Red Hat 5.2, before that Red Hat 5.0. I started about four years ago with Slackware 3.3. If you buy a distribution such as Red Hat, you will get a book that tells you how to install, configure, and maintain that version of Linux. All versions are basically the same, but preparation, implementation, and features vary.
I bought Red Hat 5.0 as an official package for $39.99 plus shipping from MEI/Micro Center about one year ago. The official Red Hat Package appears to be a $39.99 book with a well prepared Linux distribution. If you have never installed Linux, Red Hat is a good choice. Just a week before I wrote this page, I upgraded to Red Hat 5.2. This time I paid just $1.99 for the CD-ROM, shipping was $5.00. An operating system on CD for less than $8.00. Just the CD-ROM, no documentation other than what's on the disk. I have learned to save my customized files on another hard drive. If there are customization problems I have the saved files to plug in as needed.
Red Hat 6.0 looks much more professional than Red Hat 5.2. It's ready to jump to the mainstream where other operating have been dominant. The official Red Hat 6.0 has a price of $79.99 and is worth much more. When I have more time, I plan to begin to list what comes with the Linux operating system on Red Hat 6.0 on another page. Just listing what is included will take hours.
Just to mention some of what is included;
Multimedia Applications
Netscape Communicator
Editors- HTML and Print
Backup Applications
Publishing- Web and Print
A Spreadsheet
System Administration
A Web Server Application
jv