> I can't believe I am getting NO advice on this list.
> I'll say it:  Linux is NOT ready for the desktop.
> Not mine, for sure.

Hey Vic:  I'm primarily a RH9 desktop user, and a Linux newbie.  Last
time I wrote a posting like yours, I got great help from "alandd," "jd"
and "craigwhite" who were on point and very helpful.  "cobryce" has been
very generous with help in the IIRC thing.  Many others, along the
line.  People must be busy -- don't give up.

I don't have the chops to give you any advice, other than perhaps to
take one issue at a time.  

I use the RH desktop all day, every day, and still have lots of
maddening problems.  I don't know the "UNIX" stuff, so I am 100%
desktop.  My experience echos yours.  Open Office is nice, but still a
far cry from Office.  (Spreadsheets randomly refuse to recalculate).  I
gave up on sound.  I am able to back up to CD using voodoo and
incantations I don't understand.  I can print, but it's all in high
resolution.  I have to kill Nautilus several times a day.  (Magically,
Mozilla and Firebird seem to have healed themselves).

Some people love Linux for the philosophical open-source aspects.  Some
seem to grok the deep computer-science nuances.  Me, I just use it
because it's cheap.  :-)

I love PLUG.  I hope to someday be a contributor.  Linux will catch up.

Craig