This is an offshoot from John in Kansas's recent thread about free software ( Tech: Free Software Selections ). That thread is mostly about Windows software, so I decided a new thread for Linux issues might be worth having.

I know there are a number of 'Catters who use Linux machines, so maybe you could give us advice.

As for myself, I've never actually installed Linux on a computer. I decided to have another look at the "live CD" versions (which I've done before, but never got any further). I burned to CD the latest downloads of Open SUSE, one with a Gnome desktop and one with a KDE desktop, and also Ubuntu.
Each of the CDs booted into their respective variant of Linux, but none of the three was fully useable.

Ubuntu
Plays music files.
It automatically recognises the Windows partitions on the computer and will read and write to them.
It recognises the computer's wireless network card and shows local wireless networks, but will not actually log onto the connection to my wireless router.

Open SUSE - Gnome
Connects to my wireless network and hence to the Internet.
It doesn't recognise (or I haven't worked out how) Windows partitions on the computer.
It will not recognise my sound card, so will not play music.

Open SUSE - KDE
Will not play music.
Does not recognise the wireless network card, so will not connect to anything.
Does not find windows partitions on the computer.

What I want to know is :-
Can I get the missing functions to work?
If so How?
Would it be possible to sort out with a real hard drive installation?
Would other Linux versions stand a better chance of full function?

Presumably, as each specific function works for one of the live CDs, it can't be that the hardware won't work with Linux in general. It must be that the software isn't performing with that piece of hardware. Any thoughts?

Quack!
(paddling water)
Geoff the Duck.