On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 00:42:12 -0000, Carl R. Stevenson wrote:

While I have experience with linux I am forced by the need for a number of
applications to use Windows XP on most of my machines.

Ditto.

I think there are a lot of people in the same boat, so I don't think that
you're going to get an overwhelming majority of hams to abandon the Windows
OS and move to linux exclusively ... HOWEVER, open source ham APPLICATIONS
can be ported to both operating systems so the users don't have to be locked
out by their choice (whether they're "forced" to use Windows for other
reasons or not) of OS.

I used to trumpet the same thing about IBM's Warp-OS/2 OS, which
remains my main system. If and when my favorite text editor gets
released in a version for Linux (it's allegedly in beta) and I find
a mailer and newsreader that I like, I may migrate the whole shebang
to Linux and bid Warp a reluctant farewell.

For ham use, I'm running XP for APRS and Win 98 for Packet (the DOS
program that I use doesn't run well under XP). Those "data" modes
which don't run on a TNC are on the XP machine. Three machines
next to my operating console - don't need to turn the heat on in
this room during the heating season.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane