The thread has changed a bit since when i first posted. read on a bit to figure out what were talking about now...

Kubuntu should be fine. You don't need a new OS, you need to learn to use the one you have.

All the major distros will do what you suggest is necessary, but for the life of me, I have a really hard time understanding why the first thing so many new Linux users want to do is figure out how to run their Windows apps. If you have to run Windows apps, run Windows, or dual boot.

1. Why would you want to run IE?!
IE will run under WINE in any Linux distribution you choose. Firefox comes with most distributions and can be installed to the rest.

2. If it requires winXP, you cannot run it except in winXP. That is what "requires" means.
WINE again - not everything will run well (or at all) under WINE. You are far better off looking for equivalents.

3. It is unusual that you will need to run older windows things either - there is almost always a linux port or equivalent that is much better.
...er... did I mention WINE?

4. A default JAVA install contradicts your shouted bit about "can be either OS's or software installs" doesn't it?
You can get the open source style JAVA RTE etc on disk with the larger distros. Sun JAVA is usually an install - license issues normally cited. Don't ask for proprietary stuff out of the box unless you want to pay for it.

5. You are entering "desktop wars" here. This, indeed, differs a great deal from user to user. What is easy to one is hell for another - depends how you are wired.
Consider GNOME based distros for ease of configuring the desktop eyecandy ... though KDE has much to go for it. However, have a look at Enlightenment. Major distros will have a specially compiled version available.

6. Again as with 5.
Visit the Screenshots section of LQ and look at some of the major distributions. Read some reviews. etc etc. Have a go at: http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/ ...

The inclusion of all this "must have windows stuff" makes one wonder about things like "motivation" in this post...

Some things I'm surprised you haven't asked for:

1. wifi support
2. pci modem support
3. mp3 playback support

What doesn't it do?

Have a look at:
http://easylinux.info/wiki/Ubuntu:Edgy

Most stuff is there. OK - for ubuntu, but it is the same but for KDE.

Going through your requirements:
Firefox comes with Kubuntu - what do you need IE for?
WINE is available via apt-get (sudo apt-get install wine) or use synaptic.
Evolution is available via apt-get as well... also look at www.kde-look.org for wallpapers, themes, and so on for KDE.
You can install JAVA via apt-get (blackdown java 2 from non-free I guess).

So - if you provide a list of windows programs you want to use, and what you use them for, I'll provide a list of linux versions. Meanwhile, fire up synaptic, and browse through the packages. You have free access to more than 3000 packages, there should be something there for you.

For a wee while now I've been making a small living helping people migrate to linux. For people in your position, I have usually suggested Ubuntu (slightly more favorably than Kubuntu, and I will not be drawn into a KDE vs GNOME debate.) Though if you want something more full featured without additional downloads, I'd have suggested SUSE and installing the smart packet manager. However, if you are downloading the ISO(s) I'd urge you to stick with Ubuntu.

Yea here are my reasons:

Windows XP: I have a cd with itunes on it for my iPod for windows xp as well as my nintendo wi-fi thing which also has a cd for xp.

I was looking into running Windows Live Messenger because all my friends have that; having that gives me the use of file sharing, etc. something i wouldnt be able to do on another thing similar to msn.

i have a bunch of old games and new ones that worked on my windows me; which i would like to be able to still play.

i'm a customizing type. i like adding new backgrounds etc so its nice to be able to actually do that.

the reason i went with IE is because so far firefox and konqueror have been annoying me as far as adjusting the internet options like homepages etc. More learning I guess

I am also having some sound issues. I have a speaker system made by microsoft with a cd. the cd doesnt work tho since kubuntu can read it because its ... well.. not linux. i dont think that they must be installed though, as the cd installs digital sound. i think for basic sound they work.. my ps2 runs off em no problem, cant see why you would ever intall speakers.. they ran before without needing to be installed i think,,,,

anyway in a nutshell heres why i came to kubuntu:

My windows ME was slowly becomeing obsolete. I wanted a system to kick start my computer, maybe not run everything i had before but most of it since i had found all the things i like and had my computer running the way i liked it and the way i was used to. Kubuntu seemed like the thing along with wine and other emulators for running games.. been harder to adjust that i thought. lol


ANYWAY IF YOU GOT ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ANY TIPS FEEL FREE TO POST.

There is a famous (in these parts) essay that you should read. Linux is not Windows. What you need, as you describe it, is a free version of Windows. To my knowledge there is no such thing. If you want to use Linux, you are going to have to change that attitude. Linux is superior in every way to Windows ME, but that does not suggest it's a drop-in replacement. Not matter how much work you put into it, it will never become that, nor should it.

You can access your ipod in linux. Wifi is usually configured through ndiswrapper (google this) which you can apt-get. There are also itunes clients for linux ... however, I usually tell clients to sell off their ipod and get a good media player like iRiver (You can strip the DRM from your iTunes purchases if you want to play them on another unit.) iRiver will play ogg/vorbis too... and you can convert your existing mp3's to ogg using the ffmpeg2theora utility.

After that, you can kiss itunes goodbye. Get your music elsewhere.

MSN is supposed to be interoperable with Yahoo - so you should be able to communicate with your friends, transfer files etc, using GAIM. Though you'd need a Yahoo account.

Legacy games - check for linux versions. ScumMV for eg will play old graphic adventure games. Failing that there is WINE or QEMU.

As I said: goo look at some screenshots. Look at KDE-Look.org before you consider changing (since you have KDE). Look at enlightenment.

If you have 3D capable card, you should consider compiz and beryl for really neat effects.

Change homepages in firefox via: edit > preferences > main (you can enter the url, or select the current viewed page)... what could be simpler. Personally I find IE's configuration options annoying

So what is the speaker problem?

There's no need to shout dude!

This often appears to be the case doesn't it?

However, this is often more a case of being so used to a particular app or class of apps that there is a failure to register that the name of the app is not the same as the name of the function. A bit like "mp3" being used as a synonym for "music".

I've had a lot of success by listing the linux equivalents.

Some of this, though, is "MS lifestyle" stuff. Like MSN messenger and the ipod. This is tougher to bypass... and is where stuff like WINE are useful.

Personally, I found it easier to keep an old windows box to one side for things like old games, that scanner with no sane backend I got for xmas, syncing my ipaq (before synce matured), and so on.

Still - that's a good link - I'll have to hang on to it

yea.. lol i got used to using CAPS for bringing something out as a llast point in case people didnt read my entire thread.. guess that is internet shouting.. haha.

i guess i am going to have to do some more shopping.. think of what i want and look for a linux equivelent. (iTunes never worked before on my computer so i could find another thing to run it.) D

Internet explorer 6 i got working last night... but it runs like a chicken in a blender... its there but all splattered everywhere and has more twists and turns than ever before.. hello equivelent.

i would like MSN since i do have hotmail and all that but i guess i could try out gaim and just use a yahoo e-mail for that, although it would make my hotmail account kinda useless.

WINE is working ok but im still trying to perfect hhow it runs and its accesability.

The problem in short with my speakers is they flat out dont work.. the wierd thing is when i tried the live cd. they did because i remember commenting on the interesting linux sounds that beat my computer and sounded like xp or vista or soemthing.

i got a series of cmputer games etc that when i put them in make an icon on my desktop and dont do a whole lot more. got any linux game runnner... i think its time to reaserch lol...

going from windows to linux has been a bigger jump than i thought. i thought more windoews things would run. (however im not aking for a free version of windows...... i am well aware that linux is not windows, i just liked certain things.. hahaha.) Doing this all at once is making me tired but hey take it one step at a time ill get it.

Thanks for the help

Hey if you got any ideas as to cool things (things i havent mentioned) that you likr that might be things like windows but arnt like media player, music downloaders, or other things (im not real open minded right now lol 2 music things haha) let me know.

PS. HEY LOOK I DIDNT SHOUT!!!!! OOOPS NEVERMIND!!!!!!! I mean.. nevermind...

ps. someone asked for a list so they could give me equivalents, i forget who but im to lazy to go check now.. anyway ehres my list:

1.) Internet explorer - (FIREFOX FOUND )
2.) iTunes - Need EQ
3.) Java (INSTALLED SUNJAVA)
4.) Something to run my games. (I dont kow if there will be an EQ but is there software i can download that will run these games.
IE: Master Of Orion (MOO) 3, The Sims... man now that i think about it.. i dont really play to many computer games.. more ps2 or online... or outdoor, lol. anyway

Look up "bv codes" for this forum. That's how I get italics and boldface right? Anyway - we read entire posts here.There are linux hotmail clients galore. This is not a new problem.Pretty much why I don't bother much with it these days. Use an earlier emulation mode (win98 or win2000) and take care setting up your virtual windows drives... also set the CD drive in fstab with the option "unhide" since many game makers seem to think that making vital game components invisible is a form of copy protection.Do the normal PC speakers go OK?They sound like static binary games - should be OK in linux under wine. If they are actually DOS games then you may find something like dosemu is easier.

Note: there are many games like Load Runner in linux - if that's what you mean.

This is why a lot of people dual boot at first (which, interestingly, is the expert advise for vista install too) so they don't have to bite out too much in one go.Look at Cedega. This is a wine variation which is optimizes to run games. It is commercial, so it will cost you. It will also run almost all the online game clients and the site has lots of help.

Master of Orion III
Wine
Cedega

Music:
Investigate Ogg formats (vorbis and theora).
Have a look at: www.magnatunes.com - a great idea, could use more mainstream artists, but get their "best of" CD anyway ($5) and let them pursuade you.

Amarok (You already have this with KDE) has a client to interface with magnatunes like you can with itunes. It can also synchronise and organise your ipod.


Basically, if you want a linux version of an existing app, google the app name with "linux" added to the end. (Refine the search using "ubuntu" or "kubuntu".) Start on LQ, and the (k)ubuntu forums.

Like?

Ps. Firefox 2 is not on my computer.. so long IE6 or IE7.

Now my spakers...

If i click the sound logo by my clock it does say microsoft digital sound system. So it obviously picks it up without being installed. I then remembered that these have both a regular sound plug that you would think of and also a usb plug. I run my computer sound theough the usb and my ps2 from the regular plug. anyway its worked before so thats not the issue.

any help

Ps (again:

i tired making a paragraph of font color changes and stuff after seeing what u did for bold and stuff but its different than html lol.. just ended up with some codes......

It's called BBCode, and Wikipedia can show you how to use it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bbcode

Let me make sure I understand: You have a USB-powered speaker set with a standard audio plug (should be green) and your sound chipset isn't working? Do you have a sound card, or is the sound output onboard? Try running 'lspci' and paste the output here.

As rickH says, so your looking for a free alternitive to windows, try these on for size

AMIGO Linux
http://amigolinux.org/

DragonLinux
http://dragonlinux.sourceforge.net/

Klinux Linux
http://70.84.79.46/ar/announce-en.htm

monkey Linux
http://ftp.spsselib.hiedu.cz/pub/linux/monkey/

Phat Linux
http://phatlinux.com/

• Topologi Linux
http://topologi-linux.sourceforge.net/

ReactOS
http://www.reactos.org/xhtml/en/index.html

Lindspire
http://www.linspire.com/

Linux XP
http://iso.linuxquestions.org/version.php?version=374

yes its run both on usb and standard audio.. usb is running for my computer.......... i tried running that thing.. it didnt work

thanks for those other systems ... gonna be kind annoying now that ive got somethings working but hey if its better in the long run why not

Under no circumstances should that fail. What error message did you get? Did you type it right?