I'm completly new to Linux, but after hearing about it, I'm curious to try it. I have an "E series Lifebook" Laptop, with MS XP, MS Office/ publisher and Firefox internet server. I use Win Media Player constantly.

Which application is going to work on this computer, with suitable equivalent software? Help!

I would try downloading a live CD (or several) and see which one supports your laptop the best. Try Knoppix, Ubuntu, or PCLinuxOS. These will all run from the CD without installing to your hard drive. Note that they'll run slower than if installed because they'll be constantly accessing the CD-rom. Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS both have easy installers direct from the LiveCD if you decide to keep them.

Here's a couple of sites with E-series laptops that might have how-to's or at least gotchas as to whether it worked. You'll have to look for your model number on the page.
http://tuxmobil.org/fujitsu.html
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/fujitsu.html

As for comparable applications, here's a table of linux equivalents to some windows software:
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/...ndows_software

Thanks for the info...very useful!

Kubuntu
http://www.kubuntu.org/


Mandriva
http://www.mandriva.com/community/mandrivaone


PCLinuxOS .92
http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/dist...glish/preview/
ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distr...glish/preview/

This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.

Mephis
http://www.mepis.org/