After the install-person has setup the modem, some internet services require that you load a CD into Windows or Macintosh that activates the account and allows you to choose an E-mail address among other things. As I do not have Windows or Mac, I am wondering if I can still activate these services in Linux. Verizon Online DSL or Adelphia High-Speed Internet appear to be the only options in my area.

Well, when I first got my Verizon internet, the "program" that takes you through the choosing of the e-mail and such could ONLY be used if you had Microsoft virtual machine installed on your computer (pretty sure they was getting kick backs from MS).

I fought with a verizon tech support guy for 20 minutes telling him that I REFUSE to put that crap on my computer and I want him to register a e-mail for me... he refused to do so, so I told him where to stick his crappy MS software and didn't ever register a e-mail.

Back on topic, since the Microsoft Virtual Machine stuff is no longer supported and such, they have probably re-packaged it to use Java and thus can probably be run successfully with Wine. If it doesn't run, you don't need it to actualy activate your internet and all it does is allow you to register a @Verizon.net e-mail and get like 10Mb free webspace (wooo whole 10Mb).

All and all if you can't do it in linux, no big loss, just get a gmail.com address or something.

Wow! Thats the same thing that happened with me. I went on a rant about how shitty their IT department is that they create crap specifically for an IE specific program. The director that I talked to was some suit who didnt know his head from his a$$. Exchanged some 'fine words' and hung up. I eventually just logged into my windows pc at work and created the darn account..which by the way was the same darn account I use for my verizon telephone service..so wtf??

It's been a while since I used Verizon DSL, now I have two T1 lines -- don't ask.

Anyway, these guys have all this available on a website (or they did). No need to go to another computer to setup your email. Can't remember exactly where to find it or I would put a link here. You may want to start at the bill paying area on Verizon and look for the link.