..but before i do, i need to be able to set up alternatives for AIM and outlook. i downloaded gaim 0.64 mdk rpm and love it, but i need to be able to do 2 things: convert my deadaim logs to gaim, and be able to change my logging directory for gaim. i need to change the log dir because i want to use gaim while in windows as well but i dont want to have my logs split up. maybe i could use perl to parse the deadaim logs into gaim, but i HATE writing text parsers!

i like evolution as an outlook replacement, but i dont know how to convert everything over. i can get messages and calendar by first converting to netscape and then to evolution (i admit i forgot how to do this) but i also need all the other stuff, like my rules, tasks, contacts, etc.

any thoughts on either of these issues would be greatly appreciated, and it would make linux my default OS once and for all

I stumbled across a web site that might help answer your questions. This web site shows which Linux aplications correspond to individual Windows applications:

http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/

With regard to the Gaim logs... you could cheat! Find out where Gaim in Windows logs to, and then (presuming you're using vfat partition) mount with write permissions and create a symbolic link from /where/ever/your/windows/gaim/logs/are to ~/.gaim/logs.

£0.02

good ideas! my current set up is a separate partition for windows, linux, and my data (on a separate physical drive). ill set up a symlink to a gaim log directory on my data drive, but how can i do it on windows? as far as i know, theres no way to do a symlink in windows. also, i cant link to the windows thing directly because its mounted as ntfs read only (my 3rd partition is fat32, a crappy middle ground so that both systems can read it). any ideas on how i can set up a symlink in windows?