I'm currently running Redhat 8.0 and have let updates get away from
me. I was going to install the next version and when I checked the
redhat site, I wasn't too thrilled with the direction the company seems
to be going in wrt their packaging and distributions. It looks like
Slackware is a good alternative. Finally, the question:

Is there anything special I should be aware of in trying to convert
from Redhat to Slackware - any particular Slackware version I
should consider going to? The only major problem I've had with
Redhat is getting my oj600 printer to work - after a lot of hassle,
I finally am able to use most of what should be the printable area
on a page.

My main use will be software development - java, C, threads, jvm; and
email, web, and document processing (tex/latex).

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

Grab Slack 9.1, it can usually detect most hardware but don't be surprised if you have to tweak some config files because there really isnt any GUI's in Slack. Learn vi and emacs, if you don't know them already. Have fun doing it... that's about it...

i switched fom mandrake to slack and wouldn't have it any other way, but, there is a ton of the learning. coming from a windows background, then to mandrake, i had a lot of reading to do. if you've already got a good foundation in linux, you shouldn't have a problem. if your used to doing things from gui's then have a read here first.

http://www.slackware.com/book/

and there are always the good folks here at lq ready and (most importantly able to) help.
good luck.

Go Slack 9.1.

You will have the same issues with your printer under Slackware as you will with any other Linux distributions. It is the printing sub-system (CUPS, LPR etc) and it's drivers that will determine how you set up printing and not related to a single distribution. Some distros (eg. RedHat) may however provide a GUI tool that make it 'easier' for you to set up.

Jason

Thanks for the advice. I've ordered 9.1. I've been looking at other messages in the
forum and I can see there are lots of resources available if I have problems.

Mike