Ok. I am currently using a Macintosh computer (imac g5 rev, b) with OS X and there is this program that I really NEED that runs only on the Windows OS and Linux (using "WINE.") So, I obviously need to install the Linux OS on my machine if I want to run this program. It is called Audiomulch if anyone is curious. I am wondering how and where I can get some, ideally, interactive help installing Linux. Over the phone, email in a store or anything would help. Any suggestyions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

which distro? you might wanna check out distrowatch and read up on the different distros...find one that appeals to you and give it a try...

Thnks for the reply. Which distro? Man, I haven't even gotten that far yet and don't even know what a "distro" is but I'm guessing it has something to do with the open source component of Linux. "Distro's" are different versions of Linux that different programer's have created and offer to Linux user's?

distros are the different "flavors" of linux, such as suse, ubuntu, slackware, fedora core....each is basically the same (linux) however the people who create them make them a little different, such as package management and stuff. fedora and suse and madrake use rpms.....ubuntu and debian use .debs....slackware uses .tgz's...some are easier to use for newbies, such as ubuntu, others are a bit more complex, such as slackware and gentoo....distrowatch gives you a great idea as to what each distro offers...and how easy it is to use...

each distro has it's own support community, plus most are listed here as well, which will help you to install and configure and customize and stuff...

If you just need it to run a windows application you could always by Virtual PC. This would allow you to run Windows applications on your Mac. Some downfalls of it are you have to buy Windows, buy Virtual PC and it's pretty slow. All in all it would probably cost you $200 but is easier then installing Linux IMO.

Basically, you need to pick a flavour of linux. Make sure, of course, that you get a PowerPC version, not an i386 (intel). Some of these include Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian. One of the better ones (i havent tried it) is supposed to be Yellowdog, which is specifically for PowerPC computers. There is also some good documentation on their website.

--Ian