Hello Walt, There is no "real" difference between the Linux ditributions with regard to the functionalities offered. As far as I know, all Linux distributions allow you to run the most common UNIX tools and servers. You can, therefore, install graphical interfaces such as Gnome or KDE (which both run over XWindows), have common productivity software (word processing, email, spreadsheet, etc) as well as very advanced software (Scientific DTP) and Internet server software (email, web, FTP). As a matter of fact, if your Linux distribution does not offer all these programs, I recommend changing your distro! <grin> What IS different, though, are the way you are going to configure, install, etc, all these different parts and make sure the system is kept up-to-date and properly configured. Example: the configuration files for Red Hat and Slackware are kept in slightly different directories. Red Hat (and distributions derived from it) are going to offer graphical programs for the configuration of the system, while systems such as Slackware will tend to have text-based tools, which may appear less powerful or user-friendly. Hope this helps! -- Gil Andre ___ Technical writer ___ Arkeia Corporation email: gandre@arkeia.com | web: http://www.arkeia.com _______________________________________________ Blinux-list@redhat.com https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list