I suggest you go to the google web search engine http://www.google.com and enter the search string: Linux Tutorial for Beginners and you will find all the information for getting started with linux that you can use. As for accessing a linux system, you can use your current computer as a talking terminal to any linux machine. If you are using Windows, you can run hyperterm and connect your RS-232 serial port directly to the Linux machine's serial port using a null modem cable. Otherwise, if both your current computer and the Linux machines are on the same network, you can use your Window's telnet program to telnet to the Linux machine. Once there you can use any and all of the Linux command line applications, such as the mutt mail client, lynx browser, vi and emacs editors, etc etc. In my opinion, built in speech support on a linux box is not as good as using an external talking terminal. But then it has been a year or so since I last tried it so things may have changed. My own setup uses a DOS PC running Vocal Eyes and Telix terminal software as a talking vt100 terminal. I connect the DOS PC to a linux box using a null modem cable. Then I use secure shell (ssh) to move to other machines as needed. Good luck. Rudy _______________________________________________ Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list