Rick, You mean you do not real your email with Mutt? What's wrong with you!?!? I would still be on Elm if it could do IMAP back in 2000+ when I switched. I live on the terminal. Nothing like a real-time OS. Microcontrollers are for mission-critical components, like pace-makers, your car's ECU, etc. But everything else should be boot-strapped out of a real-time OS, like Linux. As for Linux programming, I recommend that one from O'Reilly... what is it... Linux System Programming I think. Great resource for the experienced Linux hacker. I really do think that a class for unix is not a bad start. The UofM's MSI (Minnesota Supercomputing Institute) has a class for introduction to Unix and Linux. Most things are made simple but a good start. I tould be best if a noobie had somebody to explain the philosophy behind the filessytem, user permissions, essential components of the kernel (even at the highest level) and a lot about essential utilities in /bin /usr/bin. The potential barrier is high and time to learn is not everybody can afford; that is why Apple is in business today. In comparing Linux distros I saw this said about Slackware users: "Let's say if you are having a problem, the slackware user is the most likely to solve it for you." So that is a starting point for the advanced Linux user. Patrick Volkerding still lives in MN and is likely on this list. IN