my main concern about linux is software compatability

do you need 'special' linux software or does windows software run on linux?

ie. is it the same as PC vs MAC software?

Here is a good knoppix forum:

http://www.knoppix.net/forum/

Here is a good general linux forum:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/

Originally Posted by bainsy

my main concern about linux is software compatability

do you need 'special' linux software or does windows software run on linux?

ie. is it the same as PC vs MAC software?

Well, generally windows software doesnt run under Linux.
On the other side there is a lot of software available for Linux. If u look for example for an Office Suite have a go at OpenOffice, which is free and almost as good as M$ Office

Con for gamers is that most games will not run under linux, eventhough there has been kind of a directx release for linux, but its just a handful of games running under linux.