OpenSUSE has a Mac version for it's 10.0 series. I highly recommend it, it supports my laptop's WinModem very very well.

xboxrulz

Sooo....would Linux accept a SmartLink modem? I have to box with me, just tell me where to find the product number.

I would like to post an addendum to my comment about drive partitioning. Drive partitioning is really just a good example of the knowledge you need and of whether or not you will be able to get linux really working, especially long term. Linux is improving, and I am installing/trying it once more to see if it is good enough to be worth my time. You still need a good bit of technical knowledge to get things running, unless you happen to be on a very friendly hardware setup (unlikely). For instance, my current battles involve getting linux to talk to my USB 802.11g NIC and getting my sound working (works using a kubuntu live cd, but not the install. Sooo weird.). I may still just decide it isn't worth it.

And that is just the way it is.

The other thing to ask yourself is why are you installing linux to begin with? Unless you are an enthusiast, a programmer, or a networking person, chances are windows will work just fine for you. The skill it takes to be a competent enough admin for your own box is well under what it takes to even attempt to setup a good linux distro. So, if you are fleeing windows problems, likely as not you are better served (short term) by learning how to secure (as much as that is even a real concept on windows) your Windows machine. The experience will STILL be helpful on linux, as you will learn a lot about such things as firewalls, networks, and user rights.

Well, I'm going for Linux because I'm tired of XP Home, and I can escape many security problems (when was the last time a virus targeted Linux?). And, I am a programmer (C++ and Java), so I may do some programming on it....

Well, please keep in mind that Linux is NOT a Windows replacement, it's an alternative. If you just want to use it because that it's almost virus proof, then you DON'T WANT Linux. Linux is for people who want to learn how to use the operating system, learn how things work, and best of all, know how to actually use a computer.

xboxrulz

LOL....

i went to smartlinks home-page.
i clicked driver downloads.
i clicked "linux users click here"
i accepted the licence agreement.

and there it was, the linux driver for smartlink modems.

the first place to look for drivers is always the Home-Page of the product.

Driver:
http://www.smlink.com/

Install Instuctions:
http://www.smlink.com/objects/Linux_instruction.txt

ENJOY !



Lets answer the questions that he asked first
YES the SmartLink PCI modem will work fine under linux.

The poor guy asked for a driver, and has had partitoning advice, distro advice, promises of modems working without even knowing the modems brand, and questions about why he's leaving windows.

anyone would think he tried to escape a cult. LOL.

Thank you!

Well, I think I'm gonna go with MEPIS; a guy at the local health food store is gonna give me a CD sometime soon. W00t!

I realise that there are hundreds of different flavours of linux, and deciding which one can be a nightmare. I personally hate Ubuntu which alot of people will love, personall i would go for Fedora. If you wanna read about most of the distros available goto Distrowatch as it will tell you about most available. This site is one of the ultimate resources on disrtos.

The main ones to try as a newbie are

Meppis (don't have to install - run as a live CD and install if you want from the same CD)
Ubuntu (These will send you the CD's free of charge just wait for about a month)
Fedora - 4CD download which takes a while but has a lot of stuff including drivers included
Suse (not totally free - i think it is just the live cd which is free)
Madriva (mandrake as it used to be know) again 4 cd download but alot of drivers

I would advise newbies to steer clear of most others until they know what there doing and then experiment until you find the system you love

Linux will let you customise EVERYTHING unlike windows which let you do nothing. Be prepaired for some larning with Linux and to reinstall it a few times when you cock up

Yeah, I'm gonna steer clear of Ubuntu, at least for a while, because that installer just sucks.

MEPIS, however, has a really nice and easy-to-use installer, or at least that's what I've seen from screenshots. Plus, someone going to give me a CD sometime soon, so I think I'll go with it instead of rodering or downloading another distro.

Okay Jguy, listen. ANY OS INSTALLER WILL WIPE YOUR DRIVES!!! Yes, even Windows. This is NOT a problem with Ubuntu! If you think this is a problem, then it's always going to happen. You should know how to back up the data you need. Oh man...just go back to Windows, really, before you hurt yourself.