some very important points. the reason for obvious bashing of windows is because for new users of gnu/linux m$ has set a perfect system of creating FUD so much so that even though they want to use gnu/linux they end up using windows. this is indeed a tatfull way of shoving windows into every computer. I often here people saying "all is good in linux and we know that it is good and also read a lot about it. but then windows is windows." this is not just insult to the information technology itself but I feel that we can be slightly better than m$ in their own ways and means. when we point out that windows is not good and specially when people use it knowingly that it is not good and secured, we have to show them that they are actually right. create fud about windows so that their decision to use gnu/linux which is being hindered due to wrong facts gets firm. in the process windows gets obvious bashing for the kind of wrong FUD they are spreading about gnu/linux. one FUD being spread even on this thread unfortunately is that "what is the proof that linux will stay virus free? " My answer to this is that even windows can be virus free. I will give the technical details off the list if some one wants it but who ever complies to the posex standard is bound to be virus free. even windows can be. and the system is developed in such a way that virus can't enter in the gnu/linux system. and now please don't rant me by saying "gnu/linux is not ppopular so no virus". that is a typicle answer from the slave of Master Bil. I again request people not to further enhance the FUD already being spread by m$ about gnu/linux. this is a special request who love m$, because there are smart people on this list like devdas and jtd who will show how wrong you are. and the discussion here is not about m$ in particular. it is about non-free software and the fact that free software is no way less efficient and "less secured" than the non-free software. they are also well supported and as Dinesh Joshi rightly said, if you want to go for gnu/linux please don't care what the FUD and roomer spreaders of m$ do. gnu/linux is much much better supported and much high in standards in terms of quality and stability. if any one wants proofs to this, email me off the list. thanks and regards. Krishnakant. "do you know what does the number 2000 stand for in windows 2000? it is the number of times your computer is likely to hang every day".