10 Mar 2005, way over time to update this page.
Linux, specifically of the Debian variety, exclusivly.
Openoffice for an "office suite". Backups using tar to a CDR via a nifty little tool called cdbackup. Browser is Mozilla, sometimes Firefox.
You Windows users must get your kicks out of hitting your forehead with a heavy stick.
The kiddies use and abuse a Windows 2000 system. I've also got a Mac (OS 9, I think) or two around here, seldom used.
I've been running Linux almost excluseively for about 5 months. The main system upstairs has moved from RedHat 5.1, through 5.2 and is now at RedHat 6.0. Downstairs I run whatever I throw on there to tinker with. It's running SuSE 6.0 at this moment. I have yet to network them together. Networking Linux is something that is not clear to me as yet.
Word processor is Wordperfect for Linux. Netscape is the browser, of course, as well as the most reliable and capable (so far) email program. Slrn is what I use for a news reader. Backups are done via BRU 2000 to a Tandberg 1.2GB SCSI tape drive.
Unfortunatly the handwriting appears to be is on the wall for OS/2. I'm hedging my bets and working on setting myself up to run Linux , specifically Red Hat.
Linux is a long hard pull. Very little of what you learned about working with DOS or Windows will apply. Red Hat, of those that I tried , seemed to install with the least configuration hassles (I got the printer working right away, I got X working right away, etc.). That's just the beginning of the work. Slowly I am finding Linux tools for everything I need to do.
I am not at all interested in personally running either Windows 95 or Windows 98. I am only slightly interested in Windows NT. If and when someone wants to hire me or pay me to deal with it, then I might load NT.
My latest aquisition is a Macintosh SE, rescued from Trashbusters day. 8MHz 68000 processor, 2.5MB RAM, System 6.01 and an wheezy sounding 20MB Miniscribe (euuuuuu!) SCSI hard disk. The hardware works perfectly, the desktop had been monkeyed with (stuff dragged hither and yon, and randomly renamed, screen magnifier on max.). It has Excel and Filemaker Pro on it. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but it sure is cute.
Nov. 30, 1998. Since "aquiring" it, I've upgraded the RAM to the maximum of 4MB, gotten a NEC 1X SCSI CDROM to work with it, upgraded the OS to version 6.0.8, then to System 7.0. I have installed an unused 320MB SCSI hard disk. I found MS Word 5.1 on the hard disk (renamed and compressed and stuck inside the System folder). I have installed TCP/IP, PPP, Eudora and a Web browser and connected it to the Internet (slooooooowly). Net outlay $10 for the serial cable. I still don't know what I'm going to do with it. It's still cute.