Just trying out the Mepis Linux CD on the Athlon 2100. Everything is incredibly fast. The sound card configured, all networking, the browser fired right up, and everything works. All from a CD, which of course means no hard drive is needed. You can just run on a "disposable" (maybe even "sterile"?) OS any time you want.

Linux has come a long way from when I first installed Slackware., back in 1997. In those days, just setting up the X-configurator was a big deal, and I felt triumphant when I'd get past the black screen. And getting those damned modems to work required writing custom scripts. Ditto networking. Even formatiing the hard drive was tricky.

This is all just as easy as sticking the CD in and turning on your computer! It all, just, works.

I am still amazed.