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Hi all, Thank you all very much for your insightful help on this matter. Just a quick summary of what I have learned about this: 1. For my stereo preferences, i used to be an active stereo nut - but I have switched over to passive - and will never go back. It's cheaper to maintain (even with expensive monitors), easier to load operating systems (you don't need nvidia drivers - you don't even need a video card - on board video is good enough), and best of all, easier on the eyes. you can stare at passive stereo all day without eye fatigue 2. for operating systems - I tried ubuntu and wasn't real fond of it - it wouldn't load with my hardware. I should have mentioned that I have old quadro cards (FX1400). They still work well with fc7, but alas I think it's time they go away. But, as i mentioned, with Zalman monitors I don't need nvidia - and so I can live with nouveau drivers - the video is crisp and nice and works just fine. Good enough - fC13 it is for now (maybe I'll change later) 3. crystal software is easy to install on most. CCP4 is the most difficult for me - mainly because it's not something I'm familiar with - but the newer packages that come bundled take care of everything. i still do coot the old fashioned way (separate from ccp4 - maybe I should link them, probably more power that way), but for me it works. CNS is good, pymol easy, and anything else is just not too bad I didn't try scientific linux - but that did seem to get the most votes (for something beyond fedora/red hat). Many do like fedora - and with newer hardware it works great - just fc13 and old hardware poses issues. i don't know fc14 - I didn't try it (but it was preferred). Ubuntu was also up there - and i will give it a try later - but not now. most say it's a good one system thing - and while some used it in a network - some said that others may be better in my situation. Thanks again. You all are very generous with your time and your comments are always wonderful and appreciated Dave