TB, I'm a longtime fan of Xubuntu for older hardware. It's a variant of Ubuntu, with all the same packages available if you want them, but with a lighter desktop and less big stuff installed by default. I've never had problems with my internet radio needs, but they're limited compared to a lot of folks I know -- basically Pandora, streams from offline radio stations, stuff-from-a-website. If you want to use Spotify, you'll need either a paid account or some workarounds; that's a Spotify policy decision that applies to all Linux flavors, not a Xubuntu issue.

You'll probably find that you have *fewer* problems with booting, connectivity, etc, than with Windows -- but the key thing with older hardware especially is to test it out before installing. Any of the ubuntu or mint variants will come on a live CD that will allow you to test drive, and you should take that opportunity to check your built-in speakers and connectivity in particular if you're worried about those.

Le Nubian, that is barbaric. I don't understand how people live under those conditions. Didn't Geneva have a convention?

I got the Tab visible as a hard drive, but still not the iPod. I have no fucking idea what's going on and google is strangely unhelpful. Two cables, two IPods, no mounting. Flummoxed.

Thanks Amych. Yes, I'm sure that if I successfully install it Ubuntu will work better than windows. The risk is, given that the hard disk already has lots of bad spot, that the strain of the install might finish off. But it is getting worse and worse, so I'm inclined to go for a kill or cure - taking your advice and using xubuntu, and testing from CD first. Amazed and what has and has not held up. Video card and built in screen in great shape. CD drive in great shape (well not used very often, so maybe not that suprising). Hard disk - ton of bad spots. I'm wondering if xubutu works off cd if I should low level reformat before installing or just let it do the default install over the existing hard disk. Is low level format with a dying hard drive asking for trouble?

I got a Kindle Touch for Christmas!

I know this has been asked before, but is there a way to get fanfiction on the Kindle?

AO3 has a feature that exports stories in various ebook formats. For stories not on AO3, I'm sure there's a way, but it will be more complicated.

Thanks!

It depends a lot on where you get your fanfiction. If you can get it in a downloadable form (PDB or html or text or anything else, really), you can probably convert it to a Kindle-style format using Calibre, or you can e-mail it your kindle e-mail address and Amazon will convert it for you. Basically, if you have a good way of saving for offline viewing at all, that saved file can probably be converted to a kindle format with varying degrees of success.

If you have to, you can always do some copy-and-pasting into a word document then e-mail the document to your kindle e-mail address for conversion. You'll lose some formatting that way, most likely, but the result will still be readable.

I've downloaded a few files from A03 and they are on the Kindle app on my computer, however I can't figure out how to get them on the actual Kindle.

I figured out a way to do it, I don't know if it's the easiest way but it's on the Kindle.

How about FLAG?

[link]

From the sote:

The following websites are supported source websites for FLAG:

* adifferentforest.com
* adultfanfiction.net
* archiveofourown.org
* dramione.org
* fanfiction.net
* fictionalley.org
* fictionpress.com
* ficwad.com
* grangerenchanted.com
* harrypotterfanfiction.com
* hpfandom.net
* mediaminer.org
* fanfiction.mugglenet.com
* siye.co.uk
* archive.skyehawke.com
* sugarquill.net
* twilighted.net
* twiwrite.net
* tthfanfic.org
* whofic.com
* wraithbait.com
* thewriterscoffeeshop.com