One of the first things new users to Linux want to do is find out how to do all the things they used to do in their previous platform. Since Linux is geared more for the power user than for the computer novice, some types of ``hand holding'' applications don't really abound for it. But there is an abundance of productivity applications for Linux, though they may look different than what you're used to.

First of all, since Linux is a server in addition to being a workstation, there are far more networking tools for it than for Windows. Unix was born to network, and the same is true of Linux. So you'll find more heavy duty tools of this type than you can shake a stick at.

Second, Linux has many programming tools and related applications. If you're a programmer, welcome home. You've found paradise.

Third, there are personal productivity applications. These would include spreadsheets and related office applications--the bread and butter applications that you would normally buy an office suite for.

I have to be honest here: you'll hear complaints about there being a shortage of office applications available for Linux. At least, there don't appear to be as many as are available for Windows. But there are several suites you should be aware of:

1. Applixware from RedHat. This suite has a complete set of tools including word processor, spreadsheet, database, graphics tool, and e-mail client. A solid and popular contender.
2. Caldera Internet Office Suite. Caldera gears their Linux distribution toward corporate and office environments, so this selection takes ``the best'' individual applications and bundles them into a neat office suite sure to please nearly everyone. WordPerfect, NeX Spreadsheet, Z-mail mailer and Motif libraries.
3. Andrew Office Suite. Carnegie Mellon non-commercial project that has very high quality and is distributed under the GNU public license. Contains word processor and html editor, drawing editor, file manager, spreadsheet, scripting language, mail manager and more.
4. Star Office Suite. Many claim this to be the best office suite available for Linux, and Caldera is bundling it for sale with their Linux distribution also. Contains powerful word processor, spreadsheet, drawing and presentation and graphics manager, charting program, graphic formula editor, and image manipulator. Highly professional suite that requires Motif 2.0 libraries.
5. Cliq Office Suite. Commercial suite including text processor, Lotus 1/2/3 compatable spreadsheet, personal database designer, application development tools, and accessories bundle with mailer, scheduler and calander, addressbook, notepad, and equation editor.
6. Goldmedal Groupware. Office bundles available including word processor, 3-D spreadsheet with business graphics, relational database, and workgroup scheduling and communications software.

There is definitely one website you should check out: The Linux Applications and Utilities Page. It's located at

Another good idea is to check out the Linux home page: http://www.linux.org. This will lead you to many different sources of information. In particular, check out ``Linux on the Web,'' because it will show you many personal homepages with suggestions for personal applications.

But there is another aspect to the Linux and Unix applications philosophy, contrary to super-cool looking applications that try to mimic their popular Windows counter parts.

Linux and Unix software is sometimes not pretty to look at. It's beauty lies beneath the surface. Small applications abound that do just what you want them to do, and no more. Yet, these small applications interface beautifully with other applications. That's the traditional Unix way. That's probably what the old timers will tell you. Newer Unix developers are much more tolerant of all-in-one type applications, and that's why these application suites that I mentioned above are a rather new phenomenon. The traditional Unix geezer is a command-line commando who takes his C straight, no ++ and no objects. He hacks his own kernel and he builds his own drivers. When you shop for Linux applications, you must be aware of this tradition to understand why so many important applications are built as they are. Some of the best applications have no semblance of a GUI whatsoever.

In conclusion, you don't have to stray far from the CD-ROM that your Linux distribution came on in order to be extremely productive. But if you decide to experiment with other applications as most of us do, you'll find no shortage of terrific programs to keep you productive as well as amused.