>
>
>>is to just be able to get to a stage where I can use Linux for all of my
>>regular computing needs (web development, email, IM'ing, playing mp3, and
>>browsing)
>>
Okay I'm **way** behind in my emails but Tara if you still looking for 
this check out the following.

Web development. - bluefish(gnome),  Quanta (kde)
Email  - Balsa, Mozilla
IM - Jabber / Gabber, GnomeICQ, and Xchat
mp3's - xmms