i can definately understand es's point about the plug and play
features of linux not quite being as advanced as Micro$ofts. i have
also been wortking with linux for about 8 years now, and i do admit
that microsft does do some things better. but not all.

i also admit that i don't know everything about linux,and that is why
i am here. to ask for help with a couple of issues...

the biggest issue that i am having right now is my OpenGL doesn't work
right. it makes the screen really run choppy. it has detected my
nVidia TNT2 video card and all the display modes for the monitor seem
to be working for the non-OpenGL programs, like office and gimp and
firefox. except i'm also having difficulties finding external
repositories for my ubuntu (please don't laugh! this last week i have
enjoyed being able to actually do some things without having to spend
the first month configuring all the files that i needed to in order to
get my last slackware system running right!).

Also, eventually, i would like to recompile this kernel, but i don't
have the first clue as to where to start.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.