...and a way of life!

Yup. Emacs is on Spring's machines too. So far the best working one is on www. I guess I should try M-x gnus

You mean on access.spring.net don't you?

When they refer to the Meta key in emacs, is this the alt key? For example, from the faq: 1: What do these mean: C-h, M-C-a, RET, "ESC a", etc.? C-x means press the `x' key while holding down the Control key. M-x means press the `x' key while holding down the Meta key. M-C-x means press the `x' key while holding down both the Control key and the Meta key. C-M-a is a synonym for M-C-a. RET, LFD, DEL, ESC, and TAB respectively refer to pressing the Return, Linefeed (aka Newline), Delete, Escape, and Tab keys and are equivalent to C-m, C-j, C-?, C-[, Key sequences longer than one key (and some single-key sequences) are inside double quotes or on lines by themselves. Any real spaces in such a key sequence should be ignored; only SPC really means press the space key. The ASCII code sent by C-x (except for C-?) is the value that would be sent by pressing just `x' minus 96 (or 64 for uppercase `X') and will be from 0 to 31. The ASCII code sent by M-x is the sum of 128 and the ASCII code that would be sent by pressing just the `x' key. Essentially, the Control key turns off bits 5 and 6 and the Meta key turns on bit 7. For further information, see `Characters' and `Keys' in the on-line manual. NOTE: C-? (aka DEL) is ASCII code 127. It is a misnomer to call C-? a "control" key, since 127 has both bits 5 and 6 turned ON. Also, on very few keyboards does Control-? generate ASCII code 127.

The biggest problem I have so far with emacs is that it uses the alt key a lot, which brings up menu options in crt. The Control key combinations work fine. I suppose I could remap the alt key in CRT, as CRT allows this. As I mentioned, emacs refers to the alt key as the meta key.

OK guys...when and where are you going to install LINUX? Perhaps spring.net should consider offering some (for a minor fee) some shell accounts? Or a dedicated Linux box so interested geeks could dial into?

Terry can set you up a shell account, or I can come over to the Austin house and set one up for you, but it's gonna be on BSDI... (I don't currently have access to a computer that I can telnet in from...)