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Mind mapping tools would accomplish much of what you mention. I can vouch for FreeMind. It's a Java app, so it's comfortable in many locations - Windows, Linux, Solaris, OS X. The import, linking, embedding, and export functions are simple to use and reasonably robust.

My workflow with FreeMind goes something like this:

1. Brainstorming session (lots of 'input' key, and copying/pasting from all my open resources)

2. Organization and linking from node to node

3. Export to some intermediary format (Options abound)

4. Work in editor - pure or WYSIWY*. (I really enjoy TeXmacs for all the wrong reasons - the exported TeX seems to be awful)

5. Check in or otherwise maintain revisions (rsync, anyone?)

The beauty of maintaining an open scaffolding is that it's easier to digest and/or massage later.

I can say from semi-professional experience, that working in Microsoft DTP products (Word, Publisher, FrontPage) is effectively binding the work to that product forever. To craft a document in Word, using the tools provided that make such a piece of software worthwhile (indexing, TOC, pagination, revision tracking) tie a document so inextricably to that software that the content is effectively under lock and key until additional exports can be made (albeit losing access to those key features, though I can't say how OO.o writer handles revision imports).

All that said, maintaining some alternative document base, in an agnostic markup language is highly beneficial.

Mind mapping tools would accomplish much of what you mention. I can vouch for FreeMind. It's a Java app, so it's comfortable in many locations - Windows, Linux, Solaris, OS X. The import, linking, embedding, and export functions are simple to use and reasonably robust.

My workflow with FreeMind goes something like this:

1. Brainstorming session (lots of 'input' key, and copying/pasting from all my open resources)

2. Organization and linking from node to node

3. Export to some intermediary format (Options abound)

4. Work in editor - pure or WYSIWY*. (I really enjoy TeXmacs for all the wrong reasons - the exported TeX seems to be awful)

5. Check in or otherwise maintain revisions (rsync, anyone?)

The beauty of maintaining an open scaffolding is that it's easier to digest and/or massage later.

I can say from semi-professional experience, that working in Microsoft DTP products (Word, Publisher, FrontPage) is effectively binding the work to that product forever. To craft a document in Word, using the tools provided that make such a piece of software worthwhile (indexing, TOC, pagination, revision tracking) tie a document so inextricably to that software that the content is effectively under lock and key until additional exports can be made (albeit losing access to those key features, though I can't say how OO.o writer handles revision imports).

All that said, maintaining some alternative document base, in an agnostic markup language is highly beneficial.

So what you do is type in Word and then copy/paste it into LaTeX for the formating and everything else.

Are you insane or trolling? All reasonable text editors have spell checkers.

MSWord is not the answer. Ever.

I have a project on-line that allows you to build a basic robot for $500. It has PWM motor control and basic tips on building the base. It uses a PS/2 mouse to do wheel encoders. (cheap) and using a USB A-D/D-A board to control stuff.

I am a current user of your software, I found your site when looking for a way to implement wheel encoders for my robot. It has been extremely useful to me.

For the I/O hardware on my robot, I have implemented drivers for both a Pontech SV203 and Arduino Diecimila board. I also wrote an encoder driver to use the Linux event interface rather than the ps2 interface so I could use a USB mouse encoder. On top of your software I have written a Player driver to allow me to use the robot within their framework, opening up a massive amount of new high-level functions for the robot.

I just wanted to thank you for making your software freely available, it has helped me transform my robot from nothing to something that can localize, navigate and avoid obstacles. It has done real work sanding my deck and vacuuming my floor, now if I can only get a snowblower attachment going I will be set.

Uhh no thanks, that's proprietary from the looks of it. Synergy would be a much better option. http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

I can't gauge it's performance relative to a c-based raytracer, but you should really checkout Sunflow.

It can produce gorgeous results, and it'll use as many cpu's as you can throw at it. I'm not sure how much commercial use it enjoys, but it's well beyond the "ooh check out this glass sphere" java raytracer applets you typlically see.

Yes. Sunflow is one example. I did my own tests, java vs c++ (almoste the same code) and java was only about 1.3 times slower.

AS3, the native language of the flash player is what javascript wants be when it grows up

As a language (i.e. not including the libraries), ActionScript is really just JavaScript in disguise. In fact, it is JavaScript; ActionScript is a variant of the ECMAscript language. As such, the core features of the langauges don't differ much. AS does appear to be more "enterprisey", though.

how about speed; is javascript able to render 3D had a frame rate comparable to say the open sourced as3 papervision library

First off: You're conflating the language with the library, so I'll assume that by JavaScript you actually meant the HTML DOM, and by ActionScript, you actually meant Flash. Now, to answer your question: No, the HTML DOM does not have capabilities for rendering 3D. I'll have to argue that it doesn't need 3D rendering capabilities. Do you need 3D rendering capabilities to read email or post comments to Slashdot? Both use JavaScript and the HTML DOM, and you didn't need to install anything fancy other than your browser to do it.

what about socket connections; can javascript access the read and write to xmpp like the flash player can by utilizing yet another open sourced AS3 library known as XIFF

No, the HTML DOM cannot. This is a problem, but I think the HTML 5 standard includes a model for "pushing" data to the user agent, so this need will be fulfilled in a later version.

MEDIA yeah; could you tube exist now in a javascript only world;

Again, conflating the language with the HTML DOM. The answer is, again, no. The new HTML 5, however, will include a standard for playing multimedia.

could you tube exist now in a javascript only world; when will we see that dawn of javascript powered browser based virtual worlds

No, and it will never happen. You may be thinking: With so many "no"s, aren't you winning the argument? No, you aren't. You've been so drawn into the "cool" factor of Flash taht you're forgetting what HTML is used for - to display web pages. Not 3D virtual worlds, but web pages. The HTML DOM + JavaScript should work to enhance web pages - you can use Flash/Java/Silverlight/whatever for everything else. I have admitted a few flaws of the HTML DOM, but it will be fixed, eventually. What I'm trying to say this whole time is that developers should use the right tool for the job. The obligatory car analogy is obvious here - an SUV (Flash) can go anywhere (those "virtual worlds" you talked about), but for navigating the city (web pages), a sedan (JavaScript and the HTML DOM) will beat Flash at its own game.

and don't even get me started about reduced development time due to its inherently object orientated nature;

The mark of an inexperienced developer. First off, JavaScript is OO - it uses prototypal inheritance, which is more lightweight than the classful inheritance of ActionScript - lightweight being the key word here. Remember that the languages are being used for different purposes.

it will be a glorious day when the canvas object is supported by explorer

The canvas element also works, to an extent, on Internet Explorer. All developers need to do is use the ExplorerCanvas JavaScript library.

however in the mean time the inbetween time if you want to be on the edge of web based experiences and applications the flash player is still the best game in town;

Sure, if you need to be on the "edge". For everyone else, JavaScript and the HTML DOM are just fine. Finally, what's with your... "exotic" use of the semicolon? You need to use the period while you're programming as well, you know.

A couple years old, but ext2fsx still works.

Robocode is a modern, Java version of this.

Freeciv (Free and open version of Civilization) : http://freeciv.wikia.com/
OpenTyrian (Free and open version of Tyrian) : http://code.google.com/p/opentyrian/
The Ur-Quan Masters (Star Control 2) : http://sc2.sourceforge.net/
Oolite (loosely based on Elite) : http://www.oolite.org/
Command and Conquer 1 : http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/commandconquer/download_6178099.html?tag=other-user-related-content;4

I have nothing against "AJAX", I just have this thing against "ugly."

Slashdot had a huge competition to design a new look only a couple of years ago, and it actually looked pretty good for a long time. Then, relatively recently, they've decided they wanted to add dynamic features, and the look has gone into the crapper. The only recourse is to keep Slashdot set to "Classic" appearance, which is less vomit-inducing, but the "version 2" appearance keeps leaking in.

See, for example, these bugs:
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2144813&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2159787&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2348173&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939546&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939531&group_id=4421&atid=104421

and probably a dozen others I've noticed but not bothered to submit. (BTW, if anybody at Slashdot tells you to submit your issue as a bug report to get it looked at, they're lying. They never look at bug reports.)

I have nothing against "AJAX", I just have this thing against "ugly."

Slashdot had a huge competition to design a new look only a couple of years ago, and it actually looked pretty good for a long time. Then, relatively recently, they've decided they wanted to add dynamic features, and the look has gone into the crapper. The only recourse is to keep Slashdot set to "Classic" appearance, which is less vomit-inducing, but the "version 2" appearance keeps leaking in.

See, for example, these bugs:
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2144813&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2159787&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2348173&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939546&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939531&group_id=4421&atid=104421

and probably a dozen others I've noticed but not bothered to submit. (BTW, if anybody at Slashdot tells you to submit your issue as a bug report to get it looked at, they're lying. They never look at bug reports.)

I have nothing against "AJAX", I just have this thing against "ugly."

Slashdot had a huge competition to design a new look only a couple of years ago, and it actually looked pretty good for a long time. Then, relatively recently, they've decided they wanted to add dynamic features, and the look has gone into the crapper. The only recourse is to keep Slashdot set to "Classic" appearance, which is less vomit-inducing, but the "version 2" appearance keeps leaking in.

See, for example, these bugs:
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2144813&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2159787&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2348173&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939546&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939531&group_id=4421&atid=104421

and probably a dozen others I've noticed but not bothered to submit. (BTW, if anybody at Slashdot tells you to submit your issue as a bug report to get it looked at, they're lying. They never look at bug reports.)

I have nothing against "AJAX", I just have this thing against "ugly."

Slashdot had a huge competition to design a new look only a couple of years ago, and it actually looked pretty good for a long time. Then, relatively recently, they've decided they wanted to add dynamic features, and the look has gone into the crapper. The only recourse is to keep Slashdot set to "Classic" appearance, which is less vomit-inducing, but the "version 2" appearance keeps leaking in.

See, for example, these bugs:
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2144813&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2159787&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2348173&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939546&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939531&group_id=4421&atid=104421

and probably a dozen others I've noticed but not bothered to submit. (BTW, if anybody at Slashdot tells you to submit your issue as a bug report to get it looked at, they're lying. They never look at bug reports.)

I have nothing against "AJAX", I just have this thing against "ugly."

Slashdot had a huge competition to design a new look only a couple of years ago, and it actually looked pretty good for a long time. Then, relatively recently, they've decided they wanted to add dynamic features, and the look has gone into the crapper. The only recourse is to keep Slashdot set to "Classic" appearance, which is less vomit-inducing, but the "version 2" appearance keeps leaking in.

See, for example, these bugs:
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2144813&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2159787&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2348173&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939546&group_id=4421&atid=104421
https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=1939531&group_id=4421&atid=104421

and probably a dozen others I've noticed but not bothered to submit. (BTW, if anybody at Slashdot tells you to submit your issue as a bug report to get it looked at, they're lying. They never look at bug reports.)

I actually prefer w3m, but links is a very close second. Lynx is so far behind the curve it's not even funny. I only use lynx when I'm trying to bootstrap a system and nothing else is available.

I don't think it's a matter of lynx becoming too mainstream—far from it. I think it's more likely that the competent people have simply moved on to better text browsers like links or w3m, so lynx isn't as well maintained any more. But that's just a guess.

Oh, and Stallman doesn't use the web as far as I know, but if he did, he'd probably use the browser built into emacs! :)

Check out all the free games packages with D-Fend reloaded, not exactly up-to-date but damn good fun nonetheless D-Fend Reloaded

SuperTuxKart is also a very good game with good music. It is similar to Mario Cart.

Also Pioneers.

It's in the Debian and Ubuntu repos.

http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net/
A Guitar Hero clone that you can play with a regular keyboard (F1-F5 for "frets", Enter to "pick")

hmm, i didn't see it mentioned, so gere it goes ;)
http://ufoai.sourceforge.net/

The Bub's Brothers

These guys were chugging along pretty good until Apple took the wind out of their sails with the Intel move. Basically they ported Wine over first and were integrating it with qemu before the project stalled.

Ironically, Apple themselves have now shown twice how well emulation paired with native GUI libraries can work. The first time, it was the 680x0 to PPC transition. That worked so well that even Apple themselves never really killed all of the 680x0 code in the classic MacOS. Then came the transition to Intel, which seems to have been a roaring success - though the emulator this time caused a more noticeable performance hit.

FX!32 was a similar project for NT on Alpha machines.

Sounds like Robocode to me. http://robocode.sourceforge.net/

http://sc2.sourceforge.net/

Even better, use ccTiddly: http://sourceforge.net/projects/cctiddly/

It's tiddly with a PHP/MySQL backend. You can access it from anywhere and don't need to carry anything with you.

You could just use Google notebook, of course, but I find that I can organize and display information much more compactly on a tiddly wiki.

singularity is also good
and freedriodrpg can be played on intel (i think)
widelands (may not be playable), adonttell & Einstein are also worth a shot

Hell the kids/games metapackage for kubuntu kept me amused for a while.

Tower Toppler (also known as Nebulus):
http://toppler.sourceforge.net/

Ufo2000 http://ufo2000.sourceforge.net/

I find crawl to be a bit more accessible, a bit more forgiving, and a bit more fun than Nethack. I don't know if there's anything out there like Falcon's Eye for it.

Star Control II is one of the greatest games ever, with a rich plotline and cast. And now it's open-source!
http://sc2.sourceforge.net/
Get it ASAP.

No, NESticle really does suck. Trust me, I've used more than my fair share of NES emulators and it bugs the hell out of me when people say NESticle is 'good enough'. Seriously, the latest version (which was released ten years ago) doesn't even work on Windows, you have to use DOS! The last version that works on Windows is from 1997, and I've no idea how well that would work on Windows XP. NESticle was ahead of its time, but its time was the late 90s. Move on people!

Nestopia may be a bit heavy duty for low-end PCs like these though. FCE Ultra would be my immediate recommendation. It may not be quite up to Nestopia's level of accuracy, but it's close enough that most people won't notice and it's a hell of a lot faster. You could also give Mednafen a go. I've never tried it personally, but it looks good to me, and the NES emulation is based on FCE Ultra.

No, NESticle really does suck. Trust me, I've used more than my fair share of NES emulators and it bugs the hell out of me when people say NESticle is 'good enough'. Seriously, the latest version (which was released ten years ago) doesn't even work on Windows, you have to use DOS! The last version that works on Windows is from 1997, and I've no idea how well that would work on Windows XP. NESticle was ahead of its time, but its time was the late 90s. Move on people!

Nestopia may be a bit heavy duty for low-end PCs like these though. FCE Ultra would be my immediate recommendation. It may not be quite up to Nestopia's level of accuracy, but it's close enough that most people won't notice and it's a hell of a lot faster. You could also give Mednafen a go. I've never tried it personally, but it looks good to me, and the NES emulation is based on FCE Ultra.

Can be found HERE and should run in windows XP too.

It's a remake of the old dreamcast classic "Chu Chu Rocket" (no online play ... yet, but at least it has got penguins)

TuxKart http://tuxkart.sourceforge.net/
SuperTux http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperTux

I believe there are XP and Ubuntu versions available for both.

Many of the open source Linux games also have pretty good Windows ports:

Take a look for "Linux Game" sites and follow the links to the homepage of the games. Most times the Windows ports will be included. Here's a few good examples:
At getdeb.net you can get Super Methane Brothers. If you go to the homepage of Super Methane Brothers you find a Windows Exe.
You can take a look at LinuxGames, playubuntu.com and probably find more via Google.
Games that I would recommend specifically:
Tux Math Command
gridwars 2
OpenAlchemist
Hedgewars
Game Maker
Frets on Fire
Secret Maryo Chronicles

Many of the open source Linux games also have pretty good Windows ports:

Take a look for "Linux Game" sites and follow the links to the homepage of the games. Most times the Windows ports will be included. Here's a few good examples:
At getdeb.net you can get Super Methane Brothers. If you go to the homepage of Super Methane Brothers you find a Windows Exe.
You can take a look at LinuxGames, playubuntu.com and probably find more via Google.
Games that I would recommend specifically:
Tux Math Command
gridwars 2
OpenAlchemist
Hedgewars
Game Maker
Frets on Fire
Secret Maryo Chronicles

Many of the open source Linux games also have pretty good Windows ports:

Take a look for "Linux Game" sites and follow the links to the homepage of the games. Most times the Windows ports will be included. Here's a few good examples:
At getdeb.net you can get Super Methane Brothers. If you go to the homepage of Super Methane Brothers you find a Windows Exe.
You can take a look at LinuxGames, playubuntu.com and probably find more via Google.
Games that I would recommend specifically:
Tux Math Command
gridwars 2
OpenAlchemist
Hedgewars
Game Maker
Frets on Fire
Secret Maryo Chronicles

Unless you have the Kilrathi Saga pack, you'll need dosbox to make it work.

Wing Commander isn't free though, so I doubt it could be packaged with these computers. Maybe Vegastrike or one of it's mods would be a better option.

Atomic Tanks is a FOSS clone of Scorched Earch: http://atanks.sourceforge.net/

Use a modern NES emulator, like Nestopia. Nesticle is old as hell, and I wish people would stop using it.

These two games are both super addictive - one is a risk-like strategy game while the other is a...well, it's it's own sort of puzzle game:

Fracas: http://www.smozzie.com/fracas.html

Pathological: http://pathological.sourceforge.net/

I've spent a lot of time playing each of these, and they are a blast for kids too.

Second this motion. It's excellent, just like the original. http://sc2.sourceforge.net/

http://www.tremulous.net/ is a good laugh too.

You really should install the Ubuntu though... or at least wipe that XP off, you're not doing them any favor there.

see: http://www.smart-games.com/igowin.html or http://tangoclient.sourceforge.net/

Wesnoth is a good one.

Might also look into Teeworlds, World of Padman TORCS, Neverball and OpenArena.

Oops, somehow the link got messed up - http://armagetron.sourceforge.net/.

You can check out theopendisc.org's games and give that along with them. Those are four pretty solid games. Another thing to check out would be the open sourced quake or even freeDoom.

Are these primarily for kids? I'm also confused why you're installing XP but giving an Ubuntu CD? Live disc? That has a ton of great puzzle games you can start with and even a few decent starting learning games.

Ur-Quan Masters (Star Control II, but free)

Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (great role-based strategic shooter, inexplicably free)

Freeciv
Battle of Wesnoth
UFOAI (although this is in perpetual alpha)