Just a quick update:

Took a lot of work, but the WattOS image Norhtec has on their server can be installed in the Gecko Edubook with Clonezilla. I found Clonezilla a bit confusing but eventually had a working WattOS beta 2 installation. The sound even worked--but not the wi-fi. Another round of e-mails with Norhtec and I wound up compiling a downloaded driver for the new updated wi-fi dongle--almost exactly 24 hours before the cards with the 2 OSs installed arrived.

Since I already have a WattOS system installed I haven't even tried that card, I assume it works. The Puppy Linux card, however, still won't work either sound or wi-fi. It's version 4.2.1, which has lots of fancy window-dressing and is probably the prettiest desktop I've ever seen, but still not fully functional on this machine. Norhtec says they're trying to get an Edubook to Barry Kauler (Puppy founder) so perhaps he can tweak it around; I hope so since I'm a Puppy fan.

Anyone had any more luck with Knoppix? From what I've seen so far it's probably too heavy a distro for the Edubook. Most of the apps I've tried won't play an mp3 without "skipping"; only one, SMPlayer, does well enough to listen to. The CPU "meter" stays pegged all the time it's playing; even moving the mouse causes skipping.

Happy computing,
--Kevin