Actually, depending on the Linux distrobution you use, there are any number of Window Managers/Desktop Environments that you can use! Check out http://www.xwinman.org for a fairly comprehensive list. I'd personally reccomend GNOME and Window Maker. KDE is too much of a Window$ look-a-like for me. GNOME is a fairly elegant, intuitive desktop environment, and Window Maker is just the right balance of do-it-yourself window managing with not-so-do-it-yourself window managing. Furthermore, Window Maker doesn't require as many resources as GNOME, so it's easier on your compy. (For even more performance, go with Blackbox or Fluxbox, but they're harder to use, to me. But I was able to run them on a very slow(I think 33mhz) emulated Debian box on my Mac through QemuX.) I do think, though, if you want to go for themability and configurability, that Enlightenment might be your best bet.

As for distrobutions, on a computer as old as yours, I'd reccomend an older version of Slackware. Maybe 7 or 8. I dunno too much about that distro, but I've heard it runs great on older hardware, and I've got a friend that staunchly supports it. But expect to get your hands dirty in the process. It's definitely not n00b friendly. You might want to look into Debian; it's not n00b friendly either, but it's better than Debian.

And I've used telnet to MUD before...it's not that bad. But if you have a client, use it. You might just wanna google for "Open-source MUD clients."

Oh, yeah, it is possible to use many open-source programs on your mac. Google for Fink and Darwin Ports sometime. In fact, I can run Window Maker on my Mac alongside(or in place of) Aqua!

Well, I got Ubuntu and every problem I have had with it, was my own fault and not the Os' fault (unlike with wondoze). I am really enjoying it sofar, especially using lynx to serf the net, that is fun! It runs just fun, no problems, not too slow, Mozilla Firefox is wierd though, www.lusternia.com is a white page...odd. I wanted to use fluxbox, but I am scared to try and put it on, because I tried to install Kubuntu (ubuntu with KDE) and it KILLED my computer, I tried to install Fedora Core 2 and 4, Free BSD 5.0 and Mandrake 10.0 aswell as others, and they all would not install...
My computer only likes Ubuntu it seems, which is fine, the Gnome is a bit ugly... but I'm working on that!
In Other news...
MORIK! I HATE YOU!!! For getting me hooked on linux...your so mean, you just had to convert me... *sob* you Morik!
I do not find the window manager inside of gnome, eventhough I know it is there, and what does it mean when I run scyophant (spelling?) (The updater and app getter client thingy...) and it says I can't get this thing because it might be in the universe repository, and I need to enable it in the settings dialogue? Where is there a 'settings' panel in GNOME? IT's not on my thingy.. unless it is being sneaky!

Thanks somuch for everything!
Simimi