newbie requests advice.

[James Cownie]

> unfortunately my only options are sparc/solaris or intel/linux because
> that's what the vendors support.

What's wrong with Alpha/Linux ?

That's certainly supported by Alpha-Processor Inc. 

   http://www.alpha-processor.com/

Not as cheap as IA32, of course, but may still be cheaper and faster
than SUN.

-- Jim 

James Cownie	<jcownie at etnus.com>
Etnus, LLC.     +44 117 9071438
http://www.etnus.com