I knew it would happen. I saw it coming many moons ago, but nobody believed me. In fact, I received mountains of e-mail (some of it not quotable here) claiming it would never happen.

But it has.

There are now so many commercial versions of the Linux operating system that you need an interpreter to be able to tell the difference.

Of course, you can still get it free by downloading it from any of several Web sites, such as www.redhat.com. But what's the point?

It would take hours, if not days, to download all of the extras included with the retail packages. Plus, you get manuals and limited technical support when you purchase the product.

I've been playing with RedHat Linux 6.1 Deluxe, Corel Linux Professional, Storm Linux 2000 from Stormix Technologies and Pacific Heights Software's TurboLinux.

(Now, before you tap out an other nasty e-mail to me, please be advised that I realize this is only a fraction of all the versions of Linux available, even on the retail market.)

All of them are based on the new Linux 2.2 kernel, which is the core of the basic operating system. But that's where the similarity ends.

Prices range from $34.95 to $84.95, and what you pay depends on what you want.

RedHat Software is definitely the biggest player, offering versions for work stations, for servers and for a bunch of different operating systems. The deluxe version comes with more than 340 applications and Star Office 5.1a.

The Storm Linux standard edition includes PowerQuest's Partition Magic, an Applixware Office demo, StarOffice 5.1a, BRU backup and retrieval software and VMware 1.1, which allows you to run other operating systems (including Windows) within the Linux operating sys tem. It also includes a "package installer," which simplifies the task of adding programs.

Corel Linux includes Wordperfect 8, BRU backup software and Civilization (one of the best games ever developed for Windows) in its package. It's also the easiest to install, although Storm Linux comes in a close second in that category.

Corel Corp. is so committed to becoming the major player in the crowded Linux arena that it has taken over Borland's Linux operations. Also expect to see a Linux version of Corel Draw in the next few months.

TurboLinux is a Chinese import. It's basically the same as RedHat with fewer extras. But it can be purchased with V-Com's System Commander, which helps you manage all of your operating systems and will set up partitions for them.

The whole purpose here, of course, is to make the operating system more appealing to John Q. Public and less "geekish."

But expect to see a shakeout real soon, as the smaller developers find it difficult to compete against the big boys and their deep pockets.

In fact, don't be surprised if one of these developers becomes dominant - in other words, the Microsoft of Linux.