[ale] I thought linux was supposed to NOT SUCK!

[GENE.WILLIAMS at tlc.state.tx.us (GENE WILLIAMS)]

I am trying to finally leave the "World of Windows" but Windows seems to 
have Linux beat in the Universe of midi. When I try to install Rosegarden or 
other programs that use midi I get this error:
??
"/dev/midi: "device not found"??Ironically, my soundcard is 
configured and I can play midi (and other sound) files, just cannot receive 
midi signals. I know the joystick/midi port on the card works. I tested it 
with a joystick.
??
Questions:1. Can someone tell me what's missing??? 2. How do I 
configure the midi device from the command-line?3. If I approach a new 
system, how could I determine if this system has the same 
shortcoming???Here are some details of the system I am on 
now:??##################lsmod 
shows:snd-rawmidi?????????????????????? 
15584???? 0?? 
[snd-mpu401-uart]snd-seq-device?????????????????? 
4512???? 0?? 
[snd-rawmidi]snd?????????????????????????????????????? 
40900???? 0?? [snd-pcm-oss snd-mixer-oss snd-intel8x0 
snd-pcm snd-timer snd-ac97-codec snd-mpu401-uart snd-rawmidi 
snd-seq-device]##################/dev/sndstat does sho the line:Midi 
devices:?? NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG##################
??
Does anyone on this list know ( Suse 8.2 || linux + midi )?? well 
enough to point me in the right direction . . . . or is Linux just too 
inferior in the midi Universe to compete with the World of 
WIndows.??Gene