I would suggest that it is better to convert the rpm packages to deb with alien before using. I have been doing this for months, and I have not have one (obvious) problem yet ... the packages convert without fail and install and run just fine. The reason I suggest doing this instead of installing the rpm's directly is because you don't want to get used to the idea of using two package systems on the same computer. It will quickly get out of hand. And, of course, most RPM's depend on a certain package that you may have installed in the .deb system but not in the rpm system. Thus, I say, convert them all with alien.
---Preston > I was wondering, what would be a better idea, to install an RPM > package by converting it first to .deb with alien, or just by using > RPM directly since it's there? >