These are interchangeable parts to a full blown Linux operating system, depending on your computer architecture.

Computers with PCI, ISA slots and ATA hdd use 2.4.31(i386). Slackware principle.

Computers with USB use 2.6.x kernels and i686 platform withascii code that has i686 instructions, but leave north and south bridge empty, to gain operating speed. Mepis principla.

Computers with Intel hyperthreading instructions(i786) , use the appropriete ascii codes and 2.5.75 kernels on 2.6.x kernels. You also need PREX(posix emulation) to send the consecutive binary thread number in packet header to the cpu for creating new threads with operating instruction and packet data body. We are still working on Pres to accommodate the Intel hyperthreading cpus.(04/29/2006)

As you can see Linux kernels can handle the vintage of your computer all in one combination. And each kernel addition speeds up the operating system by avoiding some devices in the old architecture. We expect USB will take over the forewire specifications(double speed).