ATAPI CD-ROM, UNIX"NEW GUY"

[putnam at speakeasy.net]

I have installed bsd on an a pentium II machine and using the cd-rom. As of now it is no longer working properly I cannot finnish installing all of the cd's I purchasd. The cd-rom is 40x Delta "I think" model #OPC-K105/5 ST1. I am an art studdent with very littl knowledeg of computers but am pursuing a degree in architecture and would really like to get the most out of learning this OS as I am sure that any knowledge of the subject will aid me in the futer. I am looking into using AutoCad, MAYA, Photoshop. I would really like to know how to go about   setting up a unix inviornment that supports those programs, if possible, and has  rendering capabilities for the MAYA inviornment posibly linking multiple computers together in a renderfarm. I am looking into the G5 but apple doesnt support Autocad as of yet and to my knowledge OSx is a unix os. Thank you for your time. Joel Putnam