S.C - I've been using Linux since '95, love it, and use it on my main 'Work' machine. However, I think that it's still not really a suitable general-purpose O/S, so if you have to ask "is it for me?" it probably isn't. There's just too much hands-on needed. Now if that sounds fun to you then give it a go (it's not hard, per se, just different).
As for Dell, you can usually do better - either from another more specialist maker, or by building yourself. The Dell outlet can be very cheap though, but you need to be quick, lucky and understand exactly what you're buying.
BEagle, it's a bit rich to complain that "The continual bitching and moaning and references to Micro$oft from the IT-knowledgeable are regrettable" when you referred earlier to "Linux, Godzilla, Bollux or whatever".
