Mac,
I agree with your philosophy 100%.
Out of interest, how easy is it for a reasonably intelligent but not particularly computer savvy individual to get to grips with Linux?
I have been seriously thinking about this for some time, but as a user of several expensive bits of Windows software (AutoCad, SolidWorks and a handful of odd computational fluid dynamics programs) I have always fought shy of making the jump.
My current XP machine is stuffed to the gunnels with odd bits of useful stuff, like umpteen Excel spreadsheets for doing odd bits of aircraft design and analysis, plus lots of Word reports, templates etc. Does all this sort of stuff port across to Open Office on Linux reasonably well?
I guess I could try it out by converting my spare PC to Linux, whilst keeping the XP machine going, but if Windows emulation is reasonably good then maybe I might be able to completely cut free from MS domination (that certainly appeals!).
VP