The only reason Linux is a tinkerers wet dream, is because Linux users are "legally allowed" to tinker to their hearts content, if they "choose to do so".

Windows is a tinkerers nightmare because Windows users are "forced" to do so when they would prefer not to! They "legally are not allowed without paying money" to tinker past the complexity of installing their systems.

So Yabby, please refrain from claiming Linux is only for tinkerers, because you clearly have no experience in making such claims!

And as far as solutions go, How much tinkering does a windows user have to endure to install a complete Office solution in Windows?

In Linux if it wasn't auto installed when getting a new system, I simple type "aptitude install openoffice". In sixty seconds I'm good to go. Same for groupware solutions and anything else you could imagine.
No tinkering here, not one bit and many good solutions to choose from!

Oh and did I mention spyware and viruses are a non issue on Linux? Much, Much tinkering there on Windows huh?

Oops forgot to add my conclusion.

And it simply goes like this:

If you're not into to Tinkering, then clearly as I've demonstrated, Windows is not for you!

Both my children have been using Linux from the get go and you know what, They hate Windows for it's complexity and restrictiveness. They think their teachers are on drugs, The Microsoft Drug of Illusion and Ignorance.

Yabby

My experience echoes that of Pericles and Rstuart, less so with Raw Mustard because I believe in recycling rather than consuming. My PC system is 9 years old - I converted to Ubuntu Linux about two years ago. The only thing I am likely to change this year is the monitor - really want a flat screen, meanwhile I am not adding to the trash heaps of consumable goods and will donate my old monitor.

Also I am free to donate the money I safe to a variety of charities, knowing full well where my hard-earned dollars are going. I also have donated to the Linux people - small business needs all the help it can get, not so the monopolies like Microsoft and Apple.

Finally, you asked for advice, people have gone out of their way to help and explain to you the alternatives to Microsoft - maybe you could at least thank the people who have offered such good advice.

Back to my points to Pericles, I'll come to the other points in time,
one by one.

As for business software, in 94 I was operating a seafood export
company as well as a farm. I decided that I needed a database, a
spreadsheet and a word programe. Individually the quotes were
around 1500$ for all three, from various companies, Gates packaged up the lot for around 500$. That was Office 94. I bought it.
I updated it to Office 2000 some 6-7 years later, when one of those
update deals were done, for around 3-400$, IIRC.

When the GST came along, I had to get more serious about paperwork
and computers, so first I bought MYOB for a few hundred $, but
at that time it was simply not designed to process the kinds of
businesses that I was running, so to the back of the cupboard it went.
So I tried that common American programme that many use, can't think
of the name right now. That was not much good either. I needed software that adjusted to my business and the way I ran it, not
the other way around.

So I invested in some books to learn how to use Office 2000 properly,
did a bit of tinkering and set up a simple system to do my BAS, which
I still use today. So lets say 1000$ spent with MS, over 15 years
of use, that's 66$ a year, hardly huge money.

What I have learned, is the value of being part of the standard.
My brother hates MS, so years ago he installed Eudora on his and
my mothers computers. When sending digital photos became commonplace,
I was sharing photos with friends around the world, but not my family,
as they got sheets of numbers.

I use all sorts of devices on the farm, which have a driver. From
sheep weighing crates, to microscopes which I can now view on my
computer screen, all have drivers for MS. Many now have drivers for
Apple, but I am yet to notice many having drivers for Linux.

*You must be that rare bird who doesn't have to spend many frustrating hours whenever the system decides to die on you*

Pericles, I had lots of problems with Windows 98, but once I
became less stubborn and switched to XP, things improved dramatically
and no, I never have had frustrating hours since then, apart from
Windows 7 not including Outlook Express. I still think that they
have made a huge mistake there.

*They hate competition, and will do anything to eliminate it.*

Pericles most large companies do. But I have to be realistic and
find the rippoff by Canon and HP, when I buy one of their printers,
far more extreme. I have a drawer full of replacement inks here.
Next they invade my computer, to see what inks I am using, without
request. 5mls of printer ink for 25$ is a frigging rippoff!
Then of course when the warranty expires and the printer dies, the
new printer uses a different ink cartrige. I've spent far more on ink, then I ever have on software.

*You are also wrong in saying large organisations aren't suitable for open source.*

Rstuart, I said that Govt is not so suitable for open source. In
many cases, like large corporations, efficiently run, with a great
IT backup system, it would make perfect sense.

But show me where Govt, with its many departments, commonly not
the smartest staff, is run with that kind of efficiency. Every school
these days, has its cluster of computers. So for Govt it makes sense
to be part of the standard and the reality is that MS is still the
standard.

RawMustard, sadly I am just a humble peasant, so not as smart as
your kids. This week I ordered one of these:

http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/p/usb-digital-microscope-up-200x-magnification/

Mine is down at the post office, awaiting pickup. they are seemingly
sold out now, but I checked the specifications this morning on the
website and oh dear, only Windows drivers.

So to overcome these kinds of problems, best I just stick to what
is common. I'll let you fanatical types do the tinkering and
creating competition for MS.

Severin, all that saving the planet is of course wonderful, but I do
remind myself that 220'000 new extra people a day are born, over
and above those who die. So resisting trading in your old computer
might make you feel great, but I don't think its going to make a
huge difference, quite frankly.

For the record, if you read my earlier posts, I did in fact thank
rstuart for his assistance and even tried some of his suggestions.