At office:
Linux Redhat enterprise
instead of WORD and other MS OFFICE junk I run Open Office (freebie) and can inmport export WORD docs and almost all other MS documents. It can also generate pdf files.

also have XP emulator by VMware. Occasional glitches but minor.

If you want a freebie try Fedora 8 release with Open Office. Or other freebie Linux. Only thing you have to watch out for is hardware support.

At home:
Windows XP wih Open Office (yes it can run on Linux, Windows, MAC, Solaris...) and the files are portable to other platforms. My printer, Wireless G+ MIMO and other peripheral all support Linux and MAC. We do this because when we switch over to MAC/Linux box we don't have to send it to the garaveyard.

My next machine WILL BE A MAC LAPTOP. NO MORE DESKTOPS.
It has things I need and it comes pre-installed.
Objective-C, Ruby, TCL/TK, just need to load Open Office. etc.

Can't run my dreamweaver on MAC or Linux but Ruby on Rails should be able to handle what I need.

Almost all my software are open source freebie or very cheap. Its very reliable more so than windows or other stuff from MS. And I save ungodly amount of money.

The bad thing with Vista is once you upgrade, you can't go back. (that is what I was told) So we have zelch intention of upgrading to Vista. Besides, you have to decide which flavor you want. And you can't switch from one to other.

smilingcat