Well Linux, it's been a good run! But a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do...

[ThinkBuntu]

I'll probably dual-boot, or run using Parallels, a completely free-software OS, because I feel that the #1 mission for Linux isn't to free people from chucking money at Microsoft, but to make software free as the FSF and GNU defines it.

I really like using dyne:bolic, and I think that because my multimedia creation is light at best, that can do good things for me. Plus it's made by a Rasta! :^)

[ticopelp]

Ah, Mac. Well, enjoy paying huge amounts of money for even the simplest piece of software.

I actually am in a similar line of work, and I moved away from Mac, because it was essentially a money sink. There wasn't that much good freeware out there, and what little freeware there was eventually went payware, and very little under $50-75 for apps that are readily available for free on Linux. I finally installed Ubuntu on my Powerbook because I was tired of paying through the nose for... well, everything.

And I used to be such a huge Mac head too. But in my personal opinion Macs are only a viable option if you don't mind flushing oodles of money down the toilet.

Best of luck to you, you have always been a great poster on these boards.

[ThinkBuntu]

Ah, Mac. Well, enjoy paying huge amounts of money for even the simplest piece of software.

I actually am in a similar line of work, and I moved away from Mac, because it was essentially a money sink. There wasn't that much good freeware out there, and what little freeware there was eventually went payware, and very little under $50-75 for apps that are readily available for free on Linux. I finally installed Ubuntu on my Powerbook because I was tired of paying through the nose for... well, everything.

And I used to be such a huge Mac head too. But in my personal opinion Macs are only a viable option if you don't mind flushing oodles of money down the toilet.

Best of luck to you, you have always been a great poster on these boards.

I can hang $500 for the whole Adobe Suite (well, the parts I need). $30 is reasonable for Transmit, and beyond that, I can go completely Free Software. I may splurge for the education version of BBEdit, which would be $49. Beyond that, I really don't use my computer for anything except for more common tasks that apps like NeoOffice (Mac port of OOo) can handle with ease.

You're very right though. Buying all the software does add up. But I think I can justify the cost to myself because I use the software to make money: I wouldn't pay a dime for it otherwise!

If I were a hobbyist, CyberDuck would be great for FTP, and I would just hand-code everything, which I largely do anyway.

Thanks for the wishes of good luck everyone! And likewise, I wish good luck to the Free Software community - you're about to have a huge breakthrough on the Desktop, I can sense it!

[phidia]

There are people who like to bash macs and i generally don't emphasize that my laptop is a powerbook still running great too and while i had linux on it 10.3 is too useable compared to anything else out there. Having said that I do wish things were different-like you thinkbuntu I want to support open source.
Apple hardware is way above the alternatives out there too-like why does no one else make a laptop with a slot loading optical disc?
I think you stated your case pretty clearly and intelligently. Good luck to you.