I admit that Linux tends to be more troublesome than Windows or Mac OS, but if a Linux workstation is set up properly, most users shouldn't have too much difficulty in getting around. Especially with some of the newer desktops for Linux, they almost look like Windows, and a lot of the functionality is the same. The biggest problems are troubleshooting any odd Linux errors, setting things up, and ensuring that the proper software is available.
I did buy the RH 5.2 distribution for $55 back in 1998, but since then I've spent about $20 in obtaining about 6 different versions of Linux to try out.
When my parents bought a computer for me in 1996, Win95 came with it, including Office 95 (an extra $300 slapped onto the price tag), and I've been in college for the past 5 years, so I've been fortunate enough to get free copies of Win98, Win2000 Professional, Small Business Office Suite, and Office 2000: Mac. But if I had been a standard user, all of that software would have cost me close to $800 or $900.
Now if we consider how much I've paid for other Linux software, that would be $0. But since the release of Mac OS X, I've been using Macs most of the time. I paid $75 for OS X (which includes OS 9, too...so two OSs in one box, actually). Getting OS 9 was also a good deal since I could upgrade my old iMac to OS 9 without having to go and buy OS 9 separately.
So if I actually bought or upgraded all of my Microsoft software, I would have spent tons of money, but Linux would have been extremely cheap, and Macs land in the middle, closer to the more inexpensive side.
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I admit that Linux tends to be more troublesome than Windows or Mac OS, but if a Linux workstation is set up properly, most users shouldn't have too much difficulty in getting around. Especially with some of the newer desktops for Linux, they almost look like Windows, and a lot of the functionality is the same. The biggest problems are troubleshooting any odd Linux errors, setting things up, and ensuring that the proper software is available.
I did buy the RH 5.2 distribution for $55 back in 1998, but since then I've spent about $20 in obtaining about 6 different versions of Linux to try out.
When my parents bought a computer for me in 1996, Win95 came with it, including Office 95 (an extra $300 slapped onto the price tag), and I've been in college for the past 5 years, so I've been fortunate enough to get free copies of Win98, Win2000 Professional, Small Business Office Suite, and Office 2000: Mac. But if I had been a standard user, all of that software would have cost me close to $800 or $900.
Now if we consider how much I've paid for other Linux software, that would be $0. But since the release of Mac OS X, I've been using Macs most of the time. I paid $75 for OS X (which includes OS 9, too...so two OSs in one box, actually). Getting OS 9 was also a good deal since I could upgrade my old iMac to OS 9 without having to go and buy OS 9 separately.
So if I actually bought or upgraded all of my Microsoft software, I would have spent tons of money, but Linux would have been extremely cheap, and Macs land in the middle, closer to the more inexpensive side.