colyn wrote:Most of the freeware MS based software I've used was just OK...however most of the software I use would cost a lot of money if I were using Windows. PhotoShop $699+ depending on which package deals. Gimp=free. Lightroom $300+. DigiKam=free. ACDSEE Pro3 $170. Gwenview=free. To name a few..
Some of those programs are also available on Windows, and there are also Windows-only applications that you can use instead of the commercial counterparts. No sane person would buy the full Photoshop package unless they actually needed all the features (almost nobody does), and if it's for their job they can probably get it through their company. Photoshop Elements satisfies the needs of end users, or you can use GIMP instead which costs you nothing. There's also Paint.net and a few others but I'm not a fan. GIMP still doesn't have all the features of the full Photoshop, but for 95% of people it has more than enough.
colyn wrote:But............since we are talking about OS's... Windows 7 Home Premium (full not OEM) $199.99. Linux Mint 9 KDE=free...
You'd be crazy not to buy the OEM version given that there's no physical difference between it and the retail copy, only licencing and support differences. The latter isn't going to matter to anybody anyway because MS end user tech support is beyond pathetic.** Google is far better. Licencing isn't going to concern most people either because they don't read the licence agreements, and in some countries those EULAs hold little or no legal weight. But of course licence restrictions still need to be taken into account, and they are most certainly the only
real difference between the retail and OEM copies, apart from the price.
I get all my software for free since I'm a student. MS is really nice to students so that they wean us off other software and indoctrinate us into the world of Windows
colyn wrote:Software may be just a tool but you should always use the best tool suited to the task at hand..
That's the only truth. Every other X OS vs Y OS debate will end in a religious debate (ie. circular flame war that never converts anybody), whereas this is objective.
** I emailed them once and they told me to contact Customer support, who told me they don't deal with that area. All I wanted was to have a licence key invalidated and replaced.