OT: Free Linux and OpenOffice - even if your email address doesn't end in .edu - (was Re: OT: Microsoft crazy academic deal)

tonym wrote: <Devil's Advocate Mode> Linux $0, *BSD $0, OpenOffice.org $0. And you don't have to be a student or teacher. It's the same price no matter what TLD your email address is behind. Infact, some will even send you the install CD's for free incase you can't afford the network bandwidth. https://shipit.ubuntu.com/ (and they're not CD-R's, but professionally pressed.) and: https://www.cdearth.com/index.php?page=shipping Some low cost ones: http://www.linuxonline.biz/index.php?cPath=36 If those aren't good enough, find a large News/Magazine store that carries Linux Format (it's a British large format Magazine with a DVD) - they usually go for around $15 and the DVD has several Linux Distros + a ton of software - odds are it'll include a Linux distro that you're after + open office and a ton of other useful free stuff, and it's still cheaper than the MSFT drivel. http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&f… Note that this is 2008 and current Linux Distros are very very friendly. Infact, it's a lot easier to install Linux than it is to install Windows these days, and they do support most hardware out there without futzing with drivers, and they'll work just fine with older machines - no need to buy a new computer every time MSFT puts out a new rehash of its malware. There's really no excuse to use that nasty Redmond trash anymore. </Devil's Advocate Mode>