Tell me about Linux

Is OpenOffice pretty comparable to MS Office? Are MS files compatible with OpenOffice and vice versa?

OpenOffice can read and generate MS Office compatible files but the process isn't always 100% perfect. For most basic types of documents everything looks just as it does on MS Office but documents heavy on MS propritory features may need adjusting/touchup. In some instances OO avoids replicating MS bugs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Excel#Software_errors). The newer version (OO 3.0) does a fantastic job with convertion to MS formats than the previous 2.x.

You may also want to note that Open Document Format (ODF) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument) is now an international standard and going forward MS has commited to supporting the standard due to market preasures (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument#Worldwide_adoption).

Thanks for the info saden

If you are getting a netbook and are using it strictly for surfing the web and email, then Linux would be fine. The learning curve with Ubuntu is pretty easy, and there are so many things you can add-on easily. I have it on a dual boot on my work laptop, but because we are a Microsoft shop, I'm booted into XP 99% of the time.

I was looking at the Dell Mini 12 as well, but I'm now leaning towards this MSI Wind from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152075) to be my new personal portable computer, from which I will probably do a dual boot XP Home/Ubuntu, maybe even add OSX to the mix.

And OpenOffice is a great alternative to MS Office. I've used it interchangeably with Office 2007 for a while now, and with the things I use it for, users haven't noticed any difference.

I compare Linux to Mac. A lot of the advantages will disappear as their market share grows and they are faced with real market pressure and growing security issues. As everyone has said, for a net machine it is fine. If you want it as a productivity machine then you'd be dopey to not go with a PC or Mac. As an aside I am hearing good stuff about Windows 2007. I think Microsoft may actually put out a good one with 2007. It should be out sooner rather than latter considering the negative public reaction and slow corporate adoption of Vista.

No worries, I'm a big Linux guy that TMC alludes to but unlike Applers I know I'm a whore and I keep it real :) I am proud that my cell phone, home phone, work phone, netbook, laptop, desktop, workstation, TV, vacuum cleaner, and PS3 all run Linux.

...and I take issue with the notion that Linux can't be used for productivity. Linux is a tool and productivity depends on what you're trying to do.

Take what you will but don't count on us following you if somehow you find a way to make the Warpath accessible only on a Linux OS :D

If you are getting a netbook and are using it strictly for surfing the web and email, then Linux would be fine. The learning curve with Ubuntu is pretty easy, and there are so many things you can add-on easily. I have it on a dual boot on my work laptop, but because we are a Microsoft shop, I'm booted into XP 99% of the time.

I was looking at the Dell Mini 12 as well, but I'm now leaning towards this MSI Wind from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152075) to be my new personal portable computer, from which I will probably do a dual boot XP Home/Ubuntu, maybe even add OSX to the mix.

And OpenOffice is a great alternative to MS Office. I've used it interchangeably with Office 2007 for a while now, and with the things I use it for, users haven't noticed any difference.

I like the sound of that MSI Wind but I'm just not sure if I want to go with a 10" screen. I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 right now with a 16" screen so going down to 10" might be tough. I'm just tired of lugging this thing around though. It's just not practical for traveling and forget about trying to use this thing on a plane.

I like the sound of that MSI Wind but I'm just not sure if I want to go with a 10" screen. I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 right now with a 16" screen so going down to 10" might be tough. I'm just tired of lugging this thing around though. It's just not practical for traveling and forget about trying to use this thing on a plane.

I too have an Inspirion system - 6400 I believe. I beefed it up with some after market DDR Ram, so even though it's two years old it still runs nicely. You're right about the airplane thing. Pain in the ass. I'm also looking to get a smaller system. I really don't have advanced computing needs - internet, email, personal finances, and music. Pretty basic. I'm ready to park this Inspiron as a desktop and move on to something more compact. But yeah, moving from a 16" to a 10" screen would be tough.

Matty - you ever have battery issues with your Dell? I had to replace the factory battery after the first 6 months or so, and I have some friends who have had similar issues.

10" is very small and portable. The 8.9" screens are really small and the keyboards on sub 10" netbooks hard to operate. Go to BestBuy and try them out first.

I too have an Inspirion system - 6400 I believe. I beefed it up with some after market DDR Ram, so even though it's two years old it still runs nicely. You're right about the airplane thing. Pain in the ass. I'm also looking to get a smaller system. I really don't have advanced computing needs - internet, email, personal finances, and music. Pretty basic. I'm ready to park this Inspiron as a desktop and move on to something more compact. But yeah, moving from a 16" to a 10" screen would be tough.

Matty - you ever have battery issues with your Dell? I had to replace the factory battery after the first 6 months or so, and I have some friends who have had similar issues.

No, I never had any battery issues. I guess I lucked out and missed the first wave of Dells that had that issue.