[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

In trying to sell any Linux system, there are several things that must be mentioned.

1) Any associated costs. Assuming a Windows user who wants something like typical Windows use, what is it going to set me back to get a close approximation?

2) What “must have” software is out there for Linux? I’m talking antivirus, VLC for media, DVD burners, Firefox for Linux, Open Office, others?

[Dr. Sivana]

2) What “must have” software is out there for Linux?

That's a problem. I use Excel with some very large flat file databases -- many more rows than OpenOffice's limits (~65K). (Before you tell me I'm using the wrong tool, the Rank feature in Excel works very well to manipulate the data between databases.)

I also use FileMaker Pro, which has nothing near a Linux equivalent for useability.

I have also run into problems with the quality of video drivers and scanners.

[Ghost of SVR4]

2) What “must have” software is out there for Linux? I’m talking antivirus, VLC for media, DVD burners, Firefox for Linux, Open Office, others?

Not sure if you are not in the know or just advising..There is antivirus, VLC and mplayer for media, A litany of browsers, Libre is a solid office suite.

These days, unless you are on the bleeding edge with printers or games, I can't see a reason not to run linux. If you absolutely need to run a windows app, install windows as a VM on VirtualBox and run the app there.

Personally, I like openSuSE but that is still too geeky and not ready for primetime. Fedora or Mint are excellent choices as viable candidates to get off of windows however.

[markomalley]

1) Any associated costs. Assuming a Windows user who wants something like typical Windows use, what is it going to set me back to get a close approximation?

MOST Windows software either has a native equivalent or will run under Wine. I recognize that there are some that don't do as well under Wine as under Windows, but that is increasingly becoming the exception.

2) What “must have” software is out there for Linux? I’m talking

• antivirus,

I use CLAM. Free of charge

• VLC for media,

VLC is native for Linux, so no problems

• DVD burners,

Multiple options...plenty of them out there

• Firefox for Linux,

I prefer Chromium personally, but Firefox is ported to Linux as is Opera

• Open Office,

I prefer LibreOffice, but Open Office works as well. There are other choices as well

• others?

I like running gpodder as a podcatcher, Clementine as a streaming audio client, Thunderbird for email client, GIMP for graphics (admittedly not the easiest piece of software to run and I think a very poor second to Photoshop), Eclipse (not essential for 99% of people out there)