<snip>

>Look at the future from the point of view of a box seller. Every component in the box is getting cheaper with one exception, Windows, which each couple of years gets more expenseive. Project that a short distance into the future and you get that Windows will be half of the cost of the box (and climbing).


Not the future any more. Its here now.

Look here http://www.mini3.com for the least expensive computer without an OS, 368.00

Windows XP is ~ 295.00 ~
office XP Standard is ~468.00 ~

I don't claim to have any better answers, but I am watching the www.Lindows.com thing come and see if that offers a real solution.

Bob Lee