Ubuntu VS Windows

	WINDOWS PLATFORM		LINUX PLATFORM
	Application name	Market price (tigerdirect.com or vender site)	Application name
OS	Windows XP home w/ sp2	192.99	Ubuntu 5.10 i386
Chinese input	Smart Pinyin	free	SCIM
Office Suite	Office 2003 std.	341.99	Openoffice.org 2
Text Editor	UltraEdit 10.0	39.95	Gedit 2.12.1
Dictionary	Powerword 2005	49.95	StartDict
Ebook Reader	Adobe Reader 7.0 CHM reader	free	Evince 0.4.0 XCHM
MultiMedia Player	MediaPlayer Realplyer (avi, rmvb, xvid, divx, quicktime)	free	Totom, Xine, win32codes Realplayer
Images Viewer	ACDSee 7.0	49.99	gThumb 2.6.5
Photo Editor	PhotoShop CS2 v9.0	569.99	Gimp 2.2.8
Compress	WinRAR 3.2	29.00	Nattilus 2.12.1
Internet
Emule	Emule 4.6c	free	Amule 2.0.3
Download Tools	Thunder 5	free	Download for X v2.5.0
Ftp Client	FlashFXP	25.00	Gftp 2.0.18
BT	BitComet	free	Azureus
IM Tools
	MSN Messenger 7.0	free	GAIM 1.5.0
	Google Talk	free	GAIM 1.5.0
	Skype	free	Skype 1.2.0.17
Email Client	Outlook Express	free	Evolution 2.4.1
Web Browser	IE	free	Firefox 1.0.7
Tools
Security suite	Mcafee Internet Security Suite	29.99	unnecessary
DVD/CD Burner	Nero 6 Ultra	86.00
Total Cost of Software		1,414.85	free

There are so many options. I list what are installed on my Ubuntu pc.
I will try the software one by one and compare with the application on the windows side by side.
I trust that it is the habit, not the tech., to postpone the change from the paid software to free software.