OK I heared the arguments... I largely agree with the arguments... But I think the arguments are not about the issues which others....and yes, myself too...feel are the necessary ones to consider. I have no problem with Star Office....neither would others. I have no problem wih K desktop.... I agree - we are 'Educating' not training.... BUT Pupils need to use current MS tools NOW - not just when they leave school...in many other subject areas than IT. You only need to take one look at programs like 'crocodile physics, technology, chemistry' to be converted. They are simply fantastic compared to anything (are there isn't much) to satisfy CAL. The 'control' programs for Data logging....all require MS OS. Publisher (....and I hate it....much prefer my Acorn copy of !Style) is everywhere...integrates very nicely with other MS packages (just as well because it doesn't have much else going for it) but it simply doesn't have a convenient way of transfering material to LINUX platform. I might well migrate by NT servers to LINUX... I might well change my Netscape proxy server to LINUX (although I've never managed to get the MS proxy client software (winsock proxy) to work with anything but MS server). I might change my Email server to LINUX...especially as its the same box as my proxy. I certainly run Xserver clients on my PCs to give access to a differen't OS....a multiuser OS.... I use telnet and introduce some C programming as a change to Visual Basic (again....nothing anywhere near as good for LINUX.. and yes, I'd be first to agree that VB has its problems) You could use CITRIX to deliver MS interface to LINUX clients...but I'd say that was only to be resorted too when really necessary. Sound and moving graphics are pretty slow, and CITRIX is expensive. A Terminal Server Client for LINUX would be attractive but I can't see MS doing/Allowing that. Add to that the dearth of 'cheap' (sorry) LINUX capable technicians, the dearth of teaching staff that have any familiarity with LINUX (in fact there is dearth of IT capable staff) and the desktop battle is lost - except for niche schools and or workstations within a school. -- Alan Davies Head of Computing Birkenhead School