| I've used GNU/Linux in large, Windows/Mac dependent companies for 25 years. You need to convince the IT-department, and you need to survive the first week learning how to connect to whatever system is in place, but after that, it's free of incidents to the point of being boring. My advice for convincing the IT-department is to pick something that is known to be very secure and stable. I use Debian Stable. My advice for the first week is to initially use the web interfaces for printers, e-mail etc. Move onto native solutions at your own pace. When somebody tells you how GNU/Linux isn't good enough, 99 times out of a 100, it is someone who has limited actual hands-on experience, or someone who is a bit insecure and territorial about the Windows/Mac systems that he does know. Ask them how they know, and tell them you will look into the specific issues they mention. Return later and show them what you have found. Word documents cause problems in Windows/Mac contexts too, constantly, so don't fret if you run into trouble. In addition to Libreoffice, a very quick way to deal with small inconsistencies in layout is to use pandoc with a template word-file. Basically, export a new word-file from your old one, using the template to strip the inconsistencies away. Aim to learn Bash and regexp, at least to some degree. It can save you a ton of time. GNU/Linux has fantastic tools for working with pdfs, comparing files of various kinds, quickly find information in a large file system and many other things. They evolve all the time. Make it a habit to check how others handle the same task you handle. Perhaps they have found a new and even better way? Gradually start using Emacs Org-mode. There is nothing that compares. |
You get all the benefits of a Windows machine (printing and whatever pre-installed software will just work) and a Linux environment.