The Rationale of Linux.

After my amateurish attempts at trying to get a "enjoyable" Linux installation working, I have begun to question the reasons for trying to do so.
As a single PC owner, it makes little sense to try to tackle the issue of shoe horning Linux with the hardware. The problems with driver installation, and Wine installation (for gaming, since games are an important use any PC will be put to) are simply too challenging for most people. The plethora of live distros seem to be a solution, since a user has the option to go about trying out different live distros to see if the drivers are all proper and the Wine installation is error free. But even then the downloaded content remains incompatible amongst distros so a lot of downloading is needed. For those not on a broadband connection, this eclecticism is not an option. In my case, PCLinux offered the best compatibility with hardware, and also the right amount of "administrative freedom", but I have not been able to install a single application without the application manager crashing with a "rpm database not available" error. In those distros where I could get Wine installed, the GUIs to most of the routine tasks were missing.
The cheapest Windows option that can address these issues will cost me about Rs. 4000 (Windows XP Home OEM). The added benefit of doing Windows is also that any custom hardware can also be used without much heartache, like plugging in a webcam.

But, seen from the perspective of a person who is incharge of many systems that are to be used in an official (aka no fun during working hours) environment, Linux is a god send. Here, since the driver issues need to be addressed, it helps if all the systems are homogeneous. Testing out a few live distros hopefully will offer the most compatible option, and that just needs to be replicated on all systems. The cost saving is substantial, since at Rs. 4000 per PC, in a place that has 10 PCs, the cost savings just multiply. The added benefit is the inablitity to load up the PC with irrelevant programs. Since it is common to find many office PCs loaded with games and other software which can bog down the system, Linux's inability to handle such programs is a boon. Manhours spent in unproductive entertainment via games are reduced, which is also a saving in disguise.