Ex-Microsoftie: Free Software Will Kill Redmond (ComputerWorld)

"Despite the fact that Linux is everywhere, desktops, laptops and servers, the institute ***buys a license for Windows and a license for MS Office ON EACH MACHINE!***"

Would probably be cheaper to have a site license...
But anyway, I agree with you. I bought an Eee PC, with XP Home pre-installed. I installed EasyPeasy on it (Ubuntu-based), and it is slick. Normal users never have to open a console. Everything just works.
A big difference from years ago, when getting Linux to run on a laptop really was for experts.