Install XP, install M$ Office, buy all sorts of M$ applications that will help you to become a more productive member of society. Personally I like Linux, but I'm not a gamer or anything that's tied to a Micro$oft solution computer. But I do own Micro$oft stock - so I'm in it for the money. Support for Win2k will die out soon. I use my laptop for simple Internet surfing, tracking sport scores, IM (rarely), MP3 work, and playing DVDs. So RedHat linux is fine for me. I keep things sparce.