Linux: ~$500 | Windows ~$2800 reduced to ~$700 (Score 1)

Correct me if I'm worng, but isn't there a gcc package available for windows also, and if there is why would you need to bother with VC++ since you like running the compiles from the command line anyway. Also since your office software needs are so basic, why would you need to upgrade from Office '97 in the first place...given you wouldn't be able to open Office XP formatted files unless they were saved in rtf format or as text.

So I agree with the previous poster your comparison is fairly daft