Been a while since I've posted. Happily my primary development environment now is 100% Linux. Sadly roughly a few days after I completed the switch my laptop's DC-DC power supply has failed in a strange and mysterious way. (When plugged in the battery fails to charge and I sense a bit of Glade Plugin Electric Burning Scent.) Dells 24 hour business support team will be here in 72 hours to look at it... *SIGH*