Considering that most graphic designers don't know much about networking, scripting or coding, they tend to prefer the Mac.

I find this an ironic statement; the reason I "switched" from PC + FreeBSD to MacOSX a couple years ago is that I finally had a platform that could run office apps while at the same time I could do my networking, scripting, and coding work. Your argument may have made sense prior to MacOS X, but that doesn't make much sense now. If you go to major computer networking forums (e.g., IETF, NANOG), you see growing number of powerbooks because it's very well suited to doing coding/networking.

As a side note, I was considering swtching to FreeBSD-only or to Linux, but decided to go the somewhat more expensive route so that I didn't have to spend a significant time tinkering with my computer to make it work.

I'm curious what is meant by Linux being "more complete" than the other OSes. I would hazard a guess that Windows has more specialized software options available for it than any other OS.

As someone who works with Ciscos and works for a Cisco Gold Partner:

Thanks for going public. I hope you get a chance to read this, but as far as I'm concerned and will tell anyone who asks that you did everything right and it was Cisco who screwed themselves.

I've heard few people say differently, either.

I have visited the ComputerWare store in San Rafael, both pre-Elite and right before it closed. Each time, I had to walk right up to a salesperson and start talking in order to be even noticed. I've asked for assistance in choosing between two brands only to be told, "These are the two we have, so just pick one." Once I requested an item (nothing fancy, just a keyboard) that they did not have, so they put one "on order" for me ... and it never arrived. In retrospect, I'm glad it didn't; ComputerWare's prices were exorbitant, and to complete my purchase I would have had to deal with the salespeople, one of whom was downright belligerent.

I would much rather patronize a "mom and pop" over a chain, even if the selection and price suffer a bit, but I will always prefer good customer service over bad.

I suspected it was going to happen to SIRLS. They've cut and cut an already tiny budget, consistently scheduled our classes in classrooms with blackboards and nothing else so that they had to be held in our conference room, etc. What gets me is how little money they're going to save by it. I know, I know, the ALA told them to spend more money. Still, it doesn't seem like much to me for a program that has so much benefit, if not rich alumni. Now I suppose people will have to go to California.