Linux in the studio

Linux sounds like the perfect match for you :) Seriously, I would suggest you check out Ubuntu because it has a lot of support, is easy to install and when set up properly will do what you are looking for. k3b is a great CD burning application that is much better than nero and very light on resources. Ardour is a hard disk recording application that works very well even over a network. Audacity is an audio wave editing program along the lines of Sony Soundforge, although not quite as commercial, it still is very good and stable too. For playing CD's and mp3s many people like xmms and amarok both of which have extensive library functions etc. FWIW I have found sampled grand pianos to be a mixed bag. Some are decent, but require too much tweaking to get working. Others (Akoustik Piano for example) just plain suck. Ivory is better but a real resource hog. Someday they will have Steinway in a box(literally with 2 midi cables to connect and you are ready to go) and that is when I will be happy. For now, my Steinway B with Renner action is my baby.... Best of luck to you in whatever you choose! Leo