Maya 4.5 is available for Linux and the free beta of MentalRay for the Linux version of Maya 4.5 is ready too
From what I understand from friends that run Maya in Linux it's much faster and smoother than running in Windows. There are a lot of free graphic apps available for compositing, processing etc. out there. It's got better memory management and requires a lot less to run the same app as in Windows. From what I understand Photoshop will be getting ported over soon
As soon as more apps get ported over and Linux is more compatible with pro audio, I'll be switching!
Darkon
Red bellows of flame have blackened my stones
Convulsing my frame and cracking my bones
Hell's dragons of steel who roar in their chains
Crawl into my caves to suck out my veins.....
-The Mountain P.F.M.