Actually, Linux distros can be the key to a successful non-x86 workstation. RISC workstations more or less failed when Windows did not properly support them - most people didn't care how fast their Alphas or PPCs are if they can't run Office.

Now, if you have an ARM netbook that runs OpenOffice, Evolution and Firefox as well as a x86 in a laptop that costs you $200 for a 8-hour battery life, I say you have a major market changer. You are only bound to the x86 as long as you are bound to Microsoft software.

I work under Linux most of the time (actually, I use Windows for 9-5 work and Linux for the 5-9 stuff). As long as Emacs, PostgreSQL, Python, Plone and Django are available, I really don't care about what architecture I am using. Performance being adequate, it could be an ARM-based chip, an Intel 432 or a zSeries mainframe and I would not notice the difference until I did a "uname -a".

I would probably find the zSeries somewhat bulky...