Software

Software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom have become the worldwide standard for photographers. If you have a copy, please bring it. But Photoshop is rediculously expensive, and excellent cheaper alternatives exist. Most of them do the job just as good, sometimes even better. To name some : Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro, Nikon Capture, Bibble Pro, or Lightzone all do an excellent job. Some excellent free alternatives are Google's Picasa (for beginners), Canon DPP, The Gimp, Digicam, etc. Please keep working with the software you are used to. But know that very satisfying alternatives exist.

Open Source

Phot-O-Vergne switched to Open Source software in 2005. Since then our computer efficiency has greatly increased, and costs have been decimated. Not only because Open Source software is free of charge. But because hardware updates are needed less frequently, and software failure has been virtually non existent. Open Source software simply works and ik keeps on working. And although a linux alternative for Lightroom / Aperture doesn't exist (yet), we are perfectly happy with the existing Open Source photography software. If you want more information, just ask.