> Obviously this list displays a certain software bias. Is anyone > familiar with this course? Is there any reason one could not complete it > with FOSS software?
PS I'd ask the institute about this. Clearly they specify MS because it's widely available and everybody has it, plus the course material is probably geared to specific software packages. If they say "No, it must be what we stipulate" then I would walk away, but if they say "Yes, use what you want if you know what you're doing, but we don't have the resources to assist you" then you'll know they're a bit more clueful.
