New image on my laptop

At work, I have steadfastly refuse to run the corporate laptop image now for going on 8 years. I have had real reasons plus some real desires to run software that I knew the image would not let me run.

recently, changes in corporate security policy have made need to get the image. What a disaster.

first, I had to reqire my home wireless network, to meet the corporate images security requirements. then the firewall gets in the way, everywhere. Here is small list of things blocked by the firewall installed on the image:

1. Can not use any desktop email client to call out to popmail. Popmalil port 110 is blocked
2. google chrome and safari do not work - the firewall makes the HTTP header look like it is coming from only IE
3. Windows Live writer can not post to Blogger - port blocked
4. Can not VNC to my Linux box at home - port blocked
5. Firefox is installed but very slow - again look at the IE issue -

In short - running this thing off the corporate network is down right impossible - it is the worst decision ever to go with the corporate image - truly maddening what is in place and so I have decisions to make.

I need an email client for home, a better surfing experience. I have a ton of internet speed but I am getting none of it with the laptop. the firewall is the culprit as everything goes through it. How do I know, I uninstalled and it the machine flew.

Do I buy a machine, use the linux one as just a home machine for surfing and email somehow.