You know, the whole Windows/Linux debate. As you know I'm a late entry (I'm really just a writer) to this whole issue. The 'end of XP' is what got me hearing about Linux. And so the computer I had (which was working well) was suddenly going to be garbage. So a friend helped me install Xubuntu on it. Well, it worked so much faster, so much more reliably than XP ever did that I was blown away. Add to that that that with the XP I had my fair share of time spent at bleepingcomputer dot com and computerhope dot com and tech support guy and that it took seven or eight minutes just to effectively open the computer, well, that really added to me being smitten by Linux.
And as rccentros said, quite eloquently, there is something edifying, in my case deeply edifying, about learning and working through the issues that come up in Linux.
Now that's a two-edged sword. Lately with Alf's tools and trying to get some other stuff I'm really getting pretty sick of trying to figure out some of the winding directions to install stuff. And I mean that. I am so close to getting a cheap refurbished Windows 7 installed Dell and dual booting. (And when I'm frustrated enough single booting--with Windows!)
But Linux and me are pals by now.
And Linux people are so willing to help you. It's awesome.
A long time ago I saw a tutorial on Linux and the "expert" said Linux was fantastic for servers but terrrible for the individual PC-type user. He said Linux crashed all the time and was generally unreliable.
Well, all I can say is (from an individual PC-type user) I have no idea what that guy was talking about. Linux has run cleaner, more dependably on my 12 year old Dell than many of the
much newer Windows computers in the office where I work.
And Linux is a computer. I've enjoyed learning about it. I do stuff on the command line. I don't have forever to do it but it's fun to know this stuff (as opposed to just clicking on buttons in Windows).
Let's face it both Windows and Linux have advantages. But I'm still leaning toward Linux. And it's motivating--David vs. Goliath. Bill "monopoly" Gates vs all the awesome Linux volunteers.