i think it dumb that people are prepared to sacrifice power over an operating system like mac os x. Linux should of one by alot. I demand a recount.

Frankly, I can't imagine running Linux as a desktop OS on a daily basis. It's certainly come a long way but it's got quite a bit of catching up to do, IMNSHO, especially in the area of mature, polished applications. It's in dire need of a standard, world class UI, too.

Atari rulez dood!

Linux after Microsft

and others sux

that is my oponion

Yippee KaaJay Windows Lover!

I recently migrated my primary home PC from WXP to RedHat 7.3 and so far I'm very happy with the results.

Email and web browsing and pretty much the same between the two.

The main reason I switched is that with the release of WineX 2.1 (another subscription based company!) I can play most of my Windows games on Linux (Warcraft, Starcraft Half Life, etc.)

I initially tried Linux back in 1999 and found it too difficult to setup and run. Based on my expierences so far with RH 7.3, Linux has come a LOOOONG way and is very much usable now.

John

Hmm... there shoulda been an "OSX86" option. I love OSX, but couldn't give up that configurability with the hardware.

I use all three and if I could get the compatibility for games etc. I would drop Windows like radioactive waste.
I would probably go with OSX as first choice but as far as Windoze goes I would leave without looking back.

Given the audience, enthusiasts looking for good looking GUIs, it's actually not that surprising. They both have their respective strong suits:

Mac has generally had the nicest graphics by default of any OS, so you can get a good looking OS without much effort, while Linux has been skinnable from the ground up from day one, so it's even more skinable than Windows.

I would give Linux the edge thought because I think some of Mac voters would chicken out when it came time for ponying up for new hardware.

If BeOS and/or OS/2 were still alive (sure the IBM website says OS/2 is alive, but they are the only ones convinced that) then I'd go for one of them. I've never used either of them, but there's no way I would ever use an Apple (besides playing around with in the shops).

On the other hand, if Linux ran every windows app (exe files) I'd probably be using it right now.

I was, until recently, a Mac hater. What changed my mind? MacOSX being based on Unix. I And yes...there is an x86 version...just download Darwin (the open source Unix backend of OSX) and go at it. I dont think anyone wanting an x86 Unix would actually consider Darwin but I may be wrong.

All that aside I would choose Linux. I have been working with Linux for years and the only thing stopping me from using it as my primary OS is game compatibility. Wine is fine but not nearly compatible enough to pair with the newest games. I usually have at least one of my computers running Linux (Mandrake 9 right now) and if Windows bit the dust that would be my primary OS (depending on a few other things).

Should I assume that with Windows gone Microsoft would not just put all their money into MacOS? After all...they own half of Apple. Microsoft has been screwing Linux users for years now making sure it is harder to run Windows ports on Linux so would it change much if Microsoft moved to OSX? I cannot answer that but I am sure alot of the software companies out there would welcome the death of Windows so they could finally move to Linux as their primary target OS. I know my company would!!! Of course cross-compatibility is key to a strong software project in a world where the OS market is split 50/50 but it would be nice to drop the bloat involved with Windows.