OS

I am currently using Win 7 pro 32 bit on my desktop/laptop and Win 7 pro 64 bit on the mobile laptop and only one problem so far and that is with one radio programming software from Butel.nl (the one for the 396/996XT series), it doesn't run properly on 64 bit and fails.

So far I have found win 7 to be as problem free as XP from back when.

Ideally learning all OS's and being fluent in them is a good idea, why not? you never know when you might need that knowledge let's say at work.

I'd like to learn Linux before Mac.

Originally Posted by basicxman

Ubuntu Linux > Windows 7 > Mac OS X.6 > Vista > XP

I'm currently running Ubuntu 9.10 on my laptop and desktop (desktop is virtualizing Win7).

Screenshots
http://tinypic.com/r/2ak0i9z/6
http://i49.tinypic.com/dq16io.jpg

Linux allows me to have a lot of flexibility over my system and frankly it's a saviour for programmers, built in Python/PHP and a majority of the GNU Compiler Collection. Ubuntu's gedit is a great programming editor IMO and it uses only a few MB of RAM on my system. Not to mention it's external tools plugin is awesome.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by Mark Rozitis

I'd like to learn Linux before Mac.

Fortunately linux is free, and you can use it on your non-Apple hardware, legally

Buy another hard drive to put in your computer to experiment with linux. Or run if from the CD, to get the feel of it.

Originally Posted by squirrel

Fortunately linux is free, and you can use it on your non-Apple hardware, legally

Buy another hard drive to put in your computer to experiment with linux. Or run if from the CD, to get the feel of it.

Good idea, I really need to get back into doing more "nerd things"

[Thomas Clark]

I use Linux exclusively. For practical and moral reasons, I don't regularly use Mac or Windows. In fact, I carry a Linux LiveCD with my at all times just in case, and I always use it on school computer (as opposed to Windows).

I have a (100% legally licensed) Mac and I used to have Windows XP MC and then later Windows 7 RC on my laptop. Windows is too screwy but with a "friendly" user interface with all the shiny stuff. Obviously Microsoft is trying to sell the product, they make it look good but suck.

The Macintosh operating system is better than Windows, but due to its closed nature, less modifications are possible, and I often come across software that's PPC only or 10.6+ only or something.

Just to be clear, I'm well familiar with both Windows and Mac. I far prefer FLOSS software, and I find a Linux terminal much easier than looking through the Windows control panel only to find that the setting isn't in the same place as the previous version of Windows.

[timytamy]

I prefer Linux for moral reasons, however I do have Windows 7 (100% legal) dual booting for gaming.

What is interesting is that the current poll results are in no way reflective of market share. e.g. Linux has by far smallest market share among consumers but it currently has more votes than Mac. Also Windows has only just got 50% of the votes while it has almost 90% market share.

Just goes to show how different we are...

Thanks,
timytamy

PS: At the time of this post the results were:

Mac: 14 21.88%
Windows: 33 51.56%
Linux: 17 26.56%