Ive got it. Only because it came with the computer that I bought from Dell. Its pretty cool, but i don't think its worth the price tag yet. Plus, I have the 32-bit version

Never allow someone to be your priority, while allowing yourself to be their option.

I have a free academic copy from my university. I've yet to install it, however - I'm scared none of my stuff will work. I'm going to leave it at least until the film I'm currently working on is complete.

Vista is a lot like getting bitch slapped, by a beautiful woman.

Another recent MS antitrust rant.

Having said that, I do still use windows at home. Last time I tried Linux (about 2 years ago), I came to the conclusion that it's not quite ready from mass consumer desktops.

However Ubuntu is supposed to be relatively easy, and Dell are selling it now.

I was put off Ubuntu after I tried to get it to install on a partition on my Thinkpad, and it managed to hang during the install and subsequently trash my HDD, so I ended up doing a complete reinstall of XP. I'm sure there are plenty of perfectly reasonable explanations for why it did that, and how it could have been avoided, and why I did something wrong etc... but at the end of the day, I'd trust a Microsoft OS not to do that without at least giving me plenty of warning first, whereas Ubuntu/Linux obviously isn't quite so ready for idiots like me.

Vista - I won't be touching until I get a new PC, and I won't be getting a new PC until there's something very wrong with the current one. The upgrade cost is just far too high, both in terms of the software price itself and the inevitable hardware upgrades needed, so the only time it really makes sense is as part of a wholesale upgrade when, in real terms, it's a lot cheaper. The problem (for Microsoft) is that both my XP machines are perfectly adequate for everything I throw at them, so I've no intention of changing either of them until smoke starts coming out the back.

Delete! Delete!

Don't let The Magic Smoke escape!

I have windows vista, cos pete insisted on installing it for me. it's quite shiny, but it bugs me when it tries to be clever and know what I'm thinking and it so DOESN'T.

But mostly, it's not too bad. And it's pretty.

-the bouncy sleepy bar of chocolate

don't all ms products have that annoying feature, of trying to think for you? irritates the hell out of me

More on how easy Ubuntu is (now) to install including a Youtube video.

"don't all ms products have that annoying feature, of trying to think for you? irritates the hell out of me" - yes, they do, but it's entirely neccesary to it's success.

I've only used Linux in university where Softimage XSI (which they make us do our 3D projects on) is installed. I couldn't tell you what version of Linux it is, but for the most part it's pretty straightforward - being a Windows-only user previously, however, it did take a bit of getting used to it not mollycoddling you through every single trivial task. Seeing as I STILL get phonecalls when my parents want to add new songs to the cheap MP3 players I got them for christmas, I don't think a Linux distribution is idiot-proof enough for the mainstream. Hate it you may, but Windows is clearly the best for occasional users.

I totally agree with you. I wouldn't recommend Windows to my parents either, though I think with Ubuntu things may be changing.
I must admit I still haven't switched to Linux myself, because I currently don't have the time & energy to go through the trouble of having to backup and install everything again. But when I will have 2 days all to myself this summer (which I haven't had in ages), I will definitely throw ms out of the window

The only issue for me on the linux front is that I mostly use my PC for gaming. I know you can get decent emulators an stuff but they'll never get things working 100%, right?

Party!

I don't understand why people buy/use OS A, only to emulate OS B because it has everything they need.

Never allow someone to be your priority, while allowing yourself to be their option.

With my Mac tbh, best 'o both worlds in a way. On Vista though it's ok, it works and, when it's gone through a few updates, it will certainly be worth upgrading from XP imho.

Big Gorram Line of the Week

"Well… my sister's a ship. We had a complicated childhood."

A few reasons off the top of my head:

1) Microsoft is a convicted monopolist, which has done some very ethically dubious things. I'd rather not give them any more money.
2) Linux is more secure.
3) Vista is not ready yet. Plenty of people are hanging on for the first service pack.
4) Competition drives innovation. Microsoft stopped working on Internet Explorer for years until they realised they were losing market share to Firefox.