Why try Linux? Because XP is six years old. In comparison, Windows 98 is nine. No makes anything for Windows98, do they? Further, 98 and XP both had huge setbacks when they were first introduced, and rebounded by the end of their first year (after the release of their first service pack). I expect Vista to do the same.
Consider this: Vista requires some beefy system specs to run at full speed. Most current computers (outside of the core duos and Turions) aren’t quite up to spec to get that eye candy or usability upgrades. Even the basic version has some interesting requirements.
So what #1? Vista programs aren’t backwards compatible (because of the UAC) and XP programs don’t have full compatibility with Vista (this is a page from Mac’s modus operandi – OS X programs don’t run on OS 9 programs at all, and OS X Intel binaries don’t run on the original Motorola platform, PPC).
So what #2? Your next digital camera, or camcorder, or other peripheral may not work at all in XP. DirectX 10 (the future of gaming) is Vista only.
What are the options? Mac, which also requires you to buy new hardware or Linux, which is free and can be acquired now, and will run on anything (including Macs) from a Pentium up (but really requires hardware from the last five to six years or so to run perfectly).
But I hate it? Because you used my desktop, probably, which is configured to my tastes 101%. Linux does not equal GUI, whereas with Windows and Macs, the two are intrinsically linked. There are many options for Linux.
Yes, this is different than what I’ve said from years ago. But years ago, Linux wasn’t nearly as mature (think 3.11 versus windows xp). There are a multitude of excellent programs that there weren’t not even six months ago.
It’s likely that my next computer will not have an OS on it, or if it does, it’ll be Linux.
Inspiration: my ‘hardcore on windows’ wife. 
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3 Comments
” lol kernels ! ” was me by the way
So, so bitter about my lack of Linux love…
No, just your willingness to try new things.