benefits of linux?

I'm thinking of swithing from from a Win Xp computer to linux. I wouldn't want to discard my XP computer and lose all the files in XP format, so I would just get another computer and over time, sort out any files that could be transferred to linux (safety measure). I have heard of "LINSPIRE" (known for it's compatability), but I've also heard that other distributions of linux have special options.

Does anybody know from experience about the hardware changes and requirements, the software availability (interested in learning graphics and java), overall cost, and ability to use on a laptop? (mainly to facilate portability and avoid large setup).
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About This Video SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop utilizing XGL (more)
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Added: March 16, 2007



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My switch would be partly in principle against Microsoft, but also because I don't want Vista or the next OS ("Seven", due out in 2010).
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About This Video
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Windows vista is unu... (more)

http://www.jimmyr.com/blog/


Windows vista is unusable and incompatible with EVERYTHING. I just bought a new laptop. I had to download a pirated XP and use the serial number from my old laptop. I spent a week giving it my best, tweaking modifying and disabling services. It doesn't matter how much you tweak, aeros or not, vista will always be slower buggier and more incompatible than WinXP. Ubuntu linux using wine can successfully run more windows programs than Windows Vista. Vista sucks ass. I had vista home premium. Azureus (because it's java...), Flash 8, photoshop and a lot of well known programs worked. You'll still be annoyed often by incompatibility and you'll be downright pissed off when the games and software you BUY don't work. Think about the long run. XP performance / stability /security is BETTER.


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It seems completely ridiculous that Vista is not downward compatible, but Microsoft will most likely be doing the same thing with "Seven" in order to retain world wide profits.


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