1. All OSes stink! not one has a do it all function in.

2. M$ vs Gnu vs Mac vs BSD vs DOS vs OS/2 vs the rest, it will probably go on into infinitum. My rule I use for consulting clients: M$ for the desktop, Gnu/Linux for the network, Mac for pictures and media (M$ is almost as good), BSD for the firewall/network appliance and Gnu/Linux/Unix (if the cash floats) for the enterprise.

3. How I’ve seen people debate the kernels you can use on the OSes as well. Linux like M$ kernel big, bad and monolithic aka that version and that version only if you get past the dependencies. XP sans Vista/Win7 modular and fast running something for WinNT/Win98 still works without breaking the OS. Vista M$ badest OS to date Millennium was better.

4. 3rd party firewalls under Windows are more user friendly and safer than built in Firewalls under Linux. Why, under Windows I can tell the firewall to deny any request for internet connectivity even if the program is IE and wants to use port 80. Linux, after 3 years and many forums I still cannot set the firewall to block any internet activity for Firefox (I use Opera under UNR), but still use it on the LAN for development testing on port 80.

5. Linux will always be a step behind M$ when it comes to user experience. M$ and 3rd party development still caters for the User and simplifying the experience and by experience GNU/Linux will always be for the Developers/geeks.

And while I’m typing this on UNR (for now) my 4 biggest pet peeves under GNu/Linux are:
1. The sound is and stays scrappy! ALSA and PluseAudio they will never work.

2. The amount of time and associated cost taken to maintain UNR over the last 8 months has been more than to maintain and FIX an XP install that I test various software packages on before taking it the rest of my company’s install base including plugging as many security holes as possible. I’m not even going into money/income/time lost due to time taken in fixing it.

3. Desktop FOSS and FOSS in general will always be running around in circles like a multi-headed dragon or headless chicken, because there lacks a common driving force and route for the vision, never mind the in-squabbles between different projects.

4. I’m still trying to figure out where the intelligence in GNU/Linux projects for user experience is, since I get more things done under M$ (even through clicking) than under Ubuntu or any other Distro for that matter. I still have to tell the OS most of the time what to do when XP and the rest figure out what I want to do.

I myself am a committed Ubuntu user. I know its flaws and weaknesses aswell as I know its advantages but it certainly does enough good for me to convert 100%. I believe if you are seriously considering the move then Ubuntu is very easy to adapt to, especially if like me windows has driven you round the bend one too many times. As a developer and all around techy it feels good to know that if I break it I can fix it, too optimistic with some desktop effects which damage the GUI can easily be reversed. One bad install on windows can ruin your registry and leave you paralysed. I’ve had that happen one too many times and I’m glad that with the help of the amazing open source community I can fix any little or big problem I encounter.

We can learn a lot from the experiences of the people above. It signifies the core of OS’s which most people don’t seem to understand. This is all about the final decision is all about opinion. I use linux because I developer LAMP web applications and software using python and C++. My partner uses Mac OS X because of its amazing music technology suites. My Dad has to use windows because he’s an accountant and all his accountancy software requires windows (needs to be XP though, vista is a no no). Each person has the right to choose the OS that meets their needs. Ubuntu and linux in general is raising the bar and meeting more and more peoples needs so in time its popularity will continue to increase. We can only hope that the rise of Linux and mac wakes M$ up to secure their system and realise how many millions of systems they put at risk by not concentrating on the serious issues like security instead of trying to make windows “prettier” than OS X.

I think the KDE interface is one that WIndows converts seem to prefer (I think our LUG had it at 75% for KDE) while I prefer the lightweight XFCE which runs amazingly well on old hardware.

I’ve used Linux since Ubuntu 7.04 (not anymore because I’m not a fan of Gnome) and learned everything on my own/forums with a few trips to installfests for a few tweaks.

As for video codecs, its a moot point. Just use VLC for Linux and Windows. It will make you format agnostic.
The first thing I did when I got my sister a Dell Mini 9 w/ Ubuntu was get rid of the awful Totem Player and replace it with VLC (I also replaced Rhythmbox with the sublime Amarok and pidgin for Kopete which supports IM video).
I never think about codecs, formats or whether something will play on VLC.