Ok, so in the next few months, I'd like to get a laptop.

I've been using windows my whole life, I was always that guy that would fix anyone's computer, always being windows. Now, I decided to read up about windows and mac and find good (lease unbiased reviews possible haha) comparison's, because quite frankly, I wouldn't mind experiencing an other OS. Besides I can't stand the stupidity of windows, though I have nothing to compare it too.

After doing loads of reasearch I found that between windows or mac, I'd take mac; it scores better in terms of performance and use, for what I need.

Then I came to a revelation... What about Linux! So I've reading about them too, though I would like some advice. I know it's very customizable, but a tad less user friendly, and doesn't support as many games (though the "wine" layer can be installed, and helps)

I'd be using it for music, lots of surffing, downloading, word processing, syncing iPhone, and a bit of games. While Linux is great especially for programers and such, is it worth getting for the typical stuff I want?

If it's faster and customizable, that's great. But is it really that non-user friendly?

I'd be getting Ubuntu Linux, by the way.

What do you think guys, should I go for Linux, even if I'm not using it for the typical Linux stuff?

why not just dual-boot?

Figure out how to do that... then you have the gaming compatibility of windows but the genreal use of linux. Then you can strip down windows so that you only run the bare bones you need for games to work.

That's what I would do personally. I've just never had a second computer to mess around with dual-booting.

Hm. Yes or use a prallel. Good idea. Thanks!

Setting it up 'll be an adventure haha.

Yeah, I have my computer set to dual-boot. I mainly use Windows, though occasionally I use Ubuntu.

I would recommend against using Linux for everything. It's a good backup, but, in my opinion, not a good primary OS. I'd go for Mac. MacBooks are awesome. 7 hours of battery life and Mac OS. If you get MacBook Pro, then it's made of 100% aluminum, meaning it can be recycled, and is a powerhouse. Only bad thing about Macs is that they're incredibly pricey. Tis the only disadvantage though, as Macs can emulate Windows via Bootcamp or use a Windows layer through Wine.

Fun Fact about Wine: Each letter stands for the first letter of a word. Wine Is Not an Emulator.

An interesting thing I found, is for a PC of equivalent power of the macbook pro, the price is not that far apart[i]. PCs simply have a better selection of lower-end stuff. But ya, Mac is still pricey.

Ok here's a question: I can see why I'd want wine layer... but what is the point of the emulator at that point?

What? I'm confused... About the wine layer part, that is.

Ok, I get why I'd want Wine. But what is the point of bootcamp? Or do I need both?

Bootcamp is, as far as I know, Mac only. Bootcamp allows you to run Windows on Mac. Not run Windows Programs and use OS X, but just run Windows, whereas Wine allows you to run Windows applications while running Linux/OS X.

By the way, I'm posting from Ubuntu right now. It has a 20gb partition just to do secondary stuff fast.

Ok, thanks for your help. I think Wine will come in hang. I'll need your help when setting up the dual boot.

I use to dual boot ubuntu and vista, but scraped them both and went to XP. also this http://www.colinux.org/ looks interesting, it allows you to run linux stuff natively in windows. O and wine is not perfect, it has slow done,some graphic features dont work, and can act up with certain games, but it all depends what games you had in mind.