Linux has become as eye candy friendly and bloated as any other newer OS. While most sane distros included an installer app that works with specific packages, some pride themselves on having you do all the work to earn your geek credability.

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Like I said, some people might not want that, geek credibility means jack **** to some people after all, no matter how much geeks think it rocks bells. Some people have better things to do with their time, and that's fine by me. FWIW Another reason I use ubuntu is because all it's major branches come on a single 650MB CD, which contains enough t o get most users going pretty well, and a good software manger to add more if it's needed. While I know even compressed onto 1 CD it's still bloated, at least it gives you half a chance of downloading it in a reasonable time frame and it's a lighter install than something like Fedora or SuSE.

Funny I had a working Fedora Core machine a while back that self destructed when it did an auto update as well (FC 3 or 4). I don't use linux because there are no compelling apps I need that are linux only.

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I'm pretty much the same, I use OS X 60% and XP 40% (for games), but I do maintain and use Ubuntu just to keep my nails sharp-ish and so that I can understand it when someone asks for help, so, unlike Windows users I can at least offer them a clue, not just say 'sorry I don't help with Windows problems anymore'. I like to stay in touch with technology too, and I realised a couple of years ago I knew jack about Linux as it stood at the time so I have made a point to keep half an interest in it since to see where it's going.

I wonder how many of the OSX users on this forum even pay for their apps instead of pirating them.

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I don't know whether to take offense at that remark, or not , so I won't, but sweeping statements like that do annoy me, no matter how true they might be. You sound like a record exec on one of those 'You're a young person so you don't buy any for your music you download it all off BitTorrent' rants.

FWIW I pay for anything I think justifies its price tag in quality, usability and actual use in my everyday routine. That covers 95% of what's installed on my Mac Pro. I am BIG supporter of small software companies and have over 20 registered Mac OS X shareware apps on my drive ATM that I use regularly and enjoy immensely. I also notably have a copy of OS X for every OS X capable Mac I own, including the 8500. I've long since given up ripping everything. If I can't afford something I'll find a cheaper or free (as in beer) alternative.

One reason I love Sun is they made their entire OS Open Source and free to license Not only that but they roll the best developments on the Open Source side into their mainline enterprise OS.