Now I'm no expert on this, but this is what I have heard.
Linux is based on Unix. It was mainly developed by geeky home users and hackers (mind you, I said hackers, not black hat crackers).
The whole concept of it is free software. The free graphics editting program GIMP (
www.gimp.org), the text and HTML program Textpad, the command-line program Cygwin, etc....
All of these are relatively high tech, complex, and powerful programs (even if they were basically "stolen" and modified underneath the surface - not that I am making any accusations).
To my knowledge you still can't run most mainstream programs on Linux.
IMO, whether microsoft makes functional software or not, they are evil (such as it is now being made more and more clear, they are trying to steal info from people). I'm not sure it really matters to me though, because I am using their software (though older versions of some things - as most of the newer ones grow nastier and nastier in every aspect)
I think it all really depends on what you want to use your computer for. Heck, if you want to print out life like graphics all day to start making a custom shirt business, you'd be better off buying one of those huge Cannon color laser image duplicators (though they cost around $15,000) than an iMac (even though, as I've been told at least, graphical design is the main purpose of Mac/Apple computers)
You wouldn't be able to get on the internet with a Cannon color copier (or do much else computer related, besides type on a little keypad and look at an LED screen), but you'll be able to print out special design paper that you can't paste on to shirts (some of which is equal quality to a custom airbrush job).
I really don't see any serious problems with operating systems except with microsoft's latest products (such as security issues, among other things).
I think pretty much any program out today (except those designed specifically for other OS) will run on 98 SE (which is what I am using). I don't need the power of XP Pro (I just rendered over 120MB of movies this morning using Ulead Visual Studio 5.0).
I guess it all really depends on what your priorities are.