Sorry to get the thread back onto track. I'm not a Linux user quite yet but keep meaning to try it. I'm also about to take the plunge and give it a go as dual boot on my main machine and then on a cut down version on a router project.
But the reasons why I'll probably be trying it are:
1) Cost. It's just getting too expensive to keep up with Microsoft. To be honest all the recent additions to Windows have just been glossy bits or have made it harder to use (W2K was the best OS from them I'd suggest - XP went overboard).
2) I've always been quite a techy so ease of use isn't quite so much of an issue for me.
3) The XP activation really annoyed me. I don't mind MS doing it as I understand why. But to force me to reactivate the thing (with a limited number of lives) when I rebuild the machine regularly drives me up the wall.
4) If people don't try other OS's then MS will be able to do whatever they like. Competition is vital and if people like ourselves (fairly technology aware and capable people) don't make a stand then what chance of less experienced people making the move? Until Linux gets a string following (which I feel it is starting to) then software producers will ignore it.
The one thing I don't seem to be able to do with Linux that I can with Windows is run all the games I play. But for now I can go back to W2K and move to Linux for other stuff.
Now if only I can get the thing installed