operating system?

I am currently using Windows XP Pro, but will be switching to a Linux OS when I get a new computer. The laptop that I am using right now has been through too much to risk trying a new system on. Vista is nothing special. A couple of neat features, a few pretties and sparklies and whatnot, but nothing worth the price and CERTAINLY nothing worth paying for updates for (as has been rumored). Linux has it's bugs, but has great potential and a great premise. There are DEFINITELY downsides to it, as it still takes many steps to perform some of the same tasks that Windows can automatically detect. However, it can and will be worth learning in years to come.