Ok so you use a computer and when you think of using it you think Microsoft Windows is the only choice. You know about Apple computers but they are expensive and you have to buy their machine not any machine. So why is there not a third option?
You dream of a computer that starts fine, runs fine, you don't have to worry about security as a addon and you want to put your own stamp on it. You want choice you want freedom you want control and not being told what to do.
If all the above is true for you then there is a third choice. It's different, it can be hard, it can be easy, you decide what it is, you influence what it does and what it can do.
It is Linux and it's many flavours. It is open source - open to anyone if they want to use and develop a operating system in pretty much any environment. You may already use it and don't realize that you are. It is in TV's, mobile phones, GPS devices, washing machines etc etc etc. And of course it is in computers. It's in my PC and my Sony PS3 games console.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G7TJyZPKPo[/youtube]
So how is this a third choice you already have a operating system you are already familiar with using? You don't like change and it maybe will take time to get familiar with Linux?
OK how about trying a 'live' cd? This is a operating system on a cd that will run your computer without making any changes to your existing setup! It will run on pretty much any computer but if you are unsure if it will work for you, ask in any Linux Forum and you will get advice and pointed in the right direction. Ubuntu (see below) will send one to you ready made or you can download the image to burn to a cd yourself.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_CD
Oh did I mention it is free? Free because it's users and developers work together to help and ensure that we all have a choice, a better choice.
here are some links there are many more Linux's but this is a starter.
http://www.ubuntu.com/ - this is what I use.
http://fedoraproject.org/
http://www.mandriva.com/
So why am I putting this here? Well without Linux I would be not able to use this website as it open source software developed the same way that Linux is. This is my way of putting back something to the community and if that helps you realize there is a choice for you that will be great. It's nice to have a choice.
http://www.phpbb.com/