Windows is a resource eater and it's very slow. I'm using Ubuntu 12.04 and it's impressive what you can do with a four years old computer. Having an efficient hardware usage, I'm also willing to pay and concentrate my finances on buying the application that helps me professionally. After all, I invest and I make money by using it. By using Ubuntu this makes it possible because the Os, office suite , cd/dvd burning application .etc are all free.