Popular myth -- those tidbits of received wisdom that epitomize the phrase, "Of course it's true, everyone says so!" -- is as evident in the technology community as it is in any other society. The only difference is that this particular community isn't divided by geographical location, but by language -- namely, the language that their favorite computer speaks.For example, you can wander into any place where Linux enthusiasts hang out, and you'll find out that Windows systems are constantly crashing or crawling with a multitude of viruses while they are run by suit-wearing company drones whose thoughts are controlled by an evil corporate entity operating out of Redmond. Sit down with a roomful of dedicated Windows users, and you'll discover that Linux advocates are a bunch of wide-eyed screaming radicals living in their parents' basements who spend all their time writing blog entries fiercely defending applications that only a programmer could possibly comprehend.

Recognize yourself there? Even only a little? No? Funny, neither do I. But it's really not that far from the kind of rhetoric you can get when technology advocates become passionate about their chosen operating systems.

One of the cudgels that Windows advocates have used to beat Linux fans over the head with for the last few years was the inability for open-source developers to come up with a distribution that the majority of users -- who think of computers as tools rather than toys -- could operate without having to deal with obscure coding or a multitude of complicated utilities. While the problem may have been overstated, there was no denying that, until recently, Linux could be an effective corporate tool, but wasn't quite slick enough for home and small business users to be able to handle on their own.

So what about now? Especially when companies like Dell are preparing to add Linux to their repertoire of notebooks and PCs?

Serdar Yegulalp, a tech writer who currently uses Windows, but who prides himself on having an open mind, decided to try it out. He's compared Microsoft's Windows Vista (which has its own problems selling itself as an easy-to-use OS) against Ubuntu 7.04, a Linux distro that is known for having a consumer-comprehensible interface and which includes a number of workable applications, such as a Web browser, word processor, and instant messaging.

The result is a comprehensive and personal look at the two operating systems: Ubuntu Linux Vs. Windows Vista: The Battle For Your Desktop.

What do you think? If you're a Windows user, has Serdar's article brought you a little way toward considering Linux or is Vista still in your future? If you're a Linux user, do you think more individual users would be comfortable switching to an open-source operating system? We're interested in your opinion.