Originally Posted by carpocratian

Apples tend to be a better fit for people who aren't "power users" or techies AND who use a limited range of software. The biggest drawback is that there isn't nearly as much software available for it as you can get for Windows, and very very limited free software.

Windows tends to be better than Mac for techies, power users, or others who like to be able to dig down under the surface of the OS. It's also good for people who use a wider range of software, enjoy free software, are gamers, or who don't want to spend extra money because the brand is marketed as a "status symbol" (even though Mac is only a status symbol among Mac users).

Linux (and the other -ixes) is a far more stable OS than Mac or Windows, lets you dig down deeper than any other, and is very popular among coders who work on Internet-based projects. The learning curve used to be steep, but more modern flavors are easier to learn. There is more free software available for it than on a Mac, but it can be harder to install than on either of the other two OSs, unless you are using one of the newer flavors.