Just for info:

Like I said, I do a dual boot of Windows 7 x64 and Xubuntu 12.04 x64. On opening Windows 7, before I open anything else, more than a quarter of my meager 6 gigs of ram is used by the OS and nearly 20% of my cpu. In Xubuntu, less than 6% of my ram is used and the cpu stays consistently at 2% until I open something ;). A marked difference. Windows is a hog when it comes to system resources, and even if I disable Aero, I can't even come close to the efficiency of Linux. If only more of my programs came in Linux versions...

Did I mention that Xubuntu boots in mere seconds next to the over a minute for Windows? ;). I'm not a Linux lover per se either...I've only just been using it seriously for maybe just under a year. But the difference is really noticeable. In Linux, Wings3D is open nearly instantly, and Blender isn't very far behind. Unfortunately, those are only two programs I used that even have Linux versions. Most companies don't even bother. Shame.

Laurie