Windows, Mac's and Linux PC's are now all based on the x86 architecture. Using virtualisation, all OS's can run all of the other OS's software (in fact, you're actually running the whole OS). All of this can be done from your host OS, so no rebooting is required.
Mac OSX is based on BSD, the sister of Unix/Linux. However, it can only be installed easily on Mac hardware. Linux can be installed on most hardware, but some hardware support can be flaky. Wireless support has improved considerably. XP can be installed on most modern hardware. Vista can be installed on most modern hardware and a limited set of old hardware. Any new hardware released is almost guaranteed to support Windows, you can't say the same for the others.
In terms of functionality, all the OS's are pretty similar. Linux can detect pretty much any external device you'll plug into it without user intervention, even 3G modems. Windows does too but often requires a driver disk. Mac's are pretty similar to Linux.
For software, Windows has everything you could want. Almost any software available on the other OS's is available on Windows. Mac has a subset of commercial software available, usually with a multimedia focus. Linux has a vast array of software for almost any function and usually has software to replace a commercial equivalent. However, it almost exclusively lacks the commercial polish of its Windows and Mac equivalents. Of course, Windows is the only platform to choose if you're a gamer.
Security wise, Linux, by design, is the most secure. Mac's come next, with Windows last (although Vista has improved things). In terms of security, Mac's and Windows aren't that far away.
In summary:
Windows: Does everything you'd ever need, security isn't great out of the box, tends to slow over time. Only option for gamers.
Mac: Expensive, good support if you work in design/media, generally secure.
Linux: Free, most secure, plenty of software but none to the same standard as commercial software. Great for custom solutions.
If all you do is internet/email/office, all the OS's are fine. Linux, as a technology, is superior to the others (try replacing the motherboard, processor, graphics card etc on the others without reinstalling the OS for instance), but lacks those killer apps that many people require.
Dave
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