Well, as right now I have dual boot on my pc, 7/64 and ubuntu/64, windows is only running for analog video capture (didn't want to expend on a new capture card) and flash content creation (sadly haven't found one good app for linux yet), and ubuntu for everything else. I went for bibble 5 pro, which I might say has a lot of really good features, at least for me as a beginner, has everything I could ask for (dont know about you in a higher rank, would like to hear from those who had already tried it, even in mac or windows), has good enough library features, all the editing plugins I want to learn how to use and besides everything else, it is fast. Digikam was a good choice also but really didn't like that you have to go all the way to the menu bar, and make the editing one plugin at a time, here it is more friendly and quick to do.
Although, it's the holidays and I'm still not satisfied, not at all, and I know why is that, I want a mac, that's the true.
A few days ago I was looking for a gift for my wife, and ended up in sears (the only credit card I own) and found out they remodeled the store, and something new, they had mac's for sale (I'm from Mexico, guess that explains why Sears just got macs), and they were in offer and in a 15 month payment with your credit card from the store, I couldn't believe it (not many choices though, they didn't have all the line, only one imac model, couple of macbooks pro and the white one).
I was planning on saving some money to purchase a mac mini from one of my suppliers (I sell computers and hardware), cause since I have no credit there, everything needs to be purchased in cash. So I thought with my budget to go for a 2.4 mini, max it up to 8gb, and maybe one 80gb ssd, and an external 1tb fw800 for all my photos, videos and everything else. I heard aperture and final cut express are not so mean on the mini when it comes to moderate video projects and not so big of a library.
But after this, I totally want a new Imac, I know it's only the i3 3ghz and 4gb, also 256 ati, and 21.5 display. But hey, it's 1980x1020 ips panel, in no time I could upgrade that 500gb drive to one of my really good samsung 1tb, and keep couple of externals, add an extra 8gb for a total of 12, use my 24 tn dell as a secondary display (perhaps good to fit all the open windows and video editing) and the core i3 its way more faster than core2duo the mac mini has.
It's only 256 of video, but I'm not a gamer, I dont use 3d animation or editing, only simple video projects and my library at the moment is under 5000 pictures.
So, what do you think? Should I go for it? wait to save some money and go for another model cash? go for the mini? keep my actual setup? Anyway, I hope I can solve this problem during this days, don't think the 15 month offer will last that long.