I'm quite objective and tolerant when it comes to operating systems, applications and hardware. I just want the best for money, and temporarily can even accept functionality over the value for money factor. Indeed, I'm still looking for the best hardware/software combo.

One thing I've learned is that Linux has been predicted to take the throne of Windows too many times, it never did yet, but now something has happened which finally might give it the final blow. Even I made the mistake, and predicted it way too early: http://siipi.com/public/mika.nsf/blogs/D3F28A19C60356C5C2257361006FDA6A

Microsoft had many good products, like Visual Studio 2005 C++, but now that has been beaten by Linux GNU C++ too (see Speedtest article: http://siipi.com/public/mika.nsf/blogs/E2A4779723C2F147C22573C600673696). Was THAT the final blow?

For me it's a very important issue, as I want CPUs to do their job: compute a lot and very fast, at the lowest cost. If a CPU cannot do that, then I look for a better one.

Of course speed is not everything, but it is more important than anything else. You might compare it to a truck which drives at 50km/h and carries 20 tons of load with a moped which drives also at 50km/h but can carry only 100kg of load. However, in most cases it's not enough to drive at 50km/h with whatever load, but the need is for speed, like 320km/h, and at those speeds everyone carries about the same load, except for airplanes... But then the price goes up to the sky accordingly.