gdjacobs wrote on 2020-07-12, 16:32:
I'd argue that Linux has certainly caught up to MacOS in hardware and software support these days (Adobe's intransigence notwithstanding).
I work a lot with music,both DJ and production, as well as photography, and even if Linux got some software, it does not generally have any support at all from the AAA-vendors.
I have no problem with software for my Mac machines. macOS is generally equal to Windows regarding software in all types of creative areas, and even better in some cases (like Apples own Final Cut Pro and Logic).
gdjacobs wrote on 2020-07-12, 16:32:Talking about period or near period software, yes, paying attention to hardware compatibility is definitely an important point, although BSD and Solaris were definitely oriented to running on this type of system, so hardware compatibility should be relatively good.
For server things; sure. Great support for *BSD and other UNICES (including Solaris x86).
For general desktop apps, like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, etc; not so much.
For printers, scanners, sound cards, graphics cards, and other desktop stuff; it is often the same (generally poor) situation.
gdjacobs wrote on 2020-07-12, 16:32:The critical issue remains what the OP intends to do with his rig.
But why not install several systems and multiboot? Choose what you want when you start up. 😀
That is what I used to do in the beginning and middle of the 90:ies. Had multiboot menu on my computer for MS-DOS 6/Win3.11, FreeBSD 2.x, OS/2 Warp 3/4 and Windows NT 3.x/4 (and for some time also Windows 95, until I got tired of it's crashes).