The choice between Microsoft Windows (or Apple Macintosh for that matter) and GNU/Linux is a very interesting one. It is not simply a choice between two Operating System, but also a choice between two sets of philosophy and approach to software in general. In other words, GNU/Linux is not just a better Windows, as many pro-Linux people would love to believe, nor is Windows a better Linux, as Microsoft would like you to think. They are like car and motorbike, to borrow the metaphor from a blog: both are for moving from one place to another, but we cannot compare them, and choosing between a car and a motorbike involves more than just a match between their features. So are GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows.
Windows is about selling software. In other words, Windows needs you. When you have some problems, it will cuddle you up, put on a face that it is working extremely hard for you. This may not always be the case (anyone reading the EULA of Windows will doubt that), but at least Windows acts as if it is. And you, as a customers, pay for this behaviors. Frankly, you can have an operating system with no cost at all, with superior technical merit (not just GNU/Linux, but also BSDs, Amiga, [once] BeOS, or even Mac OS without the fancy interface). However, you pay to get these loving and serving behaviors that Microsoft would use to deal with you.
GNU/Linux is the opposite. Remember where GNU came from? Richard Stallman was fed up with closed source software, and he wrote his own; Toward Linus needed something to play with, and he wrote Linux. Then, someone else liked Stallman's idea, and helped him out, so that the someone would have software to suit his/her needs; or another hackers also wanted a kernel, and helped Linus out to improve Linux to get the desired feature. In other words, GNU/Linux grows by the community, whose members need it, love it, and improve it. GNU/Linux itself does not directly need you, the new comers. Okay, your presence is neat, like for ego, or tester, or friendship. However, they will continue to exist without you, and your usage of GNU/Linux, by the virtue of itself, does not help out anything. Only your involves in the community do, but by the time you start doing that, you don't really need to read this essay.
Imagine yourself being a new comer to both worlds, and you encounter some problems. What would you do?
In Windows, the OS would signal some errors, and pretend that it is trying to fix that. Of course it can't (if it can fix, it would not signal the errors in the first place), so it will give you some suggestions. Then, you try to call Microsoft. The representative will try very hard to help you out, or at least pretend doing so (or lose his/her job). Anyway, you will be given a lot of encouragement, and should you have any anger, the representative will patently listen to those. He or she will also try to hide away whatever the error means from you, and try to give you an as English-like as possible description. In the end, the representative will promise you that Microsoft will somehow have enough time and money to look at your case, and fix it in future updates.
As you see, you can be as angry, as rude, as impolite as you want, as long as you don't violate the laws. In the worst case, you can threaten to demand a refund, or recommend your friends stop using (this version of) Windows. You are needed, looked after, and promised great thing. You are the center, and money source.
Now, switch to GNU/Linux world. You get some problem, and the software will signal errors, and expect you (with starry eyes) to solve these problems. Again, if the software could have tried, it would have solved the problems already. So, acknowledging its short-coming, the software will depend on you. Now, assume you are no hackers or magicians, you will turn to the community for help. The most common way is to post onto the forum, or send emails to the mailing list, or join an IRC chatroom. If your demand is polite enough (the standard is different from one community to another), and the people there is sufficiently knowledgeable, someone will follow up and help you out. Even this help will be rather rough: you will be expected to be nice (or, at least keeping your temper in check), and learn along the way. Some instructions will be very technical. However, if the problem is resolved in the end, it will be reported upstream, and you can see how it will be merged into the next version (instead of a false promise).
Now, as you see here, there are some expectations on your part. You won't be able to remain ignorant, nor is the community your place to put out our anger. Okay, frustration may find some comfort, but anger will face punishment (in form of disappearance of help). You are also expected to contribute back, especially in term of time and effort.
Now, imagine you have used Windows and GNU/Linux for a while (usually half a year at least). What would you be?
If you are using Windows (or its equivalences like Macintosh), you will remain as clueless and ignorant as ever. You stick with the easy way to work, and usually this way is slow. Your machine will be largely the same as the guy sits next to you in the office: professional, but impersonal. You will be isolated, since you are not supposed (in some cases, allowed) to share any findings with your system with others. You will spend huge amount of time doing repetitive tasks, and your system will be full of crap, since you have no idea to clean them up.
Now, half a year in GNU/Linux world is totally different. I learned a lot in that time, and I am sure you will, too. You will understand to some extend how components of the system work with each other, albeit in a pretty high level. You will figure out some productive ways to accomplish your tasks, since this is the default interface anyway. Furthermore, chances are that your system will be personalized: it will soon reflect your taste, since you will have to make many choices on how your system works and looks. You will now have a "home sweet home" feeling with your computer, and feel really comfortable with it. Better yet, you will gradually build an identity with your community, and feel connected. Your work will be productive, and also fun.
In short, GNU/Linux empowers you; Windows sells you. GNU/Linux aim is to give you power, so you will help yourself and others; Windows' aim is your money, without which Microsoft cannot survive. Oh, GNU/Linux also wants to to be knowledgeable about itself, so that you will help bring out the next version; Windows needs you to be as stupid as possible so that you will buy the next version.
Here is your choice: do you want power? Seriously! Power comes with responsibility: to yourself, to entity that empowers you, to other people. Can you bear the responsibility? Are you willing to learn, to grow, to involve? Granted, these activities take time, but so is watching TV, or wasting your time in using the computer the boring and stupid way. Given that an American spends 4 hours to watch TV everyday (or surfing Facebook, it's the same), everyone should have enough time for power. The issue is mostly willingness: TV, and Microsoft, they are the same, flatters you, concentrates on making you feel some momentarily pleasure. Can you sacrifice these feeble pleasures for a more long-term one?
Remember, GNU/Linux is not a better Windows. You want security? Privacy? Safety? Well, remaining in Windows and paying for these are also an option. With appropriate protection, you can go a long way. Switching to GNU/Linux, however, means accepting responsibility. It's fun, I guarantee. It's how your parents think about you, and you will think about your children: the machine is YOURS. Not perfect, not professional, but it's yours. You design it. You will feel good working with it, productively. However, that comes with a price. Are you willing to accept that price?
Each person has a different situation, so it is thoughtless for me here to say, "take GNU/Linux, or you are a sucker." You may not care enough about the computer to do that. You may be extremely busy. However, just remember this: switching to GNU/Linux is not about a product, it's about how you use your computer.