I have been using Linux for almost an year now. It has been an amazing experience and Windows is already looking like a torture for me. There was a moderately difficult learning curve. It worth all worth the effort in the end. I don't think even a Mac could live upto the experience I am having. Some of my friends own Apple devices. Based on my limited experience, I would take GNOME over whatever Mac has any time of the day.
!PIZZA
!LUV
!CTP