I have a Mac and a PC and I feel more productive on a PC. I think the main reason for this is that I'm a "maximised windows" kinda guy and switching between windows and tasks feels much more smooth and simple for me in Windows. It may sound like a small thing but because the OS X dock deals with apps, not windows, it can be a pain switching between open windows (yes I'm aware of shortcut keys etc). Also the tendency of OS X to clutter the screen with open windows (which it seems most people are happy with) really frustrates me. Spaces alleviates this somewhat, but I much prefer something like Photoshop on Windows, for example. Much cleaner.
Having said that, the shell in OS X is really useful and a lot of Linux stuff you'll be using (Python for example) feels nicer in that shell than under Windows. Others here have commented on the "unix core" and it definitely is a benefit.
For me, though, I'm content to use Windows and Putty/VNC into my Linux box when required.
If you can, play with a Mac before you buy it. Developers tend to be a picky bunch so what works for others may not work for you.
I don't think so, mainly because ion3 doesn't really have a "desktop". It is fully programmable though, so you could easily write a script that searches your $HOME for .desktop shortcuts and adds those to the builtin menu, creates keyboard-shortcuts or even dock-icons for them.
Personally I have never cared much for desktop-shortcuts. My most used applications are all on the keyboard (F1 xterm, F5 browser) and for the less used stuff I simply "F3, amar<TAB><CR>" (runs amarok via the "launch" shortcut).
I think the advantage of having non-maximized windows is that dragging and dropping data from one app (or even one window) to another is a lot easier and more intuitive without going through the Windows task bar.
It's also easier to do something like read directions on a webpage while you execute those directions in another window without hiding it when accidentally clicking in the browser.
That's true, but these are not actions I perform regularly. When I want to drag things around or read something while I interact with another app, I'm happy to change my behaviour temporarily.
And/or you use Quicksilver and Witch. And life becomes even less painful.
I hide the Mac OS dock on day one and never look at it again, except for every couple of days when I have to relaunch Quicksilver. (It's not the best-maintained piece of software in the world, and it has some kind of long-term memory-management issue. One of these days I might have to try Launchbar instead.)
Having said that, the shell in OS X is really useful and a lot of Linux stuff you'll be using (Python for example) feels nicer in that shell than under Windows. Others here have commented on the "unix core" and it definitely is a benefit.
For me, though, I'm content to use Windows and Putty/VNC into my Linux box when required.
If you can, play with a Mac before you buy it. Developers tend to be a picky bunch so what works for others may not work for you.