OS and Audio Software query

Phatmouse

Good evening,
I'm looking for a little advice on running specific sortware on various OS's.
Essentially, what I need to run is an internet browser, Cubase SX3, Reason 4, Microsoft office and the drivers for a Tascam US-122 ( The older version, not the US-122L )
The reason I need this information is because I am going to buy a cheap laptop computer, but they all seem to come with Windows Vista installed, and I keep reading that this OS is either not suitable for these specific audio applications, or is generally unstable.
I think i would like to go with Linux as my OS, as I read that I can 'custom tune' the system, for example, reduce latency within my audio applications. I also read that Linux is generally much more reliable than a microsoft OS, with crashes and bluescreens rarely happening.
Finally, I think I can use a web browser such as Firefox with Linux, and I'm lead to understand that this program is far superior to Microsoft's IE?

If anyone can advise me about whether Linux is the way forward, and if it will work with the programs listed above, I would be most grateful.
Ta

amcluesent

Vista's sound-system isn't too clever, and the programs you mention won't run on Linux except with very iffy emulation programs like WINE.

The vast, vast majority of the testing of those apps. and drivers will have been done on XP. I thought you could still specify XP from Dell etc.?

Firefox runs on XP fine and is superior to IE7, although it's the plugins for Firefox which really make it.