I gotta say, total waste of money to pay money for a new operating system you will only use for Bitcoin.  Even a virtual windows machine would need to buy a license, where you can get linux for free.

What you use the computer for is more important than what operating system you have.  If your machine is on the internet 24/7, you are an easier target.  If you load the machine temporarily, much harder to attack.  Every extra program and website you use is that much more risk of picking up something.  Simply joining a bitcoin IRC channel is going to paint a target on the connecting IP address.

Windows has more bot-nets, browser exploits, and weird services that can be a exploited.  But it's a lot easier to use and nags you about firewall, anti-virus, and updates where Linux won't complain if you leave it unpatched.  I think using VPN software is easier to learn in Windows.

If you install every service on Linux, leave it on the network, and don't know how to patch it, you will get hacked just like Windows.  My plan is to use an old laptop with latest software updates for sensitive transactions.  The main trouble here is, if the laptop is hardly used, it is vulnerable while downloading the updates.  But, at least I won't have to download and burn a new LiveCD every month.

BitInstant is getting a lot of good karma in the Newbie forum  

Congrats on releasing your software!  Are you taking suggestions on interface and features?  Since it is freeware, you could put in a nag-ware popup asking to donate 0.1 bitcoin to your address, and marking it as "registered" if they donate   Also, I think the icons without text are confusing because newbies don't know anything about bitcoin!

If BitInstant was waiting on the other account to reply, I think they'd be waiting forever!  Say the account holder was not responding.  Now make a clear policy so people don't try to exploit your kindness. 

Good guys!  Oh you shouldn't have said how much you gave back

Ahh it's funny to read through the first posts of these newbie threads, see the Senior members and future scammers as they joined

It looks like it's still the Wild West.  A lot of people here have 2+ years experience.  Us newbies need more experience!  Trying to watch and learn

Hello Bitcointalk!  It was hard to find the reply button 

I was really hoping #118721 would post in this thread!  Did BitInstant ever explain if they had contacted the owner of the account?  Saying they are "working on it", and that it was "resolved" gives no information.

Did they find the account owner?
If so, did they respond?
If so, what did they say?
If yes, what are they waiting for?