When a windows virus comes out we take our windows box off line and wait (impatiently) for Microsoft to write a patch and thats all well and good however linux being open source when a vulnerability is known or a virus comes out there are thousands of people that are more than capable to fix the issue. I feel that on account of the open source that makes for a better OS However this is my humble opinion.
And how long does that usually take? M/s does a very good job of getting patches and updates to security issues out rather quickly. One of the major failings of windows users is their failure to actually use them.

personaly i haven't as of yet had a virus i try to take as many precautions as i know how. the average user does not know even " elementary precautions" thats why i said take the comp. off line. the average user would not be able to fight off a hacker or figure out how to fix a infected comp.
I am an average user. I have run windows since '95 came out. I have NEVER had a virus infect one of my computers nor have I ever been hacked. I have no computer security background nor do I work in the field, but I can guarantee you barring physical access to my computers you would have one hell of a hard time doing anything to them.