HOW TO: Three easy steps from Windows to Desktop Linux
Are you geek enough for Linux? Though it first earned a reputation as a platform for hobbyists and hackers, Linux -1 come a long way since Linus Torvalds cobbled together the first kernel as a student project. A modern Linux desktop is a sophisticated, user-friendly GUI environment, with features and applications to rival any proprietary OS. In fact, when compared to the mainstream alternatives, there are lots of compelling reasons to give Linux a try:
It’s free. Switching to open source software means the end of software license fees, not just for the operating system, but for the major applications that run on it, as well.
It’s secure. Linux is largely immune to the viruses, worms, adware, spyware, and Trojan horse programs that plague Windows. PC World - Windows to desktop Linux in three easy steps