Benefits of using Linux?

[RPicard]

Hey, right now I use XP would there be any benefits of dual booting a linux distro?

[Omniscient]

You would be safe browsing the internet with a linux distro. It's a very unlikely scenario you would catch a virus. Linux is perfectly fine for most desktops but still has weak gaming support.

Dual boot isn't a bad idea but also look into VirtualBox by Sun.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

That might be a better alternative.

[RPicard]

Hmmn, but what type of scenario would I think "I should start of my Virtual Box for this" or "I reboot to linux to do this"?

[Raptor Jesus]

I'm down to the point where I don't even use windows for gaming. There is a compatibility called WINE. It allows you to run windows programs through it flawlessly most of the time.

[RPicard]

Yeah I don't do much gaming anyways. For some reason I have the desire to get rid of Windows all together and go with Linux. I just want to make sure that there is a real reason to do it.

[Raptor Jesus]

You'll love Linux once you get it. Get ubuntu because it usually has the most compatibility. From there you can learn the basics then move to things like Arch Linux.

[RPicard]

Hmmn, I've tried to install Ubuntu before. Every time I just end up with a blank brown screen after installation.

[Raptor Jesus]

Hmmn, I've tried to install Ubuntu before. Every time I just end up with a blank brown screen after installation.

Really? Made sure you got the right processor architecture? x86 or i383?

[Idiot #1]

Try SLAX it is easy and very custamizable.

[Raptor Jesus]

Try SLAX it is easy and very customisable.

SLAX is meant as a pen drive distro. Not meant to be a main one. I'd go with full blown slackware/Arch/Gentoo if you want customisability.