I have a few general questions about Linux...

Alright, so here's my situation... I've come to dislike Microsoft for their dirty business practices and faulty products, and I'm looking to systematically eliminate all Microsoft products from my household. I just have a few questions before I move ahead with switching over to a Linux OS: 1. Can I use applications similar to Microsoft's Office programs with Linux? 2. Before instilling Linux, do I have to back up the data I currently have on my computer? Will it be lost when switching OS? 3. Will it negatively affect programs like MSN Messenger and Firefox when Linux is installed? Does it improve computer function at all? 4. Is Linux virus-prone at all, and is it compatible with NOD 32 anti-virus?

Some answers: 1) yes, office suites exist for Linux. They are typically open-source, but have corporate sponsorship from some major IT companies: Sun, IBM, Google,... See http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software http://www.linuxalt.com/ http://www.libervis.com/wiki/index.php?title=Table_of_Equivalent_Software for lists of alternatives. 2) You should backup your personal data whenever you perform a major project on your hard drive. This is particularly true of OS installation, especially when you're re-formatting or repartitioning your primary hard drive. If you're installing Linux to a separate partition or hard drive, the others wouldn't be affected. Just make sure you choose the correct partition. You can leave Win on one partition and install Linux to another, and boot into whichever you choose. Both setups will function independently without interference. 3) You'll use one OS at a time (unless you set up a virtual PC, one inside the other). So there'd be no effect of the linux installation on the Win system. A system with WinXP and Linux installed will run noticeably faster with Linux (especially certain versions), though that partly depends on what services you maintain on either system. 4) Most viruses are written to target the most prevalent system. So 99% of viruses target Windows. Virtually no viruses target Linux, and many users don't feel the need for any anti-virus for these systems. There are free and paid versions of anti-virus software that runs on linux to scan for viruses, but these viruses are those that target Windows, in case you forward email to Win users. NOD32 runs on Win only, not Mac or Linux, but you won't need it. Save your money - buy more hardware instead. Then your system will run even faster: faster Linux OS, faster hardware.

I use Linux since 2000 and never use anti virus programs which is I found a big RAM eater in Windows. Safe me to use any important application, as I'm using only 256 mb of RAM.