Also, do I lose performance in gaming or computing by swithching to Linux???

Where should I begin to learn how to install and such?

Windows and Linux is very different, kind of learning how to drive and how to rebuild the engine in complexity level.

I'd say it's not worth it. I benefitted in no way by running Linux. You could give it a shot, but don't remove Windows. You'll regret it later.

THANX FOR THE ENTHUSIASM lol

You can get native Linux games at http://www.tuxgames.com/ and you can get WineX at http://www.transgaming.com/.  Most of my Windows games work with Transgaming so I don't expect too many of yours to work with it too.  Support for Steam was just added to WineX's latest build.  I use Mandrake Linux 9.1.  The distro and build you decide to use is up to what kind of hardware you have and what you want in a Linux OS.  I don't expect Linux to become mainstream, at least not anytime soon, so think of Linux as a computer hobbyist OS or a toy to play around with for fun.  I suggest that you just stick with Windows if you don't enjoy getting your hands dirty and experimenting with your computer.

Ok, thank you very much.

*correction*  I meant to say most of my Windows games do not work with transgaming.  I just caught the error now and sorry for any confusion it may have caused.

No confusion, i knew what you meant. THank you

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

just insert CD and play

KNOPPIX 3.3 is a "zero install required" CD based LINUX distribution (based on Debian)
that RUNS from CD and has OpenOffice.org pre-installed

(just unplug your harddisk first if you don't believe it)

Knoppix is a good Linux demo.  If you try the Knoppix disc and like it, then you might want to try to get an installable Linux distro going.  Linux is better on the hard drive.

Tech Cat, You're capable of installing Knoppix from the cd.

I found Mandrake the easiest to get up in running a couple years ago. At that time RedHat dominated the market. Now, RedHat is going after the server market and is not that interested in people who use it on a desktop. Suse Linux is going after the desktop market and many people who know more about Linux than I now recommend it (I think Novell now owns most of the Suse distro). I have messed around with various versions of Linux (but not the latest versions) and found Mandrake to be the most easiest to install in their earlier versions. You probably have know idea how impressive that was at the time. I hear a lot of the Linux flavors on the market now are much easier to install.
If you want a flavor that is more committed to the concept of a free and open operating system then Debian would be your choice but with Debain you must be into computers a little more than average and it is not that easy to install. Good Luck.

I like Mandrake Linux. It has a few quirks but they are loveable quirks lol.

Using Linux does require a bit more dedication to working intimately with your computer. If that doesn't appeal to you, stick with windows. While I still insist that Bill Gates is the devil, the simple point and click operation of windows is best for someone who isn't willing to spend a good amount of time learning their system.

My laptop (when it was working) runs only on Linux. I prefer it to windows, but that's just me. I am kinda weird.